The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01
NEW NAVAL TELEGRAPH
MESSAGES SENT FROM VESSELS AT
SEA WITHOUT A WIRE.
DetaiIs OF an Operation Said to BE
known Only to Our Government
How 1t Is Worked.
Brooklyn Eagle

A new wireless system of transmitting
messages from the shore to vessels at sea,
or from vessel to vessel of a fleet, is said
to have been perfected by Prof. Lucien I.
Blake, of the Kansas State University.
This system, it is understood, has been
thoroughly tested by naval experts and
adopted for use by the flying squadron un-
der Commander Schley, through whom it
was brought to the attention Of the naval
authorities at Washington. Naturally, ma
val officers are very reticent or the subject
and the secret is guarded as a munition of
war. The possession of such means of COM
nunication would give our war vessels a
distinct advantage over those of other ma
tons, and those cognizant of the details of
the system cannot reveal the nature of the
invention. AT present our navy is believed
to be the only one possessing such a system.
1t IS understood that the new system uses
an apparatus placed high in the air-as the
mast of a ship-which receives vibrations
from a battery at it's base. These vibra-
tons are received upon a similar sound
board or diaphragm, which in turn changes
the vibrations to a form which can be read
by the receiver-as the Morse alphabet is
read by sound or by a printing attachment.
1t has been known for some years that cleo
trical vibrations can be produced and re-
corded at a limited distance without the
use of any connecting wire. Many cleo
tricians have experimental with the view
Of utilizing such electrical vibrations for the
transmission of signals, but with only linn
tied success. Recently Gugiiemo Marconi,
an italian experimental, has succeeded in
so arranging his instruments that the Morse
signals can be transmitted for a distance of
ton VoiInc ro0ayt IuroI1 4F +L4 {1~4
American describes a system, designed by
w. J. Clarke, of New York. By means of
suitable instruments, very much in appear
ance like those in use in an ordinary tele-
graph office, signals can be transmitted for
moderate distances through space by means
of two large plane metallic plates, hung
high in the air at the transmitting and re-
ceiving stations. The signals are made by
a Morse key of special design. The dot and
dash system, known as the Morse alphabet.
is used. When the key of the transmitter
is depressed a current acts upon the metal
lie plate in such manner as to produce vi
brations which are conveyed through space
and act upon the similar metallic plate at
the receiving station. When the plate at
the receiving station receives the vibrations
a current is sent through the apparatus at
tached to it by wires and the signals are re-
corded by means of a sounder.
A RESISTANCE TUBE.
A curious feature of the receiving instru-
ment Is a glass tube, fitted with two metal
lie plugs and filled with a specially pre-
pared metallic powder. When the powder
in the tubes is lying in its normal condition
its resistance is extremely high, reaching
often 10000 ohms. but when the key of the
transmitter at the sending station is de-
pressed electric waves are sent out into
space. These vibrations, travelling through
space from the plate at the sending sta
ton to the plate at the receiving station,
finally reach the powder in the tube. I'm
der the action Of the electric waves the par
ticleS of powder in the tube Immediately
cohere and their resistance drops down to
between seven and twenty-five OhmS. This
great decrease in resistance permits a cur
rent from a battery to pass through the
circuit, energize the magnets of the polar
lied receiving relay and operate the sound
er. The break of the current at the sending
station causes the powder in the tube to
decohere, which is facilitated by a vibrating
hammer. which constantly taps upon the
tube. While the waves from the sending
station are passing through the powder this
tapping has no effect and 1t refuses to sep
arate, but when the waves cease the pow
der instantly separates, falls to the bottom
OF the tube and the circuit is cut. This Sys-
tenn can also be operated in connection with
a sounding bell, or an incandescent lamp
can be attached and turned on and off from
q Instant StdtOn. The vibrations Will pass
from one room to another, through stone,
wood or metal, and the new system is avail
able for use during rain or a fog, where
the Photograph system would be useless. The
Photograph, or sun-f1ashing telegraph, has
been used with great effectiveness by the
British forces in their Afghanistan and At
by our own army in its campaigns in the
Indian country. 1t was invented by an En-
glishman attached to the government Per-
sian gulf telegraph department, who, in 1869.
being then on service in Bombay, brought
1t to the attention of the commander-in-
chief in India. The Telegraph consists of
a mirror, mounted, like a Camera, on a tri-
pod, with adjustments to revolve and in
Cline it SO that the suns rays can be re-
flected With precision to the receiving sta
ton. A return flash from the receiving sta
ton indicates that the instrument has been
correctly adjusted. This adjustment is eff
fected by means of a small hole in the CEN
ter of the mirror. through which, by means
of q sighting attachment like the sights of
a, gun, the operator can secure perfect
alignment with the receiving station, TWEEN
ty-ftve or fifty miles away. When the align
ment is assured and the return flash indi-
Gates that the receiving station is ready to
take the message the operator transmits the
dispatch by means of a key, which de-
presses the mirror and sends a long or short
flash to the point desired. The Morse alpha
bet is used, and the long or short flashes
of the suns rays correspond to the dot or
dash Of the ordinary telegraph instrument.
LIGHT SIGNAL SYSTEM.
A modification of this system by which a
udSn SISClIlC HSHI is uSSQ instead or the
rays Of the sun is now in use, and expert
ments have been made with the object of
conveying electric signals by means of a
ray of light. The telegraph systems now in
use have revolutionized the methods of war
fare almost as much as railroads. To APP
preciate this it may be that the
battle of New Orleans was fought two
weeks after a treaty of peace had been
signed at Client, Belgium. General Sher-
mans famous message, Hold the, fort:
am coming" was sent from mountain ton
to mountain top by signal flags.
The wireless telegraph of the fire signal
has been used from time immemorial. The
Indians in wal time kin6led their signal fires
on the headlands of Montauk to warn their
allies or the opposite shores of the APP
preach Of mutual foes. How the war sig
nal was borne by clansmen from mountain
to mountain is familiar to readers of the
Lacy of the Lake. when
''Benledi saw the Cross OF Fire,
1t glanced like lightning up Strath Ire.
Ger dale and bill the summons few.
The messenger Of fear and fate
Haste in his hurried ascent lies,
And grief is swimming in his eyes
All dripping from the recent flood,
Painting and travel soiled he stood,
The fatal sign of fire and sword