The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-03-22

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 heliograph or night flash
light devices was successfully demon
strated on Saturday night at Bayonne,
N. j., by William A. Eddy, the scien-
tiic kite fier 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, IA
reel of ordinary copper wire, 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 H. Mitchell Of Bayonne, con-
trived to send and receive perfectly, in
telligible vocal telephone messages and
decipherable telegraph messages during
a period of several hours from points
fully 1000 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
| q ridge of sufficient height to prevent
the experimentalists from even signal
| ing to one another with lanterns also
| intervened. 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 1900 feet, the wire and its low
ering device We're connected with the
kite cord, an eight ounce red lantern
designating the place Of connection
and similar lightweight green lam
tern being fastened to the plummet on
the end of the wire. The lanterns were
allowed to ascend to height of 500
feet before an attempt to lower the wire
was made The wire ran out short
distance and then became jammed in
the pulley. Efforts to disengage the
| wire resulted in the green lantern be-
coming detached. 1t fell and was bro
| ken to atoms.
The kite string and wire were reeled
in, and q white lantern was fastened to
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 q
red lantern to the plummet Line and
wire were extended until the twin Ian
terms attained an altitude of ], 900 feet,
and then the lowering plummet and
signal lantern were allowed to descend
safely TO the earth. DR.. Mitchell next
carried the lowered end of the wire far
down Lexington avenue and grounded
it with steel rod. Mr.: Eddy did like
wise with his end of the wire, the tele-
phone transmitterS were attached, and
the aerial circuit was established.
Satisfied that telephone communica.
tion was practicable, both experiment
ters signaled Mr.. Allen at his interme-
diate station. 1t was half past O'Clock
when DR.. Mitchell sent the first vocal
message to Mr.. Eddy.
"Hello, do you get me?' he queried.
eyes, good, replied Mr.. Eddy.
General conversation over the wire
ensued, Mrs Eddy, Mr.. Allen, Freder
ick N. Wilson and a reporter partici
pating. At times watches were helt
against the telephone transmitters, anc
their tickings were plainly heard at the
other end Of the wire. Once or twice
the telegraph sounder was attached, ant
the clicking of the Morse alphabet OF
the instrument was carried clearly to tht
telephone receiver at the other end o.
the circuit. The wind 8 fluctuations per
mitted the wire to sag so much at times
that it crossed the upper wires Of th'
long distance telephone lines stretched
. along Lexington avenue, and scraps o
, conversation were transmitted to th
experimenters. During the operation
the lantern at the apex Of the wire arcl
burned out. leaving the point of con
nection in absolute darkness.
. The wire used in the experiment wa
, thin copper filament, about the sz
) of patent thread, and entirely bare. Be
ing suspended from the kite string AM
freed from connection with any surfac
y object except at the ends, it was per
, fectly insulated from every element saw
. the ground and atmospherical electrica
currents. This fact made the wire NOR
potential in conducting the message
transmitted.
The success achieved by Mr.. Eddy il
his experiment demonstrates the fur
ther utility to which his aeroplanes ca
be put by the army's signal service de
partment Rivers and straits, forests
towns, areas of country where trans
portation and telegraph facilities hav
been discontinued can all be quiokl
bridged in daylight or in darkness fo
the establishment Of temporary tele
graph or telephone system. The use O