The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-01-05
Correspondence pac. Commercial Advertiser.
Telegraphing.


Mr.. EDITOR Many of your readers are unaware
of the fact that there is a principle involved in the
operations of the telegraph here, by the aid of which
the initiated are enabled at a glance to determine the
character of q vessel signalised. Unless my own ex-
perience differs much from that of others, ignorance
on this head has been the fruitful cause of much
nervousness and many chickering's, and the difficulties
of forming q correct eonclusiM in regard to the ne-
ture of a new arrival have of ten been in a direct
ratio to the number of individuals engaged in making
calculations, which might with equal propriety have
been based upon the principles of astrology, as upon
any other principles there might have been underly-
ing them.
To illustrate Under the old system, that is, with
no system at all, the first step is an attempt to fix in
the mind (almost a fruitless task) the actual position
of the telegraph arms, until a card of signals can be
procured, which is often times no easy matter. Du-
ring the interval thus consumed, the mental picture
perhaps becomes so blurred and faint as to require a
new impression Upon the second trial an inverted
image is the result. IF the upper arm for instance,
inclines downward and the lower arm upward, q
dozen persons will appear at once to affirm upon oath
that the relative position of the arms is vice versa.
However, being satisfied himself of his accuracy, the
next step for the investigator is to sit down, or else
become very nervous, as the time requisite for discov-
ering the indicated combination in the signal laby-
rinth varies from ten to twenty minutes, as luck will
have it. AT the expiration of this period, as likely as
not, his feelings are wrought up to an intense state of
excitement and anxiety on account of a supposed
'vessel in distress windward,'' and horrible and
heart rending pictures of shipwreck in all its harrow
ing details are wildly portrayed to his mind. To be
sure his apprehensions are Ultimately removed when
he learns that the signal was merely for a pilot. But
he feels a sense of dissatisfaction, loses confidence in
himself and sets down the telegraph as a humbug.
L anu inclined TO think that the lack of interest dis
played in the continuance of our telegraph is owing
In a measure TO the fact that its operations are not
generally comprehended. 1t speaks and unknown
tongue, and on that account is to many unintelligible
and consequently uninterestings Now we cannot
know the worth of water until the well is dry, and
upon the same principle we cannot estimate the adj
vantages of a telegraph until we lose it, though that
is but a poor excuse for Withdrawing support from it.
l am willing, sir, to contribute my iota of support to
this desirable institution, and shall give myself the
credit of SO doing which | communicate coufdentially
to the public a key to the telegraph's pantomimic
performances.
The number answering to any position which the
arms may assume, can be Immediately determined by
means of a rule which 1 will lay down. And that
this rule may be ineligible to all, 1 would premise
it with the following statements. The number of
positions that can be assumed by either arm is six.
The first position is the upper OBJ
l. lique. on the left hand side of the
pole as you face the telegraph, other
wise called the inland side: the Sec
ond position is the horizontal on the
same side ; the third, the lower OBJ
lique, and so on to the sixth, which
is the upper oblique on the opposite or searard side.
Now for the rule
The number of a signal NAV he aScertainei nv rOuliDlvin
the position indicated by the lower arm into the figure :, and
adding to the product the position of the upper arm.
EIempii gratia, in case our emotional
friend discovered position No. 4, (lower
oblique on the right,) indicated by the
lower arm. and No. 9. Copper oblique on
the same side,) denoted by the upper arm,
after multiplying ! into Z, and adding to
the product 6, he might safely predict, pro-
vided he were anything of a maihemati-
clan, that signal 81 was intended, and
might allow his sympathies to wander unrestrained in
search Of the distressed vessel.
By consulting the card i. will be seen that from
No. 1 to %, the vessels are arranged according to q
regular system, which can be readily understood and
easily acquired. AS for the remaining numbers, they
may be fixed in the mind with but a slight effort of
the memory.
There are some who will gather from the above re-
no new information, but | feel confident that
they will be of some avail to a certain class who are
SO liable to confound a signal for a small schooner
from MolOkai. in ballast or with an invoice Of poi,
with that Indicating a man-OEwar, and who, by
spreading their peculiar ideas elate the community
with bright but false anticipations of good times a
coming. TELEGRAPH HILL
THE OLD wHALEsHIP MARIA.-In looking over n
ile of the National Register, published in Philadel-
phia, in the number for Sept. G., 1881, wecame across
the following notice of the Maria, OF this UOrt. from /