Resolute

This is American Adventure a study of man in the New World. His

values and characteristics written by Johnny Lee directed by John

Clayton American Adventure is produced by the communications center of the University of North

Carolina. Earl when Director Tonight's program is about the famous

American Cyrus Theo and is the story of his efforts to lay the Atlantic

cable and tie together two continents.

20 30 to 65 the British writer Great Eastern late with steam up

engines silent all fall into Ireland. In her hold she carried seven

thousand tonnes of submarine telegraph people and a full supply of coal and

food for her long strange voyage to newcomers.

The meat supply was of course largely alive but there was hardly a sound from the

five coming to the chicken.

10 bullocks one milk cow one hundred fourteen sheep 20 pigs twenty

nine geese and fourteen the turkeys.

Even the animals seem to have taken on the pension held by the crewman who stood without speaking

and watched tensely waited nervously for the beginning of the vast enterprise.

The laying of the Atlantic. Only one man moved confidently. A man with

a beard. Stepped out of the Means a lot of if he had a care in the world.

Coffee too cold but it was a fabric first step. To feel.

Good morning same. Morning.

That. He was well known this man. Internationally

famous. For his failures. One of the most dedicated salesmen of all time.

Cyrus the Great Cyrus. The American Cyrus feat.

We got the cable sports to the shore and yet missed a few. I think so Captain Anderson.

Will anything you want to say before we begin laying the cable again. No thank you.

No speeches for me. I didn't say you were.

All things could hardly be better plan than they are captain. Cable has been repeatedly

checked machineries is good but I did just tell you where to tread before we start.

I've prayed about this so much Captain that I don't have to miss this I was

feeling pretty A.

Lot.

Here we are floating out on the ocean once more. Trying to do

something which many reasonable men we say cannot be done.

And looking to you and for help in doing it.

Now. Captain Anderson and I have come to you concerning this Atlantic

cable before. And you didn't see fit to favor us then. And

with look to ourselves to see what the fault might be. We found

many faults and no reason for you to help us. But there

are reasons outside Captain Anderson and Mr canning and these men and me.

We aim to connect two continents with instant communication because

we believe a better understanding will come between men.

Now.

If this is a cause which interests you in our behalf. We pledge to

give you the glory. In Jesus name Amen.

No doubt about it was defeated about what kept you already in practice.

There were men in both Europe and America who said that the Atlantic Cable could not be laid

at the speed of the ship the speed at which the cable was on while in the depths of the ocean would at some point

lose synchronization.

So that the cable would be ripped apart and the cable itself had to be perfect. The weather

had to be good or there were many reasons why it could not be done.

Say that Mr. Canning. How's it going. Everything is going through the machine

as the instrument room reported in continuous contact with the

station through the entire length of the cable. If anything happens I'll know about it soon

enough. It's a beautiful sound isn't it. Well think of the cable. It's a filter

for cable. Mr. Canning my wife says I'm in love with The Atlantic cable.

The road to mystify you have caused. Us to write more separate.

Men to go blind looking into cable up there the first day.

But your speed gap and started to three knots but we're up to six and off now that will

probably be the peak.

Yes we can. Cable faster than that.

How did you ever get into the cable lion business anyway Cyrus

stumbled and I reckon most of headsup reason. Show isn't any pleasure

to be at it. Oh I suppose I got tired of hanging up my necktie at the same stop

every night when I was 34 Captain Anderson. I had made my

fortune and retired with my wife and family to a beautiful home. To my friend was

nowhere in the world where. It started small but it grew with

this feeling. One night I remember hanging up my necktie on the same

stop as a hundred nights before and the fact that it was an expensive necktie didn't

relieve the fact that I was doing nothing and going nowhere. Where you go in Nashville back to

Newfoundland dragging a kid drawing please don't

even mention dragging that blasted film perhaps.

Probably lost all your money. Good percentage of it is down with the last cables. But

when we finish playing this one I'll be back in business. What makes you think you can make it this

time. You never made it before Mr. Field.

I have made it before same thing Seth was along on their trips I made it

7 years ago. Look Doc you would have heard about if those if. The people in

America almost with cries of celebration and bad news in newspapers and

people shouting cry and you could get a list deputy to Christopher Columbus.

I heard something about this. It was probably wrong no I remember there

were celebrating something in London once when my ship was in port. Something about a

cable. And I can't remember it very well. Like Mr caring said you were probably

drunk no. I remember the people in the streets and everybody was yelling.

I figured the Queen it had a baby. Maybe it was a

lot harder. Anyway I think I'm listening.

What's the major mistake Amy. I thought I had the machinery upstairs.

You couldn't have had it with all that noise.

I. Believe I'll go up on deck and check it.

Scuse me cos. MR. Ok goodnight.

I believe I would step out and take a look myself. Or he's got me all nervous. I

finished up a sometimes later safe nicer way to do so I was all right

kept me Captain Anderson.

I hope you don't click on the field for getting that celebration. I

was probably on the ship at the time. It didn't last long anyway so I thought they

said three weeks. Yes but then the cable stopped working so it was all a failure.

