The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06

race he Is neeter than our men, and in the pure
skill demanded by the high Jump and throwing
the hammer he easily surpasses them. Boal
OF Harvard did not throw the hammer
twenty-seven feet further than Greenshields
OF Oxford. because he ia an overwhelming
colossus. 1t was a victory not OF strength but
Of technique. Boae OF Harvard has discov-
cred possibilities in the art OF throwing the
hammer. Just as American engineers have dis
covered possibilities in the science Of con-
structing locomotives. Tho superior adapta-
bilty OF the American genius comes out in
both fields"
The Spectator says: 1T 10 worthy OF note
that all four long races were won by the Brit
ish athletes. the winners in each instance be-
ing Cambridge mon; that in throwing the
hammer the Americans completely distanced
their opponents and. finally. that the visiting
team included at least four Irish or American
Irish athletes the i'll health OF one Of whom
was probably responsible for the defeat OF the
Americans. The effect OF the meteorological
conditions on the athletes seems to show that
every nation bears It's own heat best"
The Rev. J. NJ. Bacon and Messrs. ]. n. and
n. Maskeyne, the well-known wizards OF the
Egyptian Hail. have recently carried out a Sc
ries Of interesting experiments in wireless te-
legraphy with balloon. AS is well known. the
safety OF the navigator and mis- vessel frequent
ly depends upon warnings conveyed from time
TO time by sound. 1t has been found at sea
that there appears to be something IRA
tional in connection with the signals which
are heard. Fog signals and sirens seem to be-
have In the most unaccountable manner.
Zones OF silence are experienced in which tho
warning signals cannot be heard. although
the vessel may be close upon the rocks. the
presence Of which the warning is intended to
indicate. All kinds OF abnormal devations In
the apparent direction from which a sound
emanates are noticed. In short. the mariner
is brought face to face with all the peculiari-
ties OF atmospheric acoustics.
Yesterdays experiments were devised with
the object OF ascertaining precisely what is the
nature OF these pccuiarities. and what are the
conditions under which they are observed.
When these results have been secured scien-
lists will be in a position to provide remedy
for the errors alluded to. The balloon ascent
was made from Newbury at . in the evening.
1t rose rapidly. drfted away in the direction Of
Reading. and was quickly lost TO sight in the
clouds from which it did not emerge for
some minutes. when it appeared as a speck in
the distance. In the meantime. Mr. y. Maske-
lyme transmitted several messages to the occu-
pants of the balloon, who gave signals that
they were being received. The first message
watch" rapidly followed by another. :" Beg par
don. Maunder has 1t. Oh, these astrono-
mers!" Heavy guncotton cartridges sus-
pended below the car Of the balloon we're fired
from the electric station on the ground when
the balloon was some miles distant, and there
were similar discharges from the electric sta
ton. which shook the ground.
Another experiment was the firing OF pow
der magazine electrically from distant point
without contact the firing point being the
transmitting station. between which and the
balloon communication was maintained when
the ascent took place. The object of this ex-
pertinent was to give practical demonstration
OF the possibility OF utilizing the principle Of
etherc communication In time OF war to eX
plode mines and similar destructive con-
| triyances. the only connection necessary
| being through the medium Of the all-per-
| vading ether. The advantages Of this system
| are that there would be no connecting wires to
| be cut by an enemy nothing which could fall
| into their hands. while nothing could prevent
the communication from being established at
! the right moment. The initial experiment
| proved perfect success. Mrs. Mackarness.
wife OF the Recorder Of Nevbury. touched a
! button attached to the powerful instrument in
! the electric station. with the result that at a
| distance OF 400 yards from the magazine the
| structure was instantly blown into atoms. Mr..
| Maskelyne explained that similar result
| could have been obtained with the same in
struments at distance Of ten miles Mes
sages were afterward transmitted from the
| electric station to the receiving station with
entire success.
| Among naval officers there seems to be a
| tendency to believe that the possible benefits
OF the new system have been much exagger-
ated. but all admit that If one speedy cruiser
liltn thn Sfh vi
sion. can signal the enemies approach. an
| enormous advantage will have been obtained
| Neither flags nor semaphores can be relied
| upon at this long range, and when the weather
| is foggy the steam siren cannot generally be
| trusted over one or two miles.
So far the experiments have been very salts.
| factory but not yet to such an extent that the
displacement OF the old methods can be said
to be in eight But when tho manruvres are
over it is expected that sufficient evidence viii
have been collected wherein to base a fairly
accurate estimate Of the extent to which wire
less telegraphy. in its present state OF develop
ment can be probably employed in time o
war.
Important experiments are also being car
ried on on board the war vessels forming thu
fleets in the present naval manTuvres Signo
Marconi is on board the Juno. In Milford
Haven Bay. busy at work with Capt. Jackson
who has long studied the subject OF wireless
telegraphy in tho navy. But great secrec!
is maintained as to his dongs 1t is tradition
OF the British Navy that no information can b.
given regarding even the most innocent ex
periments until full information has been lai'
before the Admiralty
Unlike most guests on her Majestys vessels
Mr. MarcOn does not take his meals in tn
wardroom. but in tho Captains cabin IL