The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-07
A NEW SIGNAL KITE.
william 4. Eddy's Device for Use
in War.


NEW YORK. oct. William A. Ed
dy has arranged a new sClf-illuminated
kite for war signaling in midai-. and for
signaling between exploring parties.
This is a mammoth kite. nine feet In d.
aIneter. flown with three lanterns fas-
tened close 10 the kite and brightly light
ing II. The lights can re shut of and
turned on by pulling tie signaling linc
specific distances. thus making tn dot
ana dash Morse signal code The signal
line Is loose and joins the main line mt
The earth Concerning the device, Mr..
Eddy says.
In my recent experiment with a self
Illuminated kite. devised for making i'm
termittent light flashes at night. the chIef
alHlculty ! encountered was in starting
The kite without assistau nee. for be
HeVed that the kite would be more useful
If Il could be handled by one person
started the kite aIoft by first leaning IL
against a telegraph pole IN "A perpeudicu-
Tar position, with the lighted lanterns sus-
pended near its face When started 10
run tho cord leading 20 the kite was in "a
horizontal position, but the lanterns stiu
remained perpendicular as the mammoth
kite rose rapidly. The illumination was
an instant and brilliant success. the face
OF the huge Kite being sharply OurTfvai
asal.Sl me dark sky. While the kite
ly9t o-t tlELl, / soon found that the light
60 lanterns caused the bride 10 exert a
0tIs'n TOO low down on the kite. thus al
ne hrst ascension lesseuiag the steep
ness with which the kiJe cord was car
ned up into the air. but by changing
Inc I|lng point on the bride 20 "a higher
position l soon Overcame this disHcuiIy
lt IS AWAY s "a great advantage in night
signaling and other experiments 70 fasten
apparatus direct 10 the kite for thus a
5l.ateT helSht can be attained 1 have
attached very few things direct 20 kites
IN aerial experimental work because any
inluB that affects the balance or centre
or gravity Of the kite viii instantly pre-
vent an ascension unless a counter weight
IS added 10 restore the centre OF gravity
Even q Few ounces I'm weight may urrr-uf
an ascension in light winds. In my self
luminous kite the bride only is affected
and this was remedied easily have moi
used lncandescCnt lights. because lighting
with electric wire requires insulation and
a return circuit. besides causing expense
ana difficulty in the TRANSPORTATION OF
exploration. or night caruivaIs. ] have
proqtced an apparatus which weighs only
eight or ten pounds, and which can be
carried In pack by one man A light
tripod, weighing about half a pound. can
De used 10 place the kite and lanterns in
an upright position when starting the kite
up into the air 1t is evident that expedi-
tons in country having high hills can
communicate readily with each other in
this way. and at small cost
The Illuminated kite remained alOft at
BayOnne from s TO nearly 10 D. m and
the clear glass candle lanterns were haul
ed down in good order al that hour. Ad-
ditiOnal improvements remain 20 be made
with the signaling line for shutting OF
and on the light in each lantern thus
enabling me to send three messages at
once by the dot and dash signals OF the
Morse soundcr, light flashes taking the
place OF sound