Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-29

critical inspection of the same and also
Of the fortifications at Fort Delaware
Yesterday a stretch OF ID miles was
gone over and carefully scrutinized. The
men went north as far as RED Lion
creek and south to Liston's Point.
Everything within those bounds was
carefully examined and the condition
noted down. Not only 10 the imme-
diate river bank inspected, but also the
country back for quite distance. All
tributaries of the river are also includ-
ed. Canals, railroads crossing streams
and bridges all come urder the eagle
eye of the soldiers. They fake cogni-
Zance of everything, including the depth
and width of streams at different stages
of the tide, and when the inspecting
crew returns to headquarters the notes
are turned over to Lieut., G. X. Bodies,
the navigator, who complies the infor-
nation and corrects the charts. Three
copies are made Of each. One is sent
to the Navy Department, one to the
military officials in the State of Penn
sylvania and one they keep themselves.
This work is done in contdence-that
is, the findings arc held secret-and the
object in doing it is to give the ma
tional and State authorities correct
and accurate knowledge of the streams
which hostile forces might attempt to
occupy. The officials in this manner
understand theirwaterways so well that
they can readily tell how to proceed in
the event of trouble that would necessi-
tate additional Notifications or move
ments of troops on or along the rivers.
AS stated above, 15 miles of the Della
ware shore was inspected and data taken
yesterday To-day the men went over
about the same distance on the New
Jersey shore. They went from Always
creek to Firms Point. This work will
be continued during the encampment
and it is understood that others con-
nected with the naval branch Of the
nations defence forces will take it up
where the Reserves leave off and will
continue the accommodating as long as
the weather will permit
The Pennsylvania Naval Reserves are
three years old, and to-day they are as
well drilled as any set Of military men
in the National Guard, and their time
at encampments is all put to good use,
The officers and men seem thoroughly
saturated with their work, and no task
is too arduous for them. They are in
fatuated with their organization.
But the gathering and compiling of
data along the shores is not, by any
means, all Of the work that is required
Of the men. When the reporter arrived
at the camp the signal corps-20 men,
10 from Philadelphia and 10 from Pitts
burg-were found busily engaged re-
ceiving practical lesson in Photograph
work from Signal Quartermaster E. G..
Rhoads. Ist-l
Heliography is means of signaling
by sun flashes from mirrors 1t is the
scientific application of crude meth
cd of conveying information by signals
which has often been used by savage
tribes. The Cubans have at last taken
to this as a safe means of transmitting
intelligence beyond their Island. This
method is particularly irritating to the
Spaniards, from the fact that it is i'm
possible to arrest or in any way inter
fere with the rays of the sun-or, more
correctly speaking, the sun light.
Yesterday the signal corps engaged
in heliograph work between the earth
works at Delaware City and the ReedJ
Island station. This morning they
we're practicing boat evolutions, which
we're governed by code of prearrangec
signals. This was an extremely pictur-
esque piece Of work, the evolutions be-
ing movements by boats corresponding
closely to infantry maneuvres.
A detail from the signal corps put ur
the telephone line from the end of the
pier to the guard house, and the line
has proved quite successful. As practi-
cal evidence of this, word was sent by
phone on Tuesday night telling of the
trouble on the steamboat Riverside, and
within 10 minutes a boat was manned
and put out, and inside of 20 minutes
four boats wore out, Notwithstanding
the pier is fully 200 yards from the
camp and the report reached the guarc
house at about o'clock, when all save
the guard force were asleep.
The mon in the signal corps in fact
can turn their hands to most anything
To return to the original subject
the wig-wag system of signaling by fial
has been developed to such an extern
in the Reserve corps that it can be re
lied on at any distance within sight.
AS matter of fact, the signal servic,
connected with the battalion is ava,
up in its business, due mainly to tn,
untiring efforts of Quartermaste
Rhoads, who, while he has only beer
the instructor for about six months
has given it his whole attention when
ever circumstances would permit, anC
during the present encampment he il
making excellent use of the time. HI
has learned that when the men fine
out the great advantages arising from
proficiency they go at it with will
and are eager pupils The Philadel
phia battalion has been greatly helped
also by the kind assistance of Lieut.
Uberroth, an Annapolis man who hal
been assigned to duty on the revenue
cutter Hamilton, and also by Lieut.
Brooks, a graduate of West Poin
Academy, who has been detailed to d.
duty as military instructor at Girart
College.
The officers think Augustine Pier ar
and they think it should be used /
great deal for that puprose. 1t is leve
and roomy and close to the river an6
Capt. W. Wilson of the steamship st.
Louis made the selection. He is II
camp with the marines, Capt. Wilson
has been in the naval service for A
years. He served all through the late
war with Farragut. But he is not an
old man yet by any maens. He has
always taken great interest in the
Reserve force of Pennsylvania, and il
looked upon by the men as father.
He is quite active and exceedingly
cheerful and sociable.
Camp will break on Saturday morn
ing when one of the most enjoyable
periods in the lives of some of the mer
will come to much regretted termina
tion.
The encampment of the Pennsylvani;
Naval Reserves, at Augustine Pier
closed Saturday. The week was a'succesl