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378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
2
THE
STORY
OF
THE
ATLANTIC
TELEGRAPH
by
HENRY
M.
FIELD
"Since
the
discovery
of
Columbus,
nothing
has
been
done
in
any
degree
comparable
to
the
vast
enlargement
which
has
thus
been
given
to
the
sphere
of
human
activity."
--THE
TIMES,
August
6th,
1858.
New
York
Charles
Scribner's
Sons
1898
Copyright,
1892,
by
Henry
M.
Field.
Press
of
J.
J.
Little
&
Co.
Astor
Place,
New
York
PREFACE
The
recent
death
of
Mr.
Cyrus
W.
Field
recalls
attention
to
the
great
enterprise
with
which
his
name
will
be
forever
associated.
"The
Atlantic
Telegraph,"
said
the
late
Chief
Justice
Chase,
"is
the
most
wonderful
achievement
of
civilization,
and
entitles
its
author
to
a
distinguished
rank
among
public
benefactors.
High
upon
that
illustrious
roll
will
his
name
be
placed,
and
there
will
it
remain
while
oceans
divide,
and
telegraphs
unite,
mankind."
The
memory
of
such
an
achievement
the
world
should
not
let
die.
The
story
of
its
varied
fortunes
reads
like
a
tale
of
adventure.
From
the
beginning
it
was
a
series
of
battles,
fighting
against
the
elements
and
against
the
unbelief
of
men.
This
long
struggle
the
new
generation
may
forget,
profiting
by
the
result,
but
thinking
little
of
the
means
by
which
it
was
attained.
What
toil
of
hand
and
brain
had
gone
before;
what
days
and
nights
of
watching
and
weariness;
how
often
hope
deferred
had
made
the
heart
sick:
how
year
after
year
had
dragged
on,
and
seen
the
end
still
afar
off--all
that
is
dimly
remembered,
even
by
those
who
reap
the
fruits
of
victory.
And
yet
in
the
history
of
human
achievements,
it
is
necessary
to
trace
these
beginnings
step
by
step,
if
we
would
learn
the
lesson
they
teach,
that
it
is
only
out
of
heroic
patience
and
perseverance
that
anything
truly
great
is
born.
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