The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-09-29
MARINERS COMPASS.
Little Known of the Real Origin Of
the instrument.
ITS USE BY THE CHINESE.

This Wonderful People Knew of the
Magnetic Needle Long Before the
Christian Era-The Claims Of Gioia,
the Pilot, and tho Credit Due Him.
Much interest must forever attach to
the discovery of that valuable instru-
ment the mariners compass, and yet
there are few subjects concerning
which less Is known. For a period the
honor of the invention was ascribed to
Gioia, pilot, born at Pasitano. a
small village situated near Amalh,
about the end OF the thirteenth GEN.
fury. His claims. however. have been
disputed.
Much learning and labor have been
bestowed upon the subject Of the dis
covery. 1t has been maintained by one
class that even the Phoenicians were
the inventors, by another that the
Greeks and Romans had knowledge
of it. Such notions. however, have
been completely refuted.
One passage. nevertheless. Of a re-
markable character occurs In the works
of Cardinal de Witty, bishop Of Ptole-
mails, in Syria. He went to Palestine
during the fourth crusade, about the
year 1904. He returned afterward to
Europe and subsequently back to the
Holy Land, where he wrote his work
entitled "Historia Orientalis." as near
ly as can be determined between the
hu nj
of that work he has this singular pas
sage:
1.-The iron needle, after contact with
the loadstone, constantly turns to the
north star, which, at the axis Of the
armament, remains immovable while
the others revolve. and hence 1t is es-
sentially necessary to those navlgat-
ing on the ocean,"
These words are as explicit as they
are extraordinary. They state fact
and announce 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 as the original dis
coverer.
1t is now settled beyond doubi
that the Chinese were acquainted will
the compass long before the Europe
ans. 1t is certain that there are allu
slons to the magnetic needle In tn
traditionary period Of Chinese history
about 1000 years before Christ. and
still more credible account of 1t
found In the reign of Chlngwang of tn
