Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-11
OUTFIT IN CIGAR BOX
YOUNG SOLDIERS WIRELESS
TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

dispatch from San Francisco last night
says: Hugh Annis. a young soldier in the
United States Signal Corps, stationed at
Benicia barracks, has given to Uncle Sam
a remarkable invention in the form of a
marvellous pound-and- a-half wireless tele-
graph machine. which, 1t is declared, will
go long way toward revolutionizing mod
ern warfare.
The young engineer, who has demonstrate
ed conclusively the practicability OF his in
vention. tells the following story of the diff
ficulties he has had to overcome:
Il first began experimenting with wireless
| messages while engaged on an electric
whistle in the east, about two years ago."
he said. 4 concluded that the same prin-
ciple would apply to messages without the
use Of wires. and worked steadily for an
invention Throughout my experiments 1
was handicapped by the lack of good ma
terial to work with. l was not in a position
to expend large sums on appliances. and
had to content myself with what could
afford. This, of course, was a great set
back. But when / Joined the Signal Corps
the two diplomas l had, one for electrical
and the other for telephone engineering.
stood me in good stead, and l was put In
a place where 1 had almost every opportu-
nifty to experiment.
My first inventions were two new types
of telephones which made quite hit at the
time. One was for prison use and could be
connected with the cells of the prisoners
The transmitter was SO set in the wall that
it was not visible to the inmate, but at the
same time so sensitive that whispered
conversation held within ten or twelve feet
of the mouthpiece could be distinctly heard
in the wardens office In this way suspect
ed men brought about their convictions by
statements made to fellow-prisoners. The
instrument was given test and found
pretty satisfactory. But l had not the
IN aIt-nr gCai a md q
THE next invention was the ringing up OF
a party on a 'six-party' telephone line with
out ringing the bell of any other. This
service was perfected for use on a four
party line. but mine was the first to meet
with success on a six. FOR the same rea-
son as the other. this invention had to be
abandoned.
"When l came to the barracks here the
men were using a big machine, so heavy
that it had to be carried from place to place
in a wagon. While in Fort Riley had
thought of this objection and had expert
mented with success on lighter instru-
ment OF course there was a difficulty in
securing the great capacity for receiving
Impressions with small machine as with
a large one; but overcame that py ntile
close figuring, and so set to work to make
a portable machine. l used an ordinary
cigar box and then arranged my apparatus
inside.
chine TO be a success. Five miles north or
the post on the highest hill In the vicinity.
I transmitted and received messages to and
from the barracks, obtaining better results
than the men had been securing with the
big machine. After that could set the box
any place on the ground and communicate
with Mare Island and the Yerba Buena sta
ton $1,000. l.,
Lieut. Goodale took a great interest IN
me and my machine and offered me better
material and financial backing, II neces-
sary He also offered me $1,000 II l sue
ceeded in putting the instrument INTO gen
eraI nae in the government He has always
been an earnest promoter of electrical en-
cheering and is proving it now by the way
he has Interested himself in me. The only
Objectionable feature of the new instrument
is that it is extremely sensitive and records
every vibra ton. slight tap on the out
side of the box is heard through the re-
ceiver like the report of gun But py
padding the interior Of the case with
thick lining of cotton I hope to overcome
this one objection. l am now at work on
combined receiver and recorder, and when
that is complete / expect to be able TO 90
away with the necessity of having an OPP
orator always present at the machine