The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-16
NEW USE FOR KITES.
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION WITH
OUT A BATTERY.
MIR. Eddy OF Bayonme, N. j., Strings IA Wire
ON His Kites and Shows How tn Talk
With Friends In IA Besieged Town-IIis
Emergency Telegraph system.

With Friends In Besieged Town-His
Emergency Telegraph system.
The feasibility of establishing tele-
graph and telephone communication be-
tween two distant and isolated points
without constructing an elaborate sys-
tenn of electric batteries, poles or con-
duits and wires or resorting to the
complex day Photograph or night flash
light devices was successfully demon
strated on Saturday night at Bayonne,
N. j., by William A. Eddy, the scien-
tific kite flier of that city.
The equipment used by Aerologist
Eddy for his emergency telegraph and
telephone plant comprised several of his
aeroplanes, reel of stout kite cord,
reel of ordinary copper wire, a number
of common lanterns, two simple tele-
phone transmitters and telegraph
sounder. He utilized the ground and
atmospheric currents for his electric
power. Mr.. Eddy and his assistants,
Henry l. Allen of this city and DR..
William ii. Mitchell of Bayonne, con-
trived TO send and receive perfectly in
telligible vocal telephone messages and
decipherable telegraph messages during
period Of several hours from points
fully 900 feet distant and separated by
double that distance of wire.
The scene of Mr.. Eddy's achievement
was the Bergen Point section of Bay
onne. His aeroplanes and the wire
they carried were sent up from the
open lots in the rear of his home, on
East Third street. The kites carried and
supported the wire over houses, streets,
telephone and telegraph poles and
wires to the point selected for the dis
tant connection with the earth. Be-
| tween the two stations thus established
| ridge of sufficient height to prevent
| the experimentalists from even signal
ing to one another with lanterns also
interviewed. This necessitated one of the
trio stationing himself at an interme-
diate point to transmit signals before
the aerial circuit was completed.
When the pilot kite attained an alti'
tude of t., 800 feet the wire and its low
ering device were connected with the
kite cord, an eight ounce red lantern
designating the place of connection
and similar lightweight green Ian
tern being fastened to the plummet Oh
the end of the wire. The lanterns were
allowed to ascend to height of SOC
feet before an attempt to lower the wire
was made. The wire ran out a shor
distance and then became jammed IL
the pulley. Efforts to disengage thu
wire resulted in the green lantern be
coming detached. 1t fell and was bro
ken to atoms.
The kite string and wire were reeleC
in, and q white lantern was fastened t
the plummet. This lantern was also de
stroyed in the same manner as the first
Mr.. Eddy and ,his assistants again haul
ed in the cord and wire and attached
red lantern to the plummet. Line ant
wire were extended until the twin Ian
terms attained an altitude of 1000 feet
and then the lowering plummet an
signal lantern were allowed to descen
safely to the earth. DR.. Mitchell mex
carried the lowered end of the wire ia
down Lexington avenue and grounde
) il with steel rod. Mr.. Eddy did like
wise with his end of the wire, the tele
phone transmitters were attached, an
the aerial circuit was established.
Satisfied that telephone communities
ton was practicable, both experimer
ters signaled Mr.. Allen at his inferno
diate station. 1t was half past o'cloc
when DR.. Mitchell sent the first voci
!, message to Mr.. Eddy.
|. "Hello, do you get me?" he querlet
eyes, good, +" replied Mr.. Eddy.
General conversation over the viii
ensued, Mrs Eddy, Mr.. Allen. Fredel
ick M. Wilson and reporter partic
mating. At times watches were hel
) AGAINST the telephone transmitters, an
their tickings were plainly heard at tt
other end of the wire. Once or twit
: the telegraph sounder was attached an
5 the clicking of the Morse alphabet 9
the instrument was carried clearly to II
telephone receiver at the other end
the circuit. The winds fluctuations pc
: mitted the wire to sag SO much at TIM
that it crossed the upper wires OF Il
lung distance telephone lines stretche
along Lexington oNon"e' a." "P
conversation were transmitted to Il
experimenters. During the operation
!, the lantern at the apex of the wire arc
! burned out, leaving the point OF CO..
nection in absolute darkness.
The wire used in the experiment. WI
thin copper filament, about the 81
of patent thread, and entirely bare. b
ing suspended from the kite string al
freed from connection with any surfa
I, object except at the ends, 1T was pc
fectly insulated from every element sa
: the ground and atmospherical electric
currents. This fact made the wire mo
potential in conducting the messag
transmitted.
: The success achieved by Mr.. Eddy
his experiment demonstrates the III
: Their utility to which his aeropianes q
be put by the army's signal service q
partment. Rivers and straits, fores'
towns. areas of country where tran
a portation and telegraph facilities ha'
. been discontinued can all be QUICK
l l...l...kt i'm darkness 4