The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-30

OH White ground, q white square spot
on blue ground, q bluesqaare spot on
white ground, two vertical stripes Of red
and white, II white cross on blue ground
vertical stripes of red, white and blue,
and so on. Each flag has always the
same symbolic meaning thus, a pen
dant or elongated triangular flag, with a
| red spot on white ground, always
means c.: but what G means, the code
or vocabulary determines,
TIE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.
But, It may be asked, how do the sail
ors, captains and signalmen know the
exact meaning of every combination OF
flags I? Can they commit seventy thou
sand signals and combinations to
memory Assuredly not. To assist
them, a Commercial Code of Signals has
been prepared, in an octave volume
Every flag, according to its shape, color
and pattern, represents a particular let
ter every group Of such flags represents
particular group of letters and every
group of letters has particular mean
ing in relation TO ships and maritime
affairs. Thus, in reference TO Il ships
stores, X B L., the names of three parti-
cuIar flags disposed in n particular war,
always denote ''tea;p. 2hd Is B c. .''su-
gar" In relation TO other matters, N
NJ would be startling combination Of
two flags, for it denotes " on
fire - while y denotes "tire. gains
rapidly ~ whereas n @ gives the IN
formation fire could be eXtinguished
with immediate add Let us suppose
hat two ships meet at sea. One hoists
up four flags in 4 conspicuous position
ON one OF the masts; the flags being ar
| ranged in Il vertical row, to be read
pIa hn Of in hn
other ship notices that the uppermost
| flag is that particular one in shape, color
| aud device which represents the letter
| NJ, and that the other three represent
| W, d and r respectively. He thus gets
| at the fact that the ships signal is M "
| D K and by referring TO tue Code book
| he finds this to correspond with the
number 20 ,202, the official number of the
| ship Lamplighter, Il number that be-
| longs to no other ship whatever. AS far
as q sea-telescope can render the nage
distinct, SO far dos this power extend OF
a5ceftalning ships name, ana at TIT
same time her port ana tonnage, aho
other items also entered in the Register
The ship Lamplighter in similar way
ascertains the name OF the other ship
5 and then they proceed with their GOSSIP
each telling the other whence she canIt
! and whittier she is going, and givin.
and receiving in ,0finatiOn useful TO both.
There is, OF course, a good deal of haul
ing up and down of flags i'll reference /,
this gossip; but this is routine work. re
curing only patience and attention.
One ship may want to buy some bread
or to borrow an anchor OF the other, Oh
TO send II letter-bag by her, or to ash
whether there are any belligerent cruis-
ers about, or whether any storms hav,
i been encountered; the flags and the Cod
book enable the Que vessel to make, anC
/ the other to interpret, the necessary sly
&. nails for these purposes. TheCode-bool
4 contains nearly 10000 words, phrase
: and sentences, each with its fiag-signal
whereby the conversational power q
e ships at sea is really something c0nsid
y crabe-all added to the 10000 or so, 90
r signals for the names of ships. Sigh
f differences III the flags distinguish men
oI-war aud troop or transport ships iron
merchant vessels and there is sye
tenn for bringing foreign ships under I'll,
: same arrangement, whenever govern
: ments and owners are willing to do SO
some few ship1Wners even in England
are TOO niggardly to afford comp G
set OF flags, with u Code aud q Register
, and some captains are too old fashioned
, 10 take easily to the system; but thi.
foolishness is gradually disappearing.
The invisible Lloyd may continue Il
/. keep Il record of the inaudible speakin.
of ships at sea for ages to come, 70.
aught we Can see. Day and Martin !,
backing would be nothing p&yticula
. without the name; Day may be dead
and Martin dead, and yet both live III
the small stonebotties. And so it il
Lloyd. lie lives after his death; lives
not only in England, but abroad 10:
there is an Austrian Lloyd's, founded
for much the same purpose as the on,
in England, and borrowing the very
| name.