Cables, Submarine -- History; Field, Cyrus W. (Cyrus West), 1819-1892; Inventors -- United States -- Biography
"Upwards of two hundred of the sailors and marines of the frigate
_Niagara_ assembled last evening in Franklin Square, formed in
procession, and, preceded by the band of the _North Carolina_,
marched to Cooper Institute. They carried with them an accurate
model of the _Niagara_, made by one of her crew, which was gayly
decked with flags, exactly as was the noble ship it represents when
she last entered our harbor. On arriving at the Cooper Institute
the tars were saluted with a discharge of fireworks and the hearty
cheers of the multitude....
"Cyrus W. Field was the next speaker. He was evidently a great
favorite of the sailors, who, it is said, used to call him on board
ship 'the Sister of Charity.' They cheered him extravagantly when
he rose. He made only a short speech, consisting of reminiscences
of the laying and landing of the cable, and the gallantry and
faithfulness of the crew on these occasions. More singing and more
cheers were followed by the entrance of Captain Hudson, who was
greeted with the warmest enthusiasm, and made some appropriate
remarks."
On the 26th Mr. Field, with a party, left for Great Barrington, and the
next day they were welcomed at Stockbridge by Mr. Field's old friends.
Between the 10th of August and the 1st of September ninety-seven
messages were sent from Valentia to Newfoundland, and two hundred and
sixty-nine messages from Newfoundland to Valentia.
The English government had, by cable, countermanded the return to
England of the Sixty-second and the Thirty-ninth regiments. The news of
the peace with China had also been sent to this country, and the English
papers of August 18th reported the collision between the Cunard steamers
_Arabia_ and _Europa_. This statement is taken from a letter written in
July, 1862, by order of the Atlantic Telegraph Company and signed by the
secretary of the company, Mr. George Saward.
The 1st and 2d of September were chosen as the days for a "General
Celebration of the Laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable."
In deference to the wish expressed by the rector and vestry of Trinity
Church, it was arranged that the first day should begin with a service
and Te Deum at ten o'clock. In the absence of Bishop Horatio Potter,
Bishop George Washington Doane, of New Jersey, took charge of this
service.
Trinity Church had never been so gayly dressed. "The edifice was
decorated from the steeple to the top of the spire with the flags of all
nations. Around the steeple were hung the flags of France, Spain,
Prussia, Austria, Russia, Portugal, and other nations, while the spire
about three-quarters of the way to the cross was decorated with the
Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack." It was this incident that called
forth these verses, written by Bishop Doane:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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