The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-23

to a signal station located at a point
ashore, and thereafter the news of the
race will be known on land almost in
the twinkling of an eye.
Without going into a detailed de-
scription of the experiment at Dublin
that will be repeated at the interna-
tional yacht race here, the authorta-
tive account that is to hand will be of
unusual interest. To explain first what
the invention of Signor Marconi really
is, for the benefit of those who have
not yet informed themselves on the
subject, it consists of what are called.
electro magnetic waves or vibrations
for the purpose of transmitting mes
sages through the medium of ether,
that subtle and imponderabie medium
which perVades all space. The spark
discharge of Leyden jar furnishes a
convenient means of producing such
vibrations. 1t was shown first by a
mathematical investigation of Lord
Kelvins, and afterwards it was demon
strated by actual experiment that the
spark discharge is an oscillating pheu-
omenon, the electrical charge surging
to and fro like the swinging of a pen
dulum and thus giving rise to electric
waves which travel outwards in all d.
rections through space. Signor Mar
conf declares that these waves pass
all matter. 1t is well known that if a
tuning fork is put in vibration c.
ond tuning fork in the neighborhood of
the first will take up the note, provided
it is tuned to exactly the same pitch.
But if the forks are not tuned to the
same pitch, then the second fork will
remain silent. A like sympathy OBJ
tains between Signor Marconi's TeCeiv-
ing and transmitting apparatus, with
the result that the vibrations induced
at one end are exactly taken up at the
other. and read off by means of the
well known Morse code.
With this instrument Signor MarConi
made ready to demonstrate the posi-
blity of telegraphing without wires b.
following the boats at the Kingstown
regatta and flashing the news of the
various races to the signal station,
whence it was sent around the world.
What took place on that occasion Is
graphically described by the sC!ent' SITS
who were present as follows: Thu
young inventor took his place b side
the large induction coil, and we
watched with keen interest while he
adjusted the brass knobs and began to
manipulate the key. There was some
thing very striking in Signor MarcCni's
attitude as he stood with his hand up
on the key, sending wave after wave
of electric oscillation in ordered success
sion across lne lay VI bup'lll' ne
stood there with certain simple dis
nifty a quiet pride in his own control
of a powerful force, which suggested
great musician conducting the per
Torrance of a masterpiece of his own
composing.
THE sound of the instrument differed
very greatly from the familiar clicking
noise of the ordinary telegraph. The
sharp crack of the instantaneous flash
which produced the dot upon the re-
Ceiving instrument at Kingston and
the rattle of the longer discharge
which registered II dash recalled some
memory to my mind which I could not
identify until some one beside me Ie-
marked 1T sounds like a naval engage
ment' Then I knew that / was re-
minded of an occasion when / ok part
in some military maneuvers at Alder
shot, and that the noise of the instru