The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-23
WIRELESS MESSAGE SENT
BEFORE A BIG AUDIENCE
Experiments and Lecture on Elec-
tricity Seen and Heard by
Fire Insurance Men.
A BANQUET FOLLOWS

A practical exhibition Of the workings
of wireless teIegraphy was an interesting
aside from the lecture OF William
T. BenaIlack, of Detroit, at the Masonic
Hall yesterday afternoon on Hazards Of
Electricity"
Mr.. Benallack is president OF the National
Electrical Inspectors Association, as wen
as president of the Electrical Inspectors
of the Michigan Board of Fire Underwrit-
ers, and speaks with the authority Of both
knowing and experience on topics allied to
electric fitting and wiring. He was in
vited to this city 10 lecture By the Indiana
Board Of Fire Underwriters, which ex-
tended an invitation to the State Electro
cal Contractors Association, and TO fire I'M
derwriters of this and other cities to hear
him.
The experiment in wireless telegraphy
was conducted by Frank p. Daniels, cleo
trical inspector of the indianapolis Board
of Fire Underwriters, at the transmitting
machine, with Charles NewsOm, of the To-
cal Western Union office, at the receiving
apparatus. The transnitter was at the
rear Of the hall, with the two wires strung
Up to the balcony overhead The receiving
apparatus was on the stage, with the
TWO ar terminals run Up 10 the DTOSCG-
MUM arch. The two machines were not
less than sixty or seventy feet apart.
From one machine to the other with
an interesting group of meL, watching both
operators and listening TO the mysterious
whirr of the sender and the answering
rings of the receiving bell, the following
message was transmitted:
ITO the Indiana Electrical Contra ctors'
Association:
This being tine day we celebrate in
memory Of the noblest work of God, a
truthful man, we extend to you our guar
antee of good faith ard our hearty cooper
alton Tor the betterment of our business.
We also extend greeting to the contrac-
tors in session here to-day and thank them
for their cooperation in the past in the
enforcement of the national code and So
licit the continuance of the same in the fu-
ture.
''R. II. IMITATION, President
Indiana Association Underwriters"
Mr. BenalIacks lecture dealt with tech
aical topics. He traced the evolution of
lighting from the rush light TO the cleo
trio light. and dwelt on the wonderful prog
ress that has been made in the last fifty
years in all kinds Of electrical appliances.
He discussed what should and should not
be done In the wiring Of buildings, from
the standpoint of the man seeking absolute
safety from fire, and illustrated almost
every point with anecdotes from his own
experience
He had on the stage large number of
specimens from his own museum" show
ing how careless or wrong methods Of cleo
trical fitting and wiring had led to fires
large and small. His talk was enlvened
with anecdote and story, that 1T was
of much more than purely professional
or technical interest
Mr.. Daniels had arranged two sets of ex-
hibits, showing Anticipated and up-to-date
apparatus for electrical fittings. switch
boards and the like. These were on the
stage and were referred 10 frequently by
Mr.. Benallack in the course of his lecture.
The electrical contractors of the State
who were In the city for the lecture, to-
gether with the Indianapolis members of
the association, held a dinner at the Clay
pool last evening at $50 o'clock This was
followed by an informal meeting. The
president Of the association is G.. NJ. San
born, of this city.