On the 23d of July, 1865, the land connection was made, and the great ship commenced her momentous voyage. Day by day the great wheel turned, and fathom after fathom of the new cable, heavier and more carefully insulated than its predecessors, slipped overboard into the sea. The work went bravely on for 1200 miles; but when approaching Newfoundland the old misfortune recurred; in spite of all the care and watchfulness, the cable broke and disappeared under the waves.

Attempts were made to recover the cable by grappling; but though it was

several times caught and lifted nearly to the surface, the strain was too great for the grapnels; they broke, and again the cable sank. It was evident that more efficient appliances would be required. The spot was carefully marked by buoys, and the great vessel returned to England.

The strain of repeated disappointment was terrible; but it had at least been demonstrated that a cable could be laid and a message sent over it. Public confidence in the ultimate success of the enterprise was greater. Before the next year Mr. Field succeeded in obtaining large new subscriptions. Another cab) was made and all the appliances for laying it perfected; and on Friday,

July 13th, the "Great Eastern" again sailed from Ireland. with the cable sinking into the ocean as she moved westward.

LANDING OF THE CABLE.

Public interest in the enterprise had now become intense. It was known that the cable would be landed at Heart's Content, in Newfoundland, and many had gone there from various parts of the country to witness the arrival of the “Great Eastern." The shore was fringed with visitors, opera- or spy-glass in hand, watching the eastern horizon. Fourteen days pass away; it is Friday morning, the 27th day of July, 1866. Here at last she comes! As she draws nearer the people see that her colors are all set, which at least indicates that they have met with no disaster. With every mile's advance of the steamer the excitement grows. Too impatient to wait the arrival, scores of boats put off to row toward her. A delay of nearly two hours occurs while the latter connects the heavy shore end with the main cable, and at last the two continents are united!

Unfortunately the cable across the Gulf of St. Lawrence was disabled, and it was not until Sunday, the 29th, that this was repaired, and the heart-cheering intelligence announced to the nation. This was the message :

"Heart's Content, July 27th. We arrived here at nine o'clock this morn ing. All well. Thank God, the cable is laid, and is in perfect working order. Cyrus W. Field."

Almost immediately the “Great Eastern" again put to sea, and, proceeding to where the cable of 1865 had been lost, succeeded without much trouble in grappling it and bringing it to the surface. It was tested by sending a message to Valentia; and being found perfect, was spliced to an additional section, which was brought to Newfoundland, and both of these cables have been in constant use to the present time.

Many persons had contributed to this great success, but to Cyrus W. Field it is chiefly due. His energy and perseverance kept the subject constantly before the public. His courage inspired others, and his faith in its ultimate success alone kept its best friends from abandoning it in its darkest hours. In its behalf he spent twelve years of constant toil, and made over fifty voyages, more than thirty of which were across the Atlantic. He devoted his entire fortune to the undertaking, and cheerfully incurred the risk of poverty rather than abandon it. It is but just that he, who was the chief instrument in obtaining for the world this great benefit, should receive the largest measure of praise.

At a banquet given in his honor by the New York Chamber of Commerce Mr. Field said :

"It has been a long, hard struggle-nearly thirteen years of anxious watch ing and ceaseless toil. Often my heart has been ready to sink. Many times when wandering in the forests of Newfoundland in the pelting rain, or on the

decks of ships on dark, stormy nights, alone, far from home, I have almost accused myself of madness and folly to sacrifice the peace of my family and all the hopes of life for what might prove, after all, a dream. I have seen my companions, one and another, falling by my side, and feared that I might not live to see the end. And yet one hope has led me on, and I have prayed that I might not taste of death till this work was accomplished. That prayer is answered; and now, beyond all acknowledgments to men, is the feeling of gratitude to Almighty, God."

In 1869, Mr. Field was present at the opening of the great Suez Canal, as

representative of the Chamber of Commerce of New York. In 1880 he made a tour around the world, and secured from the government of the Sandwich Islands concessions for a Pacific cable, to be laid from San Francisco. He became deeply interested in the elevated railway system of New York city, and devoted much time and money to its development. The latter part of his life was spent in New York, of which he was one of the most conspicuous and honored citizens. Domestic troubles and financial losses clouded the few years just before his death, which occurred on July 12th, 1892.