The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-09-15
The Signal Service Coast Telegraph.

The New York Maratime Register de-
scribes the Signal Service Seacoast Tele-
graph Line. The wires begin at Thatch-
ers Island, in Massachusetts and end at
Smithville, North Carolina 1t was diff
cult to construct the lines, and it is diff
cult to maintain them. The numerous
cables are frequently chafed and broken,
and the land wires are often brought down
! by the washing of the sand in which the
poles are set.
The lines are largely used for meteoro-
Vessels of all nations have been aided by
this service in obtaining timely assistance
when ashore or in distress, and marine un-
derwriters have largely profted by its
timely reports of vessels with valuable car
goes being ashore, and which could not
have been saved had these lines not been
in existence. A case in point occurred
about two years ago, when an insurance
company in Philadelphia had 100000 in
surance on vessel and her cargo of sugar.
The vessel went ashore near Ocean City,
Maryland, on the eve of northeast gale.
She was reported as ashore by the Signal
Service observer at that point, late in the
afternoon. The news was Immediately
communicated to the wrecking tugs at the
Delaware breakwater; they proceeded to
the vessel, and she was hauled off and
taken into a safe harbor before II o'clock
the same night. 1t is certain that, had the
vessel remained on the reef over night, the
northeast gale which prevailed after mid
night would have made total wreck OF
her, and the entire cargo would have been
lost Before the lines were built it was
not an occasional occurrence, even in fair
weather and during daylight, for some
shipmasters to run their vessels ashore for
the purpose of defrauding the underwriters,
knowing that there were no persons or re-
cords to testify against them. To-day,
however, that sort of rascality is seldom
heard of, at least between Sandy Hook and
Smithville, n. C.
Vessels often arrive in sight of signal
stations on the coast, set their international
signals, and obtain answers at once con-
cerning the probable condition of the wealth
er direct from Washington by seacoast line.
1t often happens that when cables are out
of order wreck messages are "fagged"
across inlets by the signal flags, which are
read rapidly by these thoroughly drilled
Signal Service men. Signal men WIN kit
on back often go aboard vessels, leaving
comrade on shore to receive the message
"hagged" back. The wig-wag begins, and
before the master is aware of it his message
is in the hands of the signal man on the
beach, who by this time has tapped the
telegraph wire, attached his instrument,
and in few minutes the message is in the
hands of news agents, shipowners, under
writer's and friends.
The Signal Service and Life-Saving Ser
vice are in hearty cooperation, and the
wires of the seacoast line connect direct
with the Office of the General Superinten-
dent of the Life-Saving Service in Wash
ington. Through this line crews from diff
ferent life-saving stations are quickly sum-
moned together in case Of necessity.
Strikes are not known on the seacoast line,
the operators being enlisted men, and sub
ject to the articles of war governing the
Signal Corps.