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378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
198
DID
THE
FIRST
CABLE
EVER
WORK?
The
Atlantic
cable
was
dead!
That
word
fell
heavy
as
a
stone
on
the
hearts
of
those
who
had
staked
so
much
upon
it.
What
a
bitter
disappointment
to
their
hopes!
In
all
the
experience
of
life
there
are
no
sadder
moments
than
those
in
which,
after
years
of
anxious
toil,
striving
for
a
great
object,
and
after
one
glorious
hour
of
triumph,
the
achievement
that
seemed
complete
becomes
a
total
wreck.
Vain
is
all
human
toil
and
endeavor.
The
years
thus
spent
are
fled
away;
the
labor
that
was
to
have
brought
such
a
reward
of
"riches
and
honor,"
is
lost;
and
the
prolonged
tension
of
the
mind
by
the
excitement
of
hope
and
ambition,
and
the
temporary
success,
reacts
to
plunge
it
into
a
deeper
depression.
So
was
it
here.
Years
of
labor
and
millions
of
capital
were
swept
away
in
an
hour
into
the
bosom
of
the
pitiless
sea.
Of
course
the
reaction
of
the
public
mind
was
very
great.
As
its
elation
had
been
so
extravagant
before,
it
was
now
silent
and
almost
sullen.
People
were
ashamed
of
their
late
enthusiasm,
and
disposed
to
revenge
themselves
on
those
who
had
been
the
objects
of
their
idolatry.
It
is
instructive
to
read
the
papers
of
the
day.
As
soon
as
it
was
evident
that
the
Atlantic
cable
was
a
dead
lion,
many
hastened
to
give
it
a
parting
kick.
There
was
no
longer
any
dispute
as
to
who
was
the
author
of
the
great
achievement.
Rival
claimants
quietly
withdrew
from
the
field,
content
to
leave
him
alone
in
his
glory.
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