Cambridge Springs Public Library

Jackrabbit McCabe's unusually long legs have made him the fastest thing around, and he uses his speed for everything from racing against horses to fetching the doctor, but when the electric telegraph arrives in Windy Flats, Jackrabbit may have met his match.

Cyrus Field had a big dream to connect North America and the United Kingdom with a telegraph line, which would enable instant communication. In the mid-1800s, no one knew if it was possible. That didn't dissuade Cyrus, who set out to learn about undersea cables and built a network of influential people to raise money and create interest in his project. Cyrus experienced numerous setbacks: many years of delays and failed attempts, millions of dollars...