Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-01-03

The system was found useful in those
later voyages to the North Pole, which
have not been followed up since gen
eral exploration OF the open Arctic sea
was effected. 1t has also saved many
lives, prevented collisions, and caught
many fugitive criminals. Sailing yes
sells are provided with a water paddle
to drive the necessary electric general
ing mechanism for signalling, when
the ship is in motion.
In some Of the much travelled sea
regions another method of communl-
cation is used, for the daytime. A
sail cloth woven with metallic wire IS
hung between the tips OF two mats,
and is connected to a special electric
generating apparatus producing waves
of extreme sharpness and great IN
tensity, that follow each other at the
rate Of zoo per second. An electric
stress thus propagated to infinite DIS
lance is. at moderate distances, strong
enough to be collected by the metal
lied sail of another vessel. One ship,
for example, wishes to know whether
there is another within the area OF
SIGNALLING. but out Of sight. The mus
zeal note formed by electric inductive
waves is set going, and by means Of a
key is stopped and started again at
will. Other vessels in the area have
watchers who, at intervals, listen to an
exquisitely sensitive telephone made
selectively sensitive to waves of eX-
actly 200 per second. This is brought
about by tuning fork attachment to
the diaphragm, tuned exactly 10 re-
spOnd to waves at that rate; hence, al
though the part of the waves collected
by the sail cloth is many millions times
less than could be gathered if 1t were
close to the signalling ship, yet the
tuning fork collects successive waves
until the amplitude of vibration is suf-
ficient to cause audibility. The sig
Mailing current is continuous for sew
eral seconds. Then the transmitting
vessel stops it and connects the sail
with its receiving apparatus, to listen
for return wave. After the prelim-
mary signals have been exchanged,
conversation is carried on in the usual
way. 1t is slow, of course, owing to
the time necessary for the successive
impulses to rise to the point of audi
bility; but the method is very accurate
and reliable in all but fOggy or rainy
weather.
For foggy weather signalling, there
is still another ingenious device. A
circular hole is cut in the vessel below
the water line, about two feet in diam
eter and closed by a circular steel plate
or diaphragm one-eighth of an inch
thick. On the inner side there is
thick iron chamber, completely inclos-
ing the space behind the diaphragm;
and here is placed a small, shrill whis-
tie worked by compressed air or steam
and comfortable by q valve or key.
Alongside of this apparatus is another
diaphragm made like the first; but
there extends from the centre of it
very short. fine steel wire, highly
stretched. the other end Of which is
connected TO a sensitive diaphragm
from which tubes lead to both ears Of
the signalman. BY an adjustable at
tachment this steel wire can be regu-
lated To greater or less tension, as a
violin ST e g is: and it is tuned to re-
spond to the note given out by the
whistles on ether steamers, which are
all of precisely the same pitch. In
fogs. the signalman alternately sounds
the whistle and listens for a return;
his receiving apparatus not being re-
sponsive to any other sound than that
to which it is tuned-heyond the rip
Ming or dashing of water on the sides
Of the vessel. and the movement of
the propelIing shutter machinery,
which are continuous, and do not in