The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-12-25
SEABROOK WRITES CT WIRE
LESS.
How It Was Used on Coast of Brit:
tainy-The Story Of the Signal
Towers and Torches.
(Bv ". B. Seabrook.)


latter part of the sixteenth century,
and during the early years Of the
seventeenth, we'll developed system
Of "wireless telegraphy" connected
the coast Of Brittany with the sea-
surrounded garrison and monastery
Of Mont Saint Michel, and with the
neighboring coast of Normandy.
A wooden ridge of considerable
height extends along the sea-front of
Brittany from Pontorson to Cancale,
and a similar but more irregular SER
les Of promontories follows the Nor
man coast, twenty miles opposite,
from Avranches to Granville, while
between lies the bay of Mont Saint
Michel, perhaps the most picturesque
historic spot in western Europe.
Needless to say, the wireless system
here used was not the same as that
exploited by Marconi, but it was just
as effective in its limited territory.
Crumbling ruins Of these primitive
telegraph stations still dot the seaside
hills of Brittany, and their bleak,
round towers are intimately connect
ed with the sanguinary and romantic
history Of the holy: mountain whose
medieval ramparts and gothic spires
rise from the treacherous tides and
sands below. These commanding tow
ers were originally erected as wind
mills by men who chose the SUBMITS
Of the highest hills overlooking the
ocean, in order that the huge cloth or
woo1en sails might profit by every
wind that blew, and in more than one
spot traces still exist of tortuous,
roughly paved roads, leading from
the valleys to the nils.
In 1874, Mont Saint Michel, which
had withstood scores of powerful
enemies, sometimes beseiged by the
English, sometimes BY the Huguenots,
was made the object Of determined as
saults by Montgomery, the Huguenot
leader, Maitre de L'Avranehin, L and it
was during this period that fiery mes
sages sped by night to and fro be-
tween the beleaguered mountain and
the hills Of Brittany; from the an
.cient windmill towers signal torches
were waved in wheeling arcs and cir
eles of flame, while monks and SOL
diers on the ramparts Of the distant
garrison spelled out the meaning Of
the symbols. Sometimes, during this
same epoch, a similar system Of sig
mails was used with the island of Jer-
sey, and messages were relayed to
points far up the Norman coast.
Apropos Of the Huguenot COM
mander Montgomery, a dramatic story
has been reserved, not only on histor-
ie parchment, but among The fireside
legends of the Briton f;sherfolk. I
heard it few weeks ago somewhat
as follows, from an aged priest at
Roz, but the bare facts, shorn of their
glamor. appear in many works treat
ing Of that period.
While Montgomery was beselging
the citadel, small detachment Of
Catholic soldiers was captured during
sortie for provisions, and while the
Huguenots were engaged in hanging
their prisoners an officer recognized
among these latter an old comrade-
in-arms, whom he begged Montgom-
cry to spare; the request was grant
ed, but on the condition that the lib
Grated prisoner turn traitor. He con-
sented, and the plans were laid.
Two days afterward, just at mid
night, when the traitor was to take
his turn at mounting guard, the Hu-
@guenots were to place themselves at
the foot; Of the ramparts, near the
fountain of St. Aubert, just, below the
abbey kitchen, where, by the aid Of a
pulley used to hoist water and provis-
= ions, the confederate within the walls
was to draw up one man-at-arms after
another until a sufficient number had
entered to overpower silently the
night watch, open the gates and admit
the army. After this treaeherous ar
rangement, the soldier rejoined his
garrison.
The appointed day arrives, and hap
pens to be the 29th Of September, the
s'fete de la Saint Michel.' Natur-
ally, the Archangel does not permit
the success of the Infamous attempt
against his holy mountain, just at the
time the monks are chanting his glory
he causes the traitor to repent anc
confess all to the Able.
NE;dn;obt a,,nroacheS dark and