The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-12-05
SIGNALING AT SEA,
How Modern Mariners Manage to
Exchange Messages.
The Bits of bunting Displayed From the
Mastheads of Vessels Convey the
Same Meaning to All Nation
alitles-The Lookout Man.

Telegraph operator William de la
Note, stationed at the Sandy Hook
station of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, was watching for in
coming vessels on bright Monday
morning some few weeks ago His
eyrie at the top of the eighty-foot
tower, supplied with the necessary
paraphernalia for observation, such as
telescopes, night glasses, rockets and
fash lights, was cool and comfortable.
Below him was the sea, ruffied by a
smart breeze from the southwest. Out
Of the haze beyond emerged full
rugged ship, with every inch of canvas
spread. On seeing the ship de la
Motto took up his telescope. As he
turned the glass on the ship he gave a
low whistle of astonishment. He left
the glass for a moment. took up book,
the leaves of which he turned over
rapidly On finding the information
be desired he closed the volume, threw
ton chair, and. with his telescope in
one hand, sent a message ticking over
the telegraph wires to this city. This
duty over he once more took ND his
survey OF the vessel. The cause of his
excitement was the sighting of three
small flags auttering from the vessels
malnmast They were flying from the
same halyard, one above the other.
1he upper one was a blue pennant.
with white ball in the center; the
second a square flag, half yellow and
blue, the colors running HORIZONTALLY.
and the third red flag, with a yellow
cross. They formed an ominous signal.
According to the international code of
signals the sentence represented by
those three pieces of colored bunting
was: "Mutiny on board" The tele-
gram sent to this city by de la Motto
vas to the effect that the ship - had
passed the Hook flying the signal of
mutlny. On its receipt the police de-
psrtment was informed of the message,
ana shortly afterward Captain Smith,
attached to the police boat Patrol, had
DIS steamers nose pointed down the
Gay to meet the incoming vessel.
Inc system of signaling at sea is one
Nnieh remains a mystery to the greater
majority OF landsmen. The average
atlzen reads in his newspaper that the
steamer So-and-So was sighted by an
osler steamer and reported sickness
aooard, but did not want assistance.
ne dlsmisses all thought of the article
,lVm ms mind, or if he gives it a second
aought he concludes that these two
vessels passed near enough to each
Osher Tor their commanders to hold a
conversation with one another. AS a
aatter OF fact the vessels may have
Oeen ten miles apart at the time of
meeting, their conversation being car
tieu on BY means of the code signals.
lhere are but eighteen flags used
" seamen for their talks with one
= snoener at long range. They represent
~ 'ne letters OF the alphabet, with the
eAception of the and vowels s'x'' and
:, Accumulation of these letters form
sle various sentences found in the code.
sL sSu oy this means shippers can ex-
.a' ..aange information with comparative
= .'ae alriiculty. Another advantage is
= a4S' the commander of an English YES
i. speaking no other language than
.AS own, can hold a conversation with
o captain of a Russian, Danish,
;a eucn or Norwegian vessel. The code
= : % International one, and the system
T rseo oy all maritime nations.
.iraa e nrst Tag composing this mari
rsas.a ae a'pnaoet is red burgee. 1t rep
ear rsu's the letter B. The letter G is
~ 'ssented BY white pennant with a |
bsIl oaa In the center; ID, by a white |
~ S $ me center of blue pennant. A |
1nant with white ball represent.