The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-11

|
ordinary speed is attempted. for it is al
\ most impossible to do SO with this kind OF
instrument, good firm Roadway being the
| limit.
| when the work of connecting the wires
| was completed first-class telegraph Of
| flee was established, and Batem1n' 5
Point. the scene from which many race
has been watched, was once more direct
ly in touch with the whole world. 1t is
safe to say. however. that not one person
in a thousand knew this. but including
the two press associations and the three
newspapers represented. the press of this
country and Europe was indirectly in
communication with the Point.
the modus operandi of thus reporting
yacht racing from shore is interesting.
The observer must be familiar with the
boats, or the marks upon them. to I'M
mistakably distinguish one from the
other. He must be provided with chart
of the vicinity. and upon this indicate
the exact position of the start in order to
be able to follow the boats. He must
know or have ready for reference the sig
nails to be used on the judges boat to In
dictate postponement, the time of start, the
direction of the wind and the course to
be sailed. He must Furthermore be pro-
vided with powerful glasses. as the start
is at least two or three miles off shore and
the boats as they sail are constantly in
creasing the distance. Above all, he must
have a thorough knowledge of sails and
racing terms, so that he may form a nau-
teal story. Most necessary is an eye ever
on the alert to catch every movement of
the yachts, and a readiness to dictate to
the operator the bulletin which is to be
Spnt tl. xxlr Rot htrl o. In
he must find time to write out a running
story which will take the place of the bull
letins and give the readers who do not
care to follow each movement a good idea
of the contest.
This shore work is not all there is to
reporting yacht races for the daily papers.
While the observer and operator are at
work on land. other representatives have
gone out on tug to follow more closely
the yachts. After portion of the race is
sailed story Is written, and this. with
any official times that may have been Sc
cured, is sent ashore in launch, which
lands as near as the rocks and waves
will permit to the place where the tele
graph instrument is located. This story
is also sent over the wires to the news
paper offices. and is in print within half
hour or less of the time of landing.
Thus the world at large is kept in touch
with the racing yachts during the day.
When the race is concluded, the various
experts write out a full story of the con-
test. and it is sent out of the city by tel
egraph for the morning papers.
One reporter has witnessed the races
from this point for the past fifteen years,
during which there have been many
changes in methods. Years ago those
who went down to the Point took with
them basket of carrier pigeons. and aft
er writing messages on thin paper fasten-
cd them to the birds, which in turn were
liberated. From the loft where the birds
were owned TO the telegraph Office Il mes
senger service was maintained. and in the
course of an hour after an event had hap
pened it began to circulate 20 the press of
the country
Finally there was difficulty in securing
the birds, and some other means had to
be devised. Some reports were sent to the
city by bicyclsts. while if the race was
of considerable Importance, quite a little
sum of money was spent each day for
telephones, which have been operated at
various places At first a telephone was
placed at the Winans stable. which was
as far as the regular wires ran, and the
distance to the Point was covered on BIZ
cycles, but finally telephone was located
on temporary pole on the Point itself
and then came the adoption of the tele-
graph
The public is often inclined to criticise
the work done. little approaching the diff
ficulties which are encountered on every
hand. II may be misty. there may be a
large fleet of yachts between the observa-
~ he.
may be so far down the horizon that only
a faint form of topsail can be made out
through strong glasses. Again. the dis
tinguishing marks about the yachts, while
quite plain when they lie at anchor in the
harbor. are erased by distance. Under
such conditions one can easily imagine
what plight the observers ashore are in
when the yachts have been out of sight
for half an hour. and then come into
view.-Newport Or. - News.