The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-04
THE TELEPHONE AT SEA.
Possibilities of Science shown in a
Fascinating Manner.

From the London Invention.
Not long ago there were noted in these
columns attempts at deep sea sounding
by means of cartridge so arranged as
to explode only upon reaching the bot
tom of the sea. The depth would be as
certained by the use of microphone I'M
der the water. and a calculation of the
depth from the time taken between the
explosion and the launching of the pro-
Jectlle from the surface. 1T suggests a
neld for invention for signaling at sea.
Whlch cannot fail to be productive of in
terest, benefit and money to the inventor
If properly worked out The possibilities,
Of II are almost infinite
AT present amcug the few methods en-
ployed Tor signaling to great distances
IS the use Of the heliograph by mirrors, or
ny the use of flashes frC.n the search
llgnt or other methods. Within certain
limitations these ways of transmitting in
telllgence are successful but the meteor
oioslcal conditions are not always favor
able to them. No matter what the state
OF the weather may be, however. the water
at certain depth below the surface re-
mains in a stratic condition. and II would
ne out simple matter for signals not
electric in their entirety. to be communi-
Gated through that medium.
water transmits sound much more read
ny IMAM AIR, and much more completely.
III, therefore, two ships at sea wish to
communicate with each other, even from
a distance of many miles, by the use
of submarine microphone and a nroner
contrivance for producing sharp success
slVe sounds of detonations, We're thrown
overheard, the wave impule OF sound
would be conveyed through the water and
caught and transmitted from the micro
phone IN manner which would result
in an almost perfect system of signaling
al sea, and also from vessels at sea to the
shore.
For instance. approaching the coast
through a heavy fog vessel armed with
TINS apparatus, which might easily be
made self-recording or self-signalng by
means OF electricity, could throw over
It's apparatus, which would communicate
with permanent contrvances anchored
along the coast, and connect with the life
saving or other stations, by which atten-
ton could be called from one to the other
Those connected with the shore could be
kept In continuous action, sounding out
their notes or warning under the water
so that any ship approaching the coast In
heavy fog would have but to heave
over its side Its microphone, and ascertain
with precision both its distance and its
location with regard to the shore The
subject is full of fascinating probabilities
and II is sufficiently within the range of
known electrical and mechanical ap-
pliances at present in use. to be resolved
| into an invention which will contribute In
the largest measure to the safety of our
coasts and vessels.
The fogs are the most fruitful source of
disaster mat we have. At the sinking
OF the Seaforth in the channel, had such
an apparatus been on board, no doubt
both the vessels would have avoided col
lision; there can be little doubt that its
use would be made obligatory upon all
vessels. In the case of steamships the
sound of the paddle or screw would be
conveyed to a much greater distance in
the water than is audible to the ear, and
by the aid Of submarine permanent micro
phones, could be heard at a distance, and
most probably, the direction, as well as
approximate distances easily ascer-
tanned. Such a vital subject as this can
not fail to attract attention, and we be-
lieye that not many months will go by
before such an apparatus will be per-
fpcted