On the morning of the 12th the Terrible, one of the vessels detailed and the one that had acted as pilot, was directed to resume her journey westward and to carry letters to America. As she steamed away she signalled “Farewell”; the Great Eastern answered “Good-bye, thank you.”
The following message is without doubt the one sent by this conveyance to Mr. Field’s family:
“Great Eastern left mouth of the Thames July 15th. Shore end landed in Ireland on 22d. Parted on August 2d in latitude 51° 25’ north, longitude 39° 6’ west, 1062.4 miles from Valentia Bay, 606.6 miles from Heart’s Content. Spent nine days in grappling; used up all wire, rope; nothing left, so obliged to return to England. Three times cable was caught, and hauled up for more than three-quarters of a mile from bed of the ocean.”
The news of the failure of the cable expedition reached New York after the middle of August, and in a degree the country was prepared for it. The Cuba early in August had brought word of the trouble that had occurred on the 29th of July.
The suspense and anxiety had been so great to Mr. Field’s family that the loss of the cable was as nothing compared to the relief they experienced at knowing that he was alive. Mr. David Dudley Field has told of going to Garrison’s on the Hudson, where the family were passing the summer, to express sympathy, and that he found a very happy group, and was met with the words, “Is not this delightful?”
This letter was one of the first received by Mrs. Field: