Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-01-27
| NE Sc FOR KITES.
3Nc COMMUNICATION WITH.
OUT a BATTERY.


Emergency Telegraph System.
Tho 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 tho scien-
tifo kite dicr Of that city.
The equipment used by Aerologist
Eddy for his emergency telegraph and
telephone plant comprised several Of his
uoroplanes, a reel of stout kite cord, a
reel of ordinary copper wire, a number
Of common lanterns, two simple tele-
phone transmitters and q 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 Il Mitchell of Bayonne, con-
trived to send and receive perfectly in
telligible vocal telephone messages and
deoipherable telegraph messages duri z
q 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
0nne. His aaroplanes and the wire
they carried were sent up from the
opon 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 tho dis.
tant connection with the earth. Be-
tween the two stations thus established
8 ridge of sufficient height to prevent
the experimentalists from even signal
ing to one another with lanterns also
inborvened. This neoassitated one Of the
trio stationing himself at an inferno
date point to transmit signals before
the aerial circuit was completed.
When the pilot kite attained an alti-
tude Of /, 500 feet, the wire and its low
Gring device were connected with the
kite cord. an eight ounce red lantern
designating the place Of connection
and a similar lightweight green Ian
tern being fastened to the plummet on
the end Of the wire. The lanterns were
allowed to ascend to a height Of 900
feet before an atto1apt to lower the wire
was made The wire ran out short
distance and then became jammed IN
the pulley Efforts to disengage ti ;
wire resulted IN the green lantern b.
coming detached 1t fell and was bro.
ken to atoms.
The kite string and wire were reeled
IN, and a white lantern was fastened to
the plummos. This lantern was also de-
stroyed in + o same manner as the first
Mr. Eddy and his assistants again haul
ed in the cord and wire and attached a
red lantern to the plummet. Lime al
wire were extended until the twin lan-
terms attained an altitude Of 1, 600 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 a steel rod Mr. Eddy did like
wise with his end of tho wire, the tele-
phone transmitters were attached, and
the aerial circuit was established.
Satisfied that telephone eommuniea-
tion was practicable, both experiment
ters signaled Mr.. Allen at his interme-
diato station. It 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-
lex NJ Wilson and a reporter partioi.
pating. q times watches were held
against the telephone transmit6ers, and
their tiokings were plainly heard at the
other end of tine wire. Once or twice
the telegraph eounder was attached, and
the clicking Of tho Morse alphabet on
the instrument was carried clearly to the
telephone receiver at tho other end of
the circuit. The wind fluctuations per
mitted the wire to gag so much at times
that it crossed the upper wires of the
long distance telephone lines stretched
along Lexington avenue, aud scraps Of
conversation were transmitted to the
experimeuter5. During the operations
the lantern at tho apex Of the wire arch
burned cut. Leaving the point of con,
neotiou III absolute darkness.
The wire used in the experiment. was
s tbn copper fiamoslt, about the size
Of patent thrs q, aud entirely bare Be-
ing sespen1 a from the kite string and
freed from oounocHol with any surface
object except at the ends, it WAS per-
foctly insulated from every element save
the ground and atmospherical electrical
currents This fact mado the wire mo )
potential in conducting the messages
transmitted.
The success achieved by Mr. Eddy IN
his experiment. demonstrates the fur
Their utility to which his aeroplanes can
be put by the army aignal service de-
partment Rivers and straits, forests,
towns, areas Of country where trans
portation and telegraph facilities have
been discontinued can all be quickly
hriagod IN day light or in darkness for
the establishment of temporary tele-
graph or telephone system. The use Of
insulated wire and electric batteries
and complete telegraph and telephone
instruments IN connection with the
kites will odd to the praetioability Of
the novel idea. The direction Of Che
wind is no hindrance TO the use of such
G system, as the aeroplanes can be flown
from either Of two objective points. It
is even possible to thus erect a system