I don't like to be remembered. Sorry to have brought it up. It was like being on top

of the world with your name in the history books. And they knocked you off. You

feel foolish if you presume too much. That was the first cable you

tried mystery you know the third the first cable broke after about

400 miles. So we had to raise more money. The second cable we tried to

lay using two ships they met in the middle of the ocean. They are each took half the cable

and one started toward Ion the other toward Newfoundland. How did that work. We started three times

first and I got about three miles second time they got about 40. The third time they

got to 100. Before the cable broke so I

had to go back and raise some more money. Some of the stock holders wouldn't even come to the

meeting. I don't like to remember that those. A

third cable relayed successfully and the world went crazy.

My wife and I were having the most wonderful time of our lives. I was back home I was very happy.

The president of the royal family the governors mayors and the

cable stopped work.

And it started again and it stopped.

Then it would start and stop and start and stop until I wanted to put up with my

hands and check and it stopped for good.

So I started over. Raised three million dollars got another cable

at a great distance. Here we are. Yes I want some more coffee.

Yes that would be very kind of coffee.

Yesterday.

The Great Eastern was the largest vessel in the world at that time and I got a message from the testing room to Mr.

Canning of the payout machinery to Captain Alexander on the bridge and then to the engine room took quite a while.

But on the second day of the voyage a message made that lengthy round in the message was there's a fault in the

cable stopping and prepared to put it back in.

The bag. I don't know. And I don't know that's going to third the normal walking

speed of. The ship with the propellers on the side you know still it was at the mercy of

winter time the Atlantic.

Rolls which were fortunately fine after two hours of taking in cable

they cut it so that they might hook up their testing machinery to the island length and see if a proper signal was

now possible.

Cable was found to be still faulty so the operation continued.

Oh I've known cable to stop working for two hours no one knew who I am

then began again. I see Mr Fields is most likely it's a mistake on show

the take up machinery is doing all right except that one is new. It's an

improvement over the last two trips and I swear I missed a few. We get this craving

light I never want anybody to say cable to me again so long as I live.

And if we don't get to tonight and I said No I don't want anybody to say.

2 am to cable is cut again for a second test and show that the fault in the cables still

lay between the vessel and the Island station. Operations.

As the cable came aboard it was covered with a greyish coating of mud and moves from the bed

of the ocean.

The man washed it off and examined the cable foot by four. Like in Ireland for the Telegraph

signal had suddenly stopped engineers crowded around their equipment reporters for English and Continental

papers waiting for a man who had their money invested in the cable stock fidgeted nerve.

This way and what with all the bricks all of their worsening find bargains in Atlantic cable

stock that morning I was on deck at one third the speed of a

human lark the cable came back a little. I left

after dawn.

All right stop the machine or a.

Box of jewel the cable for another dish to the test

of the remaining cable was now sound engineers and Ireland raised their weighty

sigh of relief as the signal resumed. Reporters hurried to the nearby telegraph stations to

wire their reports at landing cable stock went up again.

Then about half an hour after the signal had resumed it stopped.

When you knew what was wrong with you know where the fault lie I tell you in just a

fever some men are stupid some you know smog we have smog minimal dis ship

whatever I want on the mish stupid. Sixteen hundred miles to go in my count

get 50. With a calm sea and in a shallow part of the ocean.

A short time later the cable again worked properly no one knew why it had stopped. No one

knew why it started again but the great eastern began putting down people

once more.

The fast hum of the cable running through the machinery was resumed.

Mile after mile of six nautical miles an hour the Great Eastern put hours then

days behinder its vision for the way things are going missed a field

or will be a new phenomena without great delay this machinery of yours as a

mob a mystic I believe it is way with just a little.

We're having the luck reading that soon we will get to the edge of the ocean

bank missed a field the depth of the rock there from 200 phantoms on

down to 700 dangerous seventeen hundred Never mind

never mind Mr. Catlin Mr. Field we're pulled into that little hobble

and Newfoundland Never mind I agree I agree with you. One of the four main for a

hobby you're no books it's nine and ten.

Yes pots contain Newfoundland.

Yet.

The actual journal of W.H. Russell who was aboard.

We take the following words.

July 27 morning broke on a bright clear blue

sky. From the testing room came gratifying reports improved insulation of the

cable which had been caused by the emotion of the cable Coda was that many

of them ended up parroting out journeys to the United States.

They speculate on the probability spots and you think.

And I can more a joyous progress all going successfully. Not a hitch in

cable. Machinery. Or ship. It's worthwhile to go and look at

the cables. As everyday and scan by watchful eyes and noted in books. That fly

so the whole apparatus. And then in a gentle skims the surface of the ocean

more than 200 feet. On.

Saturday July 29. Everything has gone on more admirably during the

night. Content on August 5th is certainly. No. Ship's Time.

Opposition is not to toot 52 degrees 33 minutes and 30 seconds

longitude 27 degrees and 40 minutes. Water two thousand

fathoms or two nautical miles. One 10 p.m. ship's

time. And ill omened activity about the testing room which has been visible

for some time reached its climax. The engines were slow. And five

minutes the great ship was motionless. In an instant afterwards. Everyone was on deck.

