Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25
IVY PHO is Mp"
- For several months past
MAJ this query doubtless has
Wv been one of the mysteries

MAJ this query doubtless has
Wv been one of the mysteries
that the operators of the
various wireless telegraph stations located
along the Atlantic coast of the United
States have endeavored to solve. and until
recently without success. Who is MP? :"
The operators on board warships and other
vessels equipped with wireless telegraph
systems have asked themselves and each
other.
Hertzian. or electric. waves transmitted
through the atmosphere have been caught
by the aerials and conducted to the receiv-
ing instruments of the various wireless sta
lions and the alert operators have eagerly
taken down messages of curious interest
signed by the mysterious MP.
Now, who in the world is MP" they
have asked themselves. and then they have
turned to the book containing the list of
wireless stations land and of ships at
sea in the hope of Identifying the signs-
ture But the directory of stations afforded
no clew and the mystery remained I'M
solved.
Several days ago. however. the operator
at the Annapolis wireless telegraph station
was lounging near his apparatus peacefully
smoking his pipe and waiting to catch the
delicate "click-click'' of the instruments
should any message be gliding through the
air. Suddenly the receiver began clicking
and the operator adjusted his instruments
but a moment to ascertain that "E-W''
was being called. That signal was familiar
to the Annapolis operator for it is down in
the book as belonging to Mr.. Elliott Woods,
superintendent of the Capitol at Washing
N,n. who has a wireless telegraph station
Sere from which he is conducting expert
ments. "E-W'' was called about twenty
consecutive times. and then there came an
instant break and the signature of the caller
was clicked off-"M-P."
There II is again." said the Annapolis
man to himself. This time I'm going to
find out who MP is
So he set to work and began calling e.
W. himself and presently Mr.. Woods an
swered the Annapolis call.
who is M-P'?' the Annapolis operator
asked Mr. Woods over the wireless. And
then the mystery was solved.
Mr.. Woods explained that Mp Is the
signature of a private wireless station in
Washington, which is conducted by two
very young boys. whose work and expert
ments with electricity should give to them
the title of THE Boy Edisons.'
The fame of these youthful electrical
wizards of Washington has been a matter
of consid. rable note for several months
among their boy friends and acquaint-
ances. and the older people residing in the
neighborhood of the wizards homes have
known of their work. Many remarkable
tales have been related by the juvenile ad-
day a Star man set out to obtain some in
formation about the one-time mysterious
mp"
Straight to the scene of the private wire
less plant the reporter went in order to Sc
cure Information first hand. and the result
was the revelation of many things that
might well be called remarkable. One of
the first circumstances that struck The Star
man as worthy of note was that the scene
OF al. the youthful activity in such a serious
subject as electricity is in an aristocratic
nelg1borhood.
But to the young experimenters.
Tie boy Edisons were found to be
Richard Lee Fearn. jr., who lives at 1902
Massachusetts, avenue, and Winthrop Lock-
wood. whose home Is at 2212 Massachusetts
avenue northwest. The yeung gentlemen
were at work with their experiments in the
station on the attic floor of the Fearn
home when the reporter called, and they
courteousy consented to be interviewed
about their achievements.
Unlike most lads of their ages. these
young Edisons evinced no more than a po-
lite interest in foot ball. base ball. tennis
and other sports when they were mentioned
at the outset of the interview, but as
soon as reference was made to electricity
their eyes sparkled with eagerness and they
related the story of their work with all
the enthusiasm that characterizes youth