PERSEVERANCE, PERSEVERANCE 125 
end of the Civil War; Lee surrendered that spring. ‘The Suez 
canal, being constructed by French engineers, was about to 
mingle the waters of the Mediterranean with those of the 
Red Sea. Acting as representative of the New York Chamber 
of Commerce, Field attended the opening ceremony. He met 
many eminent engineers, including the great Ferdinand de 
Lesseps. Being an experienced traveler engaged in a unique 
international enterprise, Field was always welcome at such 
gatherings; in fact he made a speech or two. While in Egypt, 
he visited the pyramids and other attractions. During his 
return trip to London, he heard of the assassination of Presi- 
dent Lincoln and was horrified at such a calamity coming so 
soon after the end of the war. 
The cable required over eight months to manufacture; then 
it was taken by smaller vessels out to the Great Eastern and 
carefully coiled at the rate of two miles an hour. A cable 
that required months for construction and coiling could be 
lost in the depths of the ocean in a few seconds. ‘To distribute 
the enormous weight on the ship, the cable was stored in three 
tanks—one forward, one amidships, and one aft. These tanks 
were watertight, so that the cable could be kept under water. 
Many visitors, including the Prince of Wales, came from 
London to watch the interesting preparations. ‘The London 
newspapers printed descriptions of the work. One of these 
visitors wrote: ‘The echo of the sailors’ song in the womb of 
the Great Eastern will not be banished from our mind. It 
raises visions of the future of the mystic iron coil under our 
feet—how it will roll forth from its narrow berth; how it will 
sink to the bottom of the Atlantic, or hang from mountain to 
mountain far below the stormy wave; and how two great 
nations, offsprings of one race and pioneers of civilization, 
will speak through this wonderful coil, annihilating distance 
and time. Who can help dreaming here, on the spot where 
we stand? For it is truly a marvelous romance of civilization.” 
The Great Eastern had, besides six masts, both a propeller 
