Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-02
MARCONrS SYSTEM
Proves Its Value to Naval officers by
Extended Experiments.

New York. Nov. 1.-The United
States ship New York. flagship Of Rear
Admiral Farquhar and the battleshiT
the anchorage of 35th street North
river. after having been employed foI
three days in evolutions for the pur-
pose Of demonstrating the working OF
the Marconi system Of wireless teleg-
raphy under various practical condi-
tons The operations were under the
direction Of a board Of three naval Of
ficers. namely, Lieut. Commander J. 4.
Newton. aboard the Now York; ]. w.
BlisE. with the instruments at Nave
sink. y. j.. and Lieut.. T. X. Hill.
aboard the Massachusetts.
Mr. Marconi was handicapped by in
complete instruments which had been
brought to the United States simply
for the purpose Of reporting the in
tcrnationaI yacht races and was un-
able to give the government board as
thorough a demonstration Of the capa-
bilitics of the apparatus as he would
have wished. Eut the result of the
working of three sets of instruments
employed i'm the tests Of the past three
days was To- show the government
board that there i prac teal utility in
the system which would he Of inesti-
mahle value TO naval vessels during
cvolutions of any kind and especially
when on scouting duty.
The members of the government
board would he obliged to call atten-
tion to the fact that during these tests
it was possible for any instrument To-
Gated within the circumscribed radius
If 20 chm ~ DESTROY tho off
tivcnoss Of other instruments at any
time. While the Massachusetts. for
instance, was telegraphing to the New
York. the operator at Navesink. sent
a message at the same time and the
result on the receiving side Of the New
Works set was a tumble and unde-
ciphcrablc characters caused by the
two sets of electrical impulse reaching
the instrument at the same time. This
was deliberately done.
Mr.. Marconi said that he could prevent
this interference on the part Of a third
station. but that he would not demon
strate the fact during these tests because
he had not Vet secured his patent for that
feature
that pleased all the officers aboard the
New lork occurred, today. While the
New York and Massachusetts. the latter
aStern. We're putting out to sea the Mar.
conf operator on the battleship called III
the flagship and clicked out that there
was man overheard. The message was
taken TO the officers who We're clustered
after trying to make out why the Massa
cnusettS was hcaVing to.
Inc battleship's lifeboats were rapidly
lowered and We're soon pulling a race for
the rescue Of the unlucky Jackie. Signals
were sent aioft notifying the flagship of
what had occurred. but during the 10 min |
utes occupied in displaying the message. |
Admlral Farquhar had been in constant |
communication with the Massachusetts |
DE wireless telegraph and had learned |
i iihiat the man overheard had caught thu |
!nIeDuoy thrown by sailor and was |
therefore not III much danger
Admiral Farquhar ordered the Nassa |
to report when the man had hes, |
lha Up, and half an hour later while |
q the port llfeboat through their glasses
ana wondering which boat had sucreeded
~ rtscuIhS MN, the receiver in the in |
bnard 1feh room recorded that the star
rom view from the New York had made
the rescue and been hoisted aboard,
Beyond the simple test of the ability of
me instruments to transmit and receive
messages. the government boards mn
Iramme called for long distance trans
MISSION ana interference tests. on Mon
lay, inc New York lowered about thr
sandy Hook ightship and tho Massacbn,
5etts steamed off east at about II knots
,onstant communication was kept up he
.ween the two ships. the Instruments
Working without a hitch until the hattie.
snip mad proceeded 30 miles Then the
'ecordinS Of the impulses from tho Mas
>,achusetts by the receiver aboard tho
s J nork began to grow weaker ana III
q miles became unreadable. MIR MIN
. ON expressed regret at his inability ID
now the board transmission at 50 mill
which would have been nossibIe nj,
more preparation. ''
FIVE successful interferences were made
m that day by the Massachusetts w ,ihue
>ew York. - the
The wind kicked up such sea. Tpas
Z Y, mat poth ships came inside ana III
hored eight miles apart. The two sbi iri
owever. were in communicatinnt bro ,i,.yH'
Ut the day and messages were exchanead :
very lew minutes. The three stafiSre
ontlnued the demonstrations. TODAY and
mere VIII be more work tomorrow. WIZ :
ne instruments on the New York viii II :
ken 70 sea on torpedo boat. This wiG !
nj Ine aplIily q the apparatus to stand !
mailer vessel. ~ i'ihs ri