Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-10-01
MARINERS COMPASS,
ITS USE BY THE CHINESE.

This Wonderful People Knew Of the
Magnetic Needle Long Before the
Christian Ers-The Claims Of cioia,
the Pilot. and tho Credit Due Him.
Much interest must forever attach to
the discovery OF that valuable instru-
mcnt the mariners compass. aud yet
there are few subjects concerning
which less Is known. For period the
honor OF the invention was ascribed to
Gioia, a pilot. born ut Pasitano. u
small village situated near Amalh.
about the end OF the thirteenth cen
fury. His claims. however. have been
disputed
Much learning and labor have been
bestowed upon the subject OF the dis
covery. IL has been maintained by one
class that even the Phoenicians were
the inventors. by another that the
Greeks and Romans had knowledge
OF II. Such notions. however, have
been completely refuted.
One passage. nevertheless. OF a NJ.
markable character occurs In the works
OF Cardinal de Witty. bishop OF PtoIe-
mails. In Syria. He went to Palestine
during the fourth crusade. about the
year 1904. He returned afterward 60
Europe and subsequently back to the
Holy Land. where he wrote his work
entitled Historic Orientalls." as near
~ ms can he determined. between the
years 1915 aud 100 In chapter OF
Of that work he has this singular pas
sage:
The iron needle. after contact with
the loadstone. constantly turns TO the
north star. which. nj the axis Of the
armament. remains immovable while
the others revolve. and hence II Is es-
sentially necessary TO those navlgai-
Ing on the ocean"
These words are as explicit 40 they
are extraordinary. They state a fact
and announce a use. The thing. there
fore, which essentially constitutes the
compass must have been known long
before the birth Of Gioia. In addition
TO this fact. there Is another equally
fatal TO his claim rs the original dis
covercr.
II Is now settled beyond doubt
that the Chinese were acquainted with
the compass long before the Europe
ans. IL Is certain that there are allu-
sions 20 the magnetic needle In the
traditionary period Of Chinese history.
about 1000 fears before Christ. aud
still more credible account Of II Is
found In the reign OF Chingwang OF the
Chow dynasty. before Christ lili.
All this. however. may be granted
without IN the lcfst impalring the Just
claims OF GIoia to the gratitude of man.
kind. The truth appears To- be that
the position Of 6;iuia In relation 10 the
compass was precisely that ~ Watt In
relation Ia the steam engine--the ole
ment existed: he augmented Its utility.
The compass used by the mariners
IN the Mediterranean during the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries was
very uncertain and unsatisfactory
apparatus II consisted only OF a mag
netic needle floating IN vase or basin
by means Of two siraws on n bit OF
cork supporting II on the surface OF
the water
The compass used by the Arabians
In the thirteenth century was an In
strument OF exactly the same descrip-
ton. Now. the Inconvenience and In
efficiency of such an apparatus are oh.
vlous. The agitation Of the ocean ana
the tossing of the vessel might render
II useless In a moment
but Gioia placed the magnetizcd
needle ON a pivot. which permits Il TO
turn 10 all sides with facility. After
ward IL was attached 10 card divided
Into thlriy-two points. called rose de
vents. aud then the box containing II
was suspended In such n manner That.
however the vessel might be tossed.
II world always remain horizontal