The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-12
RUBBERNECK|NG
THE WIRELESS
Vessels of Navy and Army Are
News P0achers---A Cali
fornia Story.

Manager Balch of the local Wireless
Telegraph Co. has been informed that
the news service between Honolulu
and the Hawaii Herald was picked up
by the wireless operators of the 'Big
Four" three days after leaving this
port. A similar report comes here on
each of the government transports.
Apropos of this poaching of wire
less correspondence within the Hawai-
ian system s range is story the San
Francisco Examiner gives Of two in
genius lads at Alameda who erected
wireless stations for themselves and
poached from the aerial preserves of
the United States navy. 1t is in part
as follows:
Wireless secrets of the United States
Navy, from messages that pass be-
tween admirals when disquieting talk
of war with Japan is in the air to
confidential communications that are
sent by gallants of the quarterback to
boudoirs ashore, are being daily tapped
yet out of their teens.
These boys, whose scientific preco~
ciousness might any day involve the
United States in international COM
plications, appear to be having a most
diverting time of it in acquafntins
themselves with the secrets of the
countrys sea fighters. They are COM
piling a book of the choicest conf
- 1Ir Ix.I
contains sufficient entries to precipi-
tate domestic war in many quarters If ]
not a conflict OF more oninous and
far-reaching import.
The Examiner was given access last
night to this really remarkable book. |
1t represents the joint work of Henry |
c. Helm, Is years old of 1926 Park |
street, and Alfred Wolf, IA years old |
of PISA Clinton avenue, Alameda.
MANUFACTURE APPARATUS.
The fathers of the boys are partners |
in a candy-nanufacturing plant in
Alameda and both young Helm and
Wolf have amassed all they know
about wireless telegraphy from library
books.
Each boy has built a wireless plant
unaided, and each is able to send and
receive messages as far away as
Acapulco, iBremerton and the Faral-
Zones.
Helm, who appears to be the most
adroit of the two, has built his station
in the rear of his fathers place of
business. In a rude shed, this Juvenile
has installed sympathy cords,
sounding coils, receiving Indicators and
LII the other pharaphernalia necessary
10 snatch secrets from the air. His
'our-wire aerial he has erected on top
If the Encinal building nearby, and so
ar he has been able to keep in SYM
1athy" with every naval station of im-
,ortance on the Pacific seaboard.
PLANT IS ON WINDMILL.
Wolf's aerial is on top of a windmill
n the yard of his home, the attic of
which serves as his wireless plant.
Calling each other by wireless sig
lals which they have devised for them
elves, Wolf and Helm spend all their
pare time jotting down and receiving
messages, keeping in unison and COM
airing notes when they meet later.
Helm has been furnishing an evening
newspaper in Alameda with some of
he secrets received at his wireless sta
ion, and the accuracy of his informa-
ion has frequently been verified by
uhsequent official announcements
rom Mare Island.
BARE OFFICERS SECRETS.
When two sailors were drowned from g
ne cruiser St. Louis during an abandon 6
rill last Tuesday, for instance, Captain
Tsher flashed a wireless message to q
he commandant at Mare Island to p
otify the police chiefs of san Fran T
sco Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda :,
f the fact.
This was done, but Helm. who had n
'anscribed this message at his station
lille it was being sent out originally,
as able to acquaint Chief of Police I,
onrad of Alameda hours in advance
the drowning of the sailors. L
Here are a few wireless messages
ken from the book, with names and -
her details slightly changed for OBJ -
Gus reasons:
Miss Brown, Oak1and-Can't meet
ou tonight No shore leave. Be good
the meantime
This was sent from THE Captain" |
a cruiser now in the bay, and is
lily a few days old. Another message
tercepted reads:
Mrs. Blank, Alameda-Will see you -
ire tomorrow night Didn't like to
Ike too many chances yesterday. We e
ust be discreet.
THE Lieutenant"
Another of the officers addressed his
at Mare Island like this:
Honestly, could not show last night.
N arranging SO l can see you often
Will take you to dinner Wednes-
y afternoon. Bluebeard.''
A married woman on Mare Island =
dressed another woman's officer Y
sband in this mysterious way:
All lovely. Am sure you are mis-
ken. Call again. Your, P. L.
USES EVANS NAME.
Helm said he frequently uses the
mes of Fighting BOB Evans and
her mighty men of the sea when he
querying a warship for information. -
Ice just for fun, as he expressed it,
ordered a cruiser about to sail to mH
lay its departure. Something wrong III
s evidently suspected, for the cruiser Za
led and Helm was deprived of 'ex- 4#