The Washington herald., 1908-08-23

This year the ships that carried the gold
seekers rorthvvard battled with the ice
Of Berlng Sea and some OF them had the
most severe experiences OF years. the
Ohio being a notable example. Forty days
after she sailed from Puget Sound the
Ohio struggled free from th@ ice. W u
difficulty found her bearinl 8. All made
her way into Nome Crushed BY the ice
pack. as was the Victoria. the Ohio Is
now on the way southwark tovar,l home
Next year the Nome feet will be
equipped With wireless telegraph appa-
rarus 70 vessel. and even wireless teie-
phones VIII keep the captains OF the
fleets IN close touch with each other
throughout a hazardous voyage. accord
ing 70 the Seattle Times
The wireless telephone Is perhaps the
most remarkable Of all the modern de-
vices Of communication BY the mere act
OF taking down a receiver and placing
it 70 his ear. the master OF a vessel IS
enabled 10 communicate with similarly
equipped vessels within radius Of 100
miles or with wireless stations upon the
shore 50 far the wireless telephone has
not been put into wide use. although most
% the vessels OF the Atlantic squadron
that visited Puget Sound in May were
equipped with such instruments
Could Have Had Aid.
Had the Ohio been provided with the
telephone apparatus. the people Of Nome
might easily have sent a relief party 10
her aid. but without It the Corwin twice
went out upon a vain search for the lost
vessel The wireless telegraph instru-
ments. however. would have been OF
greater value. for the Ohio would have
been in communication constantly with
the Nome station from the moment
she entered Bering Sea, and perhaps long
before.
Practical use Of the wireless telephone
was made during the voyage Of the feet
north from san Francisco BY the opera
tor at the new WestpOrt station Of the
United Wireless Company. at the mouth
OF Grays Harbor. As the flagship Con-
necticut came in range the operator ask
ed over the wireless telegraph for a test
Of the telephone He declares ne could
hear as distinctly the voice from the
ship far out at sea as II he had been
talking between two downtown Office
buildings in SeattIe-all the noises on
shipboard could be heard plainly.
After the feet had anchored at the PJi-
get Sound Navy Yard. the telephone was
again put IN service. this time with the
wireless station at the University OF
Washington Those IN the station say
they could hear the band playing on the
Connecticut and the sound OF voices
through the instruments
The rapid spread OF the wireless sys-
TEN upon the Pacific Coast Is an interest
ing feature Of development Thirteen
stations are now IN operation from South
ern California to Alaska, according to
George H Parker. Western agent Of the
wireless concern
Operations Successful
The wireless stations at Nome and a;
St Michaels. separated by Norton Sound.
105 miles wide. are most successful in
their operations and have been working
longer than any other OF the northern
stations. Because Of ice and other ad-
verse conditions. the government was IN
able to lay a cable across Norton Sound.
so the wireless came into play.
Wireless stations vary greatly as to
cost; some can be built for as little as
S5.0oo- and others require as high as 800
900 The instruments and apparatus in
general are costly Each station includes
a generator OF electricity with which TO
send the messages. and this represents a
strength OF from one to three horse
power
The operator IS provided with an ear
receiver such as is worn by the girls in
e telephone exchange. and he hears the
dots an4 dashes Of the Morse code as
they strike the system Of wires above
him he sends by means OF a telegraph