New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-27
HERTZ WAVES TESTED.
Not Influenced by the Worst Mag
netic Storm for Years.

Wireless telegraphy has recently been subjected
to a test which is practically unique in its his
tory. Never before, since the name of Marconi
became familiar to the world. have the conditions
existed for the demonstration. The ordeal to which
reference is now made though possibly foreseen
by man, not Of human design. It was dictated
by nature.
The most violent magnetic storm that has been
observed for more than twenty years occurred IN
America and Europe only few weeks ago. Elec-
trio currents were excited in the earth's crust
which made end of mischief. One of the cleo
trio railways in the British capital. the City and
South London. completely paralyzed. and other
lines in the same vicinity sensibly affected
At Geneva and various other places on the CONT
nent similar experiences were reported The ef-
feet on telegraphy even more disastrous. ordt-
narily, in order to make a circuit between two
places, the instruments at both stations are
grounded that connection is furnished In
direction by wire and in the other by the
earth. Such arrangement permits the earth cur
rents get up into the wire and to interfere with
the sending Of messages OF course II the strength
Of the current were uniform teegraphy could be
carried at such times without battery. But
the intensity huctuates violently that it is i'm
possible to adjust the Instruments thereto.
In the United States during great part Of Fri
day night, October 80, and the following day. the
operation OF telegraph and telephone lines was
seriously interfered with Europe was. II possible.
worse off. Paris could not communicate with
Southern France for many hours Much less
could she reach Italy Spain. The submarine
cables went a strike. so that Europe could not
get messages from either North or South America
transmit them. On land Luried telegraph wires
acted as queerly as ocean cables. owing to the
same lively and general disturbance. In magnetic
observatories, where the instruments are arranged
TO record their fluctuations no such mysteries have
been witnessed since November Il, 1852 Mild
storms have been noted In the mean time. One oc-
CURED on October u this year, and was the most
conspicuous since September. 1888 The effects OF
these were trifng. though, compared with tnat
November 1. Never since Hertz wave telegraphy
was initiated has there been such an opportunity
10 Judge of the influence of a magnetic storm upon
it. Marconi messages long ago showed that neither
fog nor rain would obstruct or obscure them, put
here entirely new factor was involved Inc
following statement, by w w. Bradheld, electrical
engineer of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Com
pany Of America shows how absolutely lnsenslble
this system to interference:
Ny experiences in wireless working during mag
uetic storms is somewhat limited. can however
state positively that upon the one or two occa-
sions which can call to mind at present. no per-
ceptible disturbance to receivers has resulted
therefrom Fortunately, / have the records OF
communications between several or the liners
equipped with MarcOni apparatus and our stations
at Siasconset, Sagaponack and Babylon on the
evening OF October 50, and throughout the day OF
October g. when the last manifestation or the eu-
rora was remarked. I find that the following ships
were in communication with Siasconset at the
hours herewith indicated: