The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-06
TORCHES WERE BURNED.
Members Of the Signal Corps Were al
Work Last Evening.
COMMUNICATIONS EXCHANGED.


A policeman patrolled his lonely beat
on OIney street last evening nonchlantly
swinging his billy. He paused opposite
the Hope reservoir and looked upward.
prospecting on the chances for tine day
on the morrow. The tall tower OF the
pumping station looked spectral In the
darkness. Far above hung dark clouds
with few stars peeping through. The
policeman having finished his prognos-
tfcations lowered his ewes and as he did
40 he caught sight Of a flaming torch on
the top OF the reservoir bank. The light
moved up and down for a few times and
was suddenly extinguished- Shadowy
figures moved about on the walk beside
the water.
"lt's men a fishing" said the police
man under his breath, and with a leap
and hasty step he made his way over tue
fence aud up the bank to the place where
the men were standing. There he found
that in his laudable attempt to enforce
the laws of his municipality he had
stumbled against the states own forces.
The Signal corps. Brigade OF Rhode
Island militia. was out for the first time
this season, and communications were
exchanged between "A detail at Hope
reservoir aud one at Stump Hill reservoir
tn Cumberland.
Force ut stump Hill.
The men at Stump Hill reservoir we 70
Captain Rittman. Sergeant Pollard and
Private George Moore of the Signal
CORPS. and Sergeant ii. j. Stapleton of
Company b, First regiment, X. M.
Privates f. s.. Birmingham and Edwin
Marshall of the Signal corps were at
Hope reservoir.
Footlights for placing tn. location Of
each detail were set on the ground, and
the signalling was Derforme with q tur-
pentine torce about eighteen feet long
Aftern ''calling" detail the one signalled
answered I" O. k" and communication
was established.
The men at Hope reservoir asked:
"How can you see our lightsp
Just as the answer was bein siRnalled
a number Of trains passed over the Bos-
ton aud Providence aud Providence and
Worcester tracks, and escaping smoke
cut on the light. but from the sign ais
seen this answer was understood: I'VE
can see your lights"
Newspaper Message.
Then one of the detail at Hope reservoir
turned to News reporter who was
standing by and asked. what do you
want to sayf,,
The reporter wanted to ask the men at
Stump Hill II they had seen the News's
great book offer, but it was no easy thing
TO wave the heavy torch and so this
shorter message was sent: ''The News
sends greetinRs."
The return was long Gin coming. An
other cloud OF smoke hung over the rail-
road tracks. Hope reservoir WAS "called,"
answered 20. k" and then received
this message: "Signal corps retures
greetings The sight from here is fine"
Hope reservoir then siRnallcd: Can
read you o. K now"
It was now getting quite late and after
few more messages had been exchanged
the letters &c. N for good night W re
,signalied and the corps finished its drill.
During the evening number of peo-
pie gathered on the sidewalk below aud
watched the signallinx. A small boy
who arrived late on the scene shouted.
whats the matterf Some one fallen iDf"
He was afterwards heard TO ell Jlat the
United States Signal corps" had been
1t work.