New-York tribune., 1902-12-22
THE TABLE HEAD STATION.
Equipment Similar to That at Poldhu and
Cape Cod.

The great achievement announced by Mr. Marconi
has been expected for long time by scientists all
over the world. who have been keenly interested in
his experiments. lasting more than year, at Table
Head. Cape Breton.
Prior to last December the greatest distance COW
cred by wireless teegraphy scarcely exceeded
hundred miles Early in that month Mr.. Marconi
visited Newfoundland. ostensibly to establish sta
tion for reporting passing ships. But he also N
Quoted experiments secretly to discover whether
messages could be sent across the ocean by his
system. without telling the world about it in ad-
vance he had equipped a station at Poldhu. Corn
wall with more powerful transmitting apparatus
than had been employed anywhere up to that time.
While on Signal Hill. Newfoundland about eighteen
hundred nautical miles from Poldhu. Mr. Marconi
received faint sIgnas-the letter "S" several times
reneated-both on December u and December IL.
1901 His vertical sustained by a kite.
whose unsteadiness made it difficult TO obtain uni
form results One two small ballons which ne
tried for the same purpose escaped. To the coherer
al the receiving station recording apparatus was
attached The signals were caught only by the ear
with the aid OF a telephone. Under the circum-
stances some scepticism was felt among electrical
experts as o the character of the performance IL
was deemed credible that Mr.. Marcori. whose hon
estv no one questioned. might possibly have been
deceived There was no independent testimony to
confirm his belief.
An doubt vanished however when the next i'm
portant test was made. Mr.. Marconi was then on
the steamship Philadelphia, on his way to Amer
too Al ttis time not only did he attach record
ING apnaratus to his receiver. but he also OBTAINED
certificates from the ships officers as TO MS lat-
tude and longitude at certain critical periods
rims his distance from Poldhu was estabIsned
,ayond question On February 25 when 1S5l12
miles away A distinct message made up OF words
nos received on shipboard- On the following day
,ypals were recognized at distance of 20ss miles
-rba interval was equal TO or greater than that
tatu,een PoIdhu and Signal Hill. The Philadelphia
tests rendered it highly probable. therefore, that
Az Narconi was not misled in regard TO the signal
Hill experiments
D,,r,rq the last few weeks messages have been
-, from, Poldhu to cruisers in Russian waters
"a also TO Spezzia. Italy. not far from Genoa IN
,,bar instance was the distance over one thou
o,5 miles These incidents possessed some per
oraI and political Importance. but ADDED hothihs
=. tba nreyio,s demonstrations of the possoility
"a Iopp distance work. The King of Italy kindly
,aas a, Mr. Marconi's disposal the warship carlo
Alberto for the purpose of visiting cape Breton.
she sailed from Spezzia just before the close OF
e,.arnhar The vessel equipped with receiv-
a., ,pstrunnents but not with transmitter or
ssi.nt mower to send very far. 1t was expected
80 o.,eron+s would be made both at Spezza ana
I,o1db, ia talk 10 Marconi on this voyage across
a.. Atlantic but il did not appear to De feasible