And the evil tidings flew from lip to lip. Something was wrong with him.

What's the pressure on the cable wire to transmit that to my notion take

more than act according to the authorities. What are you

thinking about Mr. Field. At this Spock seven years

ago Mr. Canning we began the second attempt to play in Atlantic cable seven

years ago and believe it or not it was on the same day

that if they win air that is a coincidence. Why do you do it.

Satish. Why do you keep dry and. The last time we had

to stop and pick up table to fold was a piece of wire not an inch long which had pierced the

cables insulation. After years of planning making

preparations a piece of wire not an inch long threaten the success of the whole

thing. Why do you do it. Because. Some day Mr.

Canning. I'm going to retire to New York or to Boston and join some

important club or. Get a chair by the fire and win some young

whippersnapper comes up to me and says Where's her. And what do you do.

I want to say. Where young man.

I haven't been doing much. Since I laid the Atlantic cable. I want to see

his expression said Rudisha it is big. That's why it's the biggest thing I've ever

heard of. It's something my sons and grandsons can be proud of and point

back to and say. I'm Cyrus feel the 8 for the ninth. And people will look up

and say I've heard the name. It's big Mr. Canning.

It's impossible as a man too big and some of them impossible men climb mountains and of course

they do but only foolish ones. You know.

Men are peculiar creatures. A lion an elephant they wouldn't climb a mountain just because

it was big Goss somebody said it was impossible to do it. But. Man wouldn't.

Man likes to stand on the top of accomplishments and give his lion's roar. Look. Look

where I am. Look here all you past generations of two legged creatures you

crusaders and kings and squires and sea captains and mothers and artisans of a thousand

years ago. Look here this is what you said a man could not do.

It is done. I don't care about their

status and also they're the people a thousand years ahead will be

striking at even greater accomplishments and tracing back their history. I

would be a part of their history. They would say. And back here in

1865 a group of men aboard our ship did the impossible and aided the progress

of all mankind when they laid the Atlantic cable. Recruited and people

on board. I'm staying awake knowing Yes. And.

For us have missed accounting. For the faces of the people when you say.

Well young man. I haven't done much since I laid the Atlantic cable.

And 9:30 p.m. ship's

time.

That part of the cape over the Mister play was picked up. Was at once cut. And

reserved to be examined by Mr. Canning. The short end was spliced in jointed to a

fresh end of the cable from the ass of the tank. These operations were finished before midnight.

But it was not judged expedient to assume the process of paying out until the morning.

As yet no one knew the nature of the injury to the cable.

No one could account for the hitch. But it certainly did not affect anyone's belief in success.

We've been a bit delighted Cyrus but we've had that off way and then with a little luck

or they'll be calling you Christopher Columbus again you'll be the toast of Ireland and America

again Cyrus the little duck on the night of August 2nd on the bus it was

almost two thirds of the way across a gale rolls from the westward.

Then the wind shifted suddenly to the north northwest. There was a deep fog the sea was

hived up the border was 2007s the word went from the pest room to Mr.

Canning to the captain to the engine room that there was a flaw in the cable and the engines must be

stopped.

By it. You're not content to get the cable on here.

I can stand it that in the pilot we did nothing but gold look a really good

time to the take up machine room.

Really have to drive if we

never get it back then we

did Anderson do you think oh I don't know where we all.

Knew.

It was a lot of the vessel we did Cyrus.

Was still sitting there much later when Captain Anderson and Mr. Canning came in and stood awkwardly

nearby. We were drawn and tired. Salt water was on their faces and their clothing

was.

Mr. Canning nodded to Captain Henderson. We lost.

She's broke.

She's going. In tomorrow to water Mr. Fay.

She's.

Got. Them.

God.

We've told you a story of defeat Ladies and Gentleman in order to tell you a greater story the

victory.

The victory belongs to of Cyrus field.

Who returned to England after this fourth failure in their once more raised the money needed the

3 million dollars needed for another keep this new cable was put aboard the Great Eastern

which one year later layoffs will enjoy Ireland's steam up but engine silent her crewman again

expectant.

On the ship only one man moved confidently. A man with a beard. He stepped out of the

main salon as if he hadn't died.

Care in the world. Copy to Cohen as usual Seth. Nobody

considers you with coffee just a feel.

Good morning Samus. I didn't say.

He was a well-known man. Internationally famous for his favors.

One of the most dedicated salesmen of all time Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the American Cyrus field. Who won his fifth

attempt to. Lead the Atlantic cable.

American Adventure is written by Johnny Lee directed by John Clayton and is produced by the

communications center of the University of North Carolina. The part of Cyrus field was

played by Fred yon American Adventure was produced and recorded on the campus at

Chapel Hill. Tonight's program originated from

W. PTF in Raleigh North Carolina.

Ford Foundation.

And the resolute Cyrus feel was played by Fred Young a student the captain was Bill

Tuchman a student Mr Gatting was Johnny Lee member of the faculty. Seth

was Allen O'Neal and Charles Kuralt was the narrator. The entire cast was

composed of students faculty members and townspeople of the University of North Carolina

community. American Adventure is produced and recorded on the campus at Chapel Hill.

This is the n e ybe network.