The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-29
JUST WHAT MARCONI HAS DONE
DETAILS or THE EXPERIMENTS
IN NEWFOUNDLAND.
Much 10 he Done Yet Before wireless
Telegraphy Across the Ocean Ii n
Commercial success Conditions I'm
der Which IL Succeeds -Marconi's
Own Theory OF the Phen onena.

OWu hutOFy " INV EuchoifVfo'
ST. JoHN's, N. F., Dec. 20. -Marconi's
success In sending a wireless electric signal
over the ocean came as a surprise to the
people here In a measure. He came here
oetensibly to select a base at some point
between here and Cape Race where he
could initiate experiments for picking
up the Cunarders beyond the Grand Banks,
about 800 miles Of the coast. He brought
along two assistants and two portable bal
looms. six kites and a variety Of other APP
paratus.
For the past week he and his aids toiled
away from daylight until dark on the bleak
hilltop. People here felt that the trio
were having hard luck. for they met a
series of mishaps.
On Tuesday they sent up a balloon.
II was IA feet in diameter and contained
800 feet Of hydrogen gas. Besides it's guide
rope 1t upheld an aerial wire, the funda-
mental feature of the Marconi system.
and II was kept In position by four stays.
But before these could be fitted the balloon
burst its rope and wire and sailed away.
On Wednesday Marconi sent up a silk
and bamboo kite 0 feet square, which he
succeeded in maintaining In midair for
nearly four hours. II was explained that
he did this to discover the velocity Of the
air currents and to determine the feasibility
OF balloon ascensions.
He got up the kite on Thursday for a
shorter period. On Friday the bree ze
was too stiff TO admit Of anything being
done and on Saturday conditions were worse
and he had to abandon work. Sympathy
was general for him.
But on Saturday nigh, Mr.. Marconi him
self gave out a brief simple statement Of
his achievement In a word Marconi an
nounced that he had solved the problem
of wireless telegraphy across the Atlantic.
Then he explained the process.
This spring the company which con-
trolls his invention for business purposes
built at Poldhu, in Cornwall. the largest
station Of his system yet in exis, ence. 1t
is fitted with an electrical installation ope-
rating an instrument which sends out a
force equal to thirty horse power.
This great current Of electric fluid Is
discharged into the outer air by a giant
conductor composed Of twenty poles. each
2lO feet high. and fitted with the aerial
wires indispensable for the work. inter-
woven 70 hat the current is given forth
a. a homogeneous whole. The power
VI NllN Ntllptl II WV 'lliIlAlIFNl llntb kltdNtl
than that of the ordinary Marconi stations
for marine news, and the place was de-
signed especially for new experiments
covering a Wild range Of ocean.
The establishment cost SEQ 900. II was
partly blown down by the September
gales on the British coast. l. il now partly
rebuilt, and before Mr.. Marconi left Eng
land he prepared a plan by which the chances
- ..o.a,;, ,y.,1;,o o,,lJ -, .;og,,l
He instructed the electrician in charge
Of Poldhu to be prepared for the receipt
Of a certain cablegram from him. II
would indicate thai the inventor was ready
with his apparatus here and that begin
ming the day after receiving the despatch
the Poldhu man was TO send for three hours
daily, at fve-minute intervals. signals ac-
cording to the p~rearranged plan, the sig
mails 10 be continued daily (Sundays ex-
copied, until instructions to the contrary
were received
The day for beginning was Tuesday
last, hut hat Gay the balloon blew n ard
nothing was accomplished. The hours
were from 3 TO g p. NJ, Greenwich time,
corresponding here 20 from 1880 4 NJ
T. 80 p VI The signals were the Morse
characters. for the letter -S"-three dots,
/ thur. CO.
On Woduceday The first kite was got up
and by it, aid the Grr.al Niro here VA,
got into uso. The result was thai the
Cornwall signals were received They
wrr. distinctly Loti"elhl" by Mr. Marcuni
ana hi- as.i-'an Nj Kemp, both II whom
took turns ia Watching for the iIok-
The t.'trr 20 distinguish them the tVo
electricians had telephone attachments