Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-26
MarconTs Continued Triumphs.

The newspapers have not been print
ing nc much of late about Marconi and
his system of wireless telegraphy as
they did a year or two ago, but this
does not mean that nothing new or
progressive has been accomplished. On
the contrary the energetic and ambiti-
Gus young scientist has been actively
at work and has done much to bring
wireless telegraphy through the expert
mental stages where the world looked
upon it with doubt and suspicion. On
his last voyage across the Atlantic, the
Campania. in which he sailed, was not
out of communication single day
with one of the two shores. Other Ves-
sells, through systems of wireless teic-
graphy, have been able to give their
passengers news service for day or
two after sailing. and then day or
two at the close of the voyage, but US
ually there has been q hiatus of two or
three days in midocean. = The Campa-
mia, however, kept abreast of each
days happenings throughout the whole
voyage. and every ocean liner of the
near future will have for its patrons Il
daily PAPER. The passengers will be
able to transact business virtually in
the same way as when on 4 land jour-
ney.
Considering that it was only six
years ago that Marconi began his ex-
perimcnts, his progress has been moth
ing less than phenomenal, and his
achievements already have given him
4 secure place among the greatest sci
entists of the modern world. The New
York Tribune thus outlines the earlier
stages of his successful career which
have led up to his latest great triumph.
Scarcely six years have elapsed
since Mr.. Marconi first attracted pub
lie attention by his achievements in
wireless teiegraphy. He opened COM
munication between Alum Bay on the
Isle of Wight, and Bournelnouth, i'll
Hampshire, in 1898, and on Christmas
eve that year initiated a permanent
service between the South Foreland
Lighthouse and the East Goodwin
Sands Lightship. In one case the dis
lance covered was eighteen miles, and
| i'm the other it was twelve miles. In
March, 1899, he sent the first message
across the English channel. at a point
where the latter is about thirty miles
wide. Then followed the use of the
system for reporting steamships. The
first service performed by the SiascOn-
sett (NantuckeD station was on Aug
lust Is. 1901, and announced the arrival
of the Lucania. Steps We're taken that
year, too. to ascertain the suitability OF
wireless telegraphy for naval signal
| ling.
Having come to Newfoundland In
December. 1901. to make further ex-
periments, and having previously
equipped a station at Poldhu, in Corn
wall England, with a powerful trans
| mitter. Mr.. Marconi was convinced that
| he received signals sent to him across
| the ocean. These We're only repetitions
of the letter IS" were heard in a tele-
phone, but were not recorded with in
struments. The kite which supported
his vertical wire during these tests was
| unsteady. which still further embar-
raised him. So great an advance Vas
this step upon his previous work. and
so completely had he concealed his in
tentions from the world, that some
| skepticism was felt at the time about
| the accuracy of his observations on
. Signal Hill on December IL and 10.
ZAP doubt vanished, however, when
the next important tests were made
Mr.. Marconi was then on the steam
ship Philadelphia on his way to Amer
lea. On February IS, 1902. when 1,551 VI
miles from Poldhu, a message made up
of words was received on the steam
ship. The following day signals were
recognized at a distance of 2,099 miles
from Poldhu. AS the messages and
signals were automatically registered
and as the ships officers testified tc
the position of the PHILADELPHIA at the
time. his success was proved convinc-
ingly."