The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-03
SUBMARINE PHONE
ON COLUMBINE
LIGHTHOUSE TENDER FULLY
EQUIPPED WITH APPARATUS
FOR SUBMARINE SIGNALING
WITH LIGHTSHIPS,

The handsome lighthouse tender Col
ambine, Captain Charles Richardson
commanding has just been fully equip
ped with a submarine telephone. the
work being completed yesterday noon
by Mr.. Percy A. Richards, representing
the Sub Marine Signal Company, OF
Arlington, Mass, and the splendid inno'
vation works like charm and charms
all who investigate it.
A reporter for the Morning Astorian
had the good fortune to meet Mr.. Rich
ards yesterday shortly after the compile
tion of the olumbines installation and
was treated to a clever dissertation on
the theme by this skilled operator, who
is quite as clever talker as he IS
workman. This gentleman says his COM
pany has patented the remarkable in
yention in 25 countries and has branch
establishments at London, New York,
Liverpool. and Norfolk, Virginia; and Is
busy with a perfect mass OF contracts,
including the equipment OF L OF the
United States lighthouse tenders, the
Columbine, just completed, being among
them, and the first active ship on this
coast to be rugged out with the yalu-
able apparatus.
The purpose OF the system, as Nh.
Richardson explains it, is TO locate the
position OF ligntship oil any coast,
under any and all weather conditions,
log, storm, wind, current, OF what not,
interfering; Jog being the principal I'M
peiiment considered in the sum OF serv-
ice which this clever invention eontri-
butes.
The ightship itself is equipped with
3 closed bell which is swung out-boau
from davits and is submerged % or 80
feet below the surface, and there plays
to and fro, under the operation OF a
compressed air device, or with the cease
less motion of the ship above, sending
its cleartoned, Iar-reaching, welcome
sound, to whatsoever ship or steamer Is
equipped with a receiving apparatus to
detect it, anywhere within a radius OF
from five to twelve miles distant. The
sound traverses its water environment
to a uniform distance in all directions,
undisturbed by the fury OF gales or the
weight OF fogs above, and is effective
always for a distance Of from three to
FIVE miles; the play to larger compasses
being actual enough, though rare OF
record, Il number OF case, having been
reported to the home-company at Ar,
hDgton; the reach OF the sound being
governed in a great measure by the
speed and draft OF the receiving vessel,
a deep draft and slow speed giving the
best results.
When the receiving snip picks up the
sound Of the light-ship's bell, it IAN
easily estimate the distance between
the ships, and many pilots have claimed
to have gotten it within one point OF
the compass The receiving apparatus,
such as has been installed ON the Column
bine, consists OF Two micIophone in,tr6-
ments which are located down in the
fore hold of the vessel, in two tank,
one to starboard, the other to port.
The sound OF the distant bell coming
through the water, is caught by these
instruments and transmitted to the pilot
house above by means Of suitable dec
tric cables; and upon the vail Of the
pilot house is located the receiving in
strument, handsome and compact, With
openings in the face to exhibit the siles,
sport or "starbOard," from whence the
sound has come, and "ahead" also if that
shall have been the direction. Each Of
these signs are lit by a tiny electric
Kght when it is in operation and the
metallic case is embellished with two
telephone receivers and switch for
listening at either the starboard or port
side as the case of call may require
The listener at the instrument compares
the intensity of sound on the two sides
and the side receiving the greatest
volume Of sound is the side nearest