Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02
The Eophone for Use in Fogs.

from the frovfdence journal.
On the trip Of the steamer Massachusetts,
from New York on Tuesday evening tesla we're
made by a board of naval officers Of the nev
apparatus for eliminating the danger OF fogs Of
sea, known as the eophone. J. W. Miller Of the
Providence and Stonington Steamship Com
psny, at the request of the United States scv-
eminent, had the Massachusetts, fitted with the
appsratus. IN order that lie workings might be
tested coming up the sound. Briefly described.
the instrument 10 q polished brass reflector Is
by II inches, concave on both sides with sound
receivers in the form Of ear trumpets attached
10 both sides This is mounted above the
deck house, on a vertical hollow brass shaft ex-
tending through the ceiling in which are two
tubes connecting with the sound receivers
passing through separate resonstors and end
ing with an ear piece covering each ear The
object OF the apparatus Is 60 produce sound In
one ear and acoustic silence in the other The
preaching or being approached in fog Ia do
termined may be understood by the following
example:
II a vessel were approaching on the star
board bow the eound Of her whistle would
strike the right side of the reflector and DO
carried 10 the right ear with silence in the lsft
BY turning the wheel until the sound ceases in
the right il will be heard in the left ear. Mo-
way between these two points of silence 10 the
situation Of the sound. and by turning the re-
fector toward this point the sound waves enter
both ears equally and the reflector 10 pointsa
with great accuracy toward the object heard
A slight vibration Of the wheel 20 breah she
sound waves will enable the operator 10 follow
q moving object in any direction. The sophons
may also be used in avoiding fixed obstacles.
such reefs and icebergs. In such eases the
warning il obtained by echo, the vessel sound
ing its whistle and receiving the echo bach
into the eophone. When the sea In clear there
Is no echo, but when obstructed in any way
there is always a reflex wave Of sound In this
manner objects 40 small as spar buoy can BE-
located, il is claimed.
As the Massachusetts did not come in con-
tact with any fog in her course il was necessary
TO resort TO artificial means for an experiment.
When the steamer came 10 her wharf at Fox
Point tug was procured and its captain was
instructed to cruise st random around the
steamer, sounding his whistle at interyals Ths
board Of officers, composed Of Capt X. b. Hof,
Licuts- Forsyth, Meies and W. II. Reedsr, U.
S.N., together with President Miller, retired 10
the pilot house and listened through the
eophone TO the tugs warnings Although un-
able 10 see il from their station IL was found
by the evidence OF persons who we're in view
Of the tug that the eophone hsd correctly To-
Gated its position. The officers viii make their
thorities at Washington
The Providence and Stonington Steamship
Company 10 always looking for new inventions
which may tend TO lessen the dangers Of nsvi-
CATION This company has also been expert
menting during the past six months with YER
tical search light for penetrating foes and n
automatic electric apparatus for blowing the
eommittse will be favorable and that como Of
the government vessels will be fitted out With
one or al OF these new inventions e q early
date.