The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-14
Good Eysslght, intelligence and Application
Are Necessary
TO MAKE A COMPETENT SIGNAlMaE.
How The WIg-wag Signals Are Made = The Use OF
The Steam Sirsn Position OF Signal Boy
Cne Of Responsibility.

NOW, sonny, III Il HlsfNc WV N''f'' W
mort and threc To starboard, followed by
dash, what do you make it," askeda griz-
zled signalman from one of the battle
ships the other day as he sat down on an
ups,,rl.ea soap box ia the Brooklyn navy
yard preparatory To instructing one OF the
ship's messenger boys in the secrets of bis
craft
''Tm sure don't know, Mr.. Mokes, y
rejoincd the pn' il humbis Il ain never
fooled around them things afore.
II know IL. M oy,' said MS mentor
"but there is OILY one way TO ESt on TO
this here bus cs., and that's to 'egin
reading right on.
Tho signalman accordingly bade the boy
scat himself on another box about 20 ieet
away and. taking one of the regulation
wirwag flags In his own hands, slgnaied
the all hab,t over and over. the boy nam
ing the letter in regular succession as the
sirnalinan lnas.e thrm Within aweck one
who had hcsn an intercsted spectator of
the first dass PROGRESS was surprised 10
see the stud,nt of The signal code CORE
spending with another member of the
corgs. agparntly with all tho ease of the
Oldest signalIian ia the fleet.
The ASSURING mcssenWer's education was
far from complete. however, as before he
could hopc to enter the regular corps he
must familarizc himself with all the 9TH
cr codes used rs basis of communication
between warshirs at sea. -.
To n bright boy who has proper instriic.
tion the mastery of the intricate signs OF
shc code alphabet il far simpler than
would be at first supposed The method
of instruction adopted In the case OF the
hoy lust cited Is that usually employed by
the signalmen i'm breaking in new mem
bers Of the corps.
A certain number of the messenger boys
ON a warship are selected as possessing the
qualities which 90 TO make up good sig
,lalman--namely, good eycsight, intelli'
aence and application. The education of
these boys begins at once under one of the
expcrienced signalmen, usuallya veteran
who has had previous experience in train
inr boys for this special work. He forms
his pupils into classes according To their
watches, and from that time on the minds
Of the prospective signalmcn are filled,
alccpipg or waking, with dots dashes and
ducks. All day long while the light lasts
the. boys may be seen in pairs about the
sNI, talking to one another i'm waves and
ducks. When the regulation fag cannot
he obtained. handkerchief fixed tn the
end of q stick of wood ora CRATE bar serves
the same purpose.
Irrespective of the international code
there are four kinds Of signals on board 9
warship all variations of the Morse tele
graphic code. The wigwag signals ar
made BY substituting certain waves of th'
flag for dots and dashes on telegraphi'
soundcr In night signaling the Mors'
code Is interpreted by red and white Ian
terms placed above the other and opcratc'
by an electric key on the bridge, two re-
lights and one white light standing fo
two dots and dash, ,en the sounder.
Another means of communication whicl
exactly resembles the electric telegraph II
its method of operation is by the use of Tn
steam siren. In the charthouso and con
ming tower on every warship an electri
clock Is situated, which has several funo
tions 1t can bc adjusted To the stear
whistle on foggy day 50 as to blow
blast at certain intervals, or II may b
used to indicate the proper intervals whe
firing saluting guns. Attached To tn
electric clock Is a regular tc,cgrnphic Ike
by which the Morse code may bc deliycre
by the steam whistle.
This method of communication Is onl
when 1t is impossible 10 mako out IL
other signals, as is not only wastes "A gre'
deal OF steam and increases the coal col
sumption, hut makcs most appalin
din when any number Of ships arc engal
ed in conversation ut the same time.
The position CT " signal boy is one
considerable responsibility, rs all form
ton and sailing orders from the nagsh
arc transmitted 10 the fleet when ut 81
through his agency 4 mistake In rea
ing signal might cause very serious col
plicntIons Great care Is therefore tak'
In selecting the members OF the corps, M
only the services Of boys who have prov
themselves thorough mas rs OF the diff'
ent codes are accc ted. Even among {
most skillful signalmcn mistakes ocC
sionally occur, though the many preca
tions taken 90 insure accuracy reduce
liability o. error To "a minimum.
A signal boy ON the battleship Texas W
returned 60 the messenger service simI
because he missDcllcd word. The wigw
boy on the flagship called up the Te,
one mornir9 he fleet lay at anchor
TompklnssI.e Aftlr an exchange
wags fhr si0aal ~, ON the Texas went
the oiliccr ~ the deck OH his ship and
fornici HIN tie passed assistant I
gineer was Il 20 proceed 10 I
Cyrus n s'r' m board of special snry'
The f,s tnt engineer had h
como 81 "a l'orn up all nir
and he s1anut boards of SUR
He cohsla t'e other uiicers Of
shfp anu "a tlut tho Cyrus wa
small cau tnrhoat lying in
Bn,ollyn M Tho ord - cnl
upon tso r.bln at 10 o'clo
and ~ a. sen 9.aD o'clock, tle
nine t. he bad ro time o. ],
Jnlsf core ciifhc. the OF.
hirsd eie tic hes DO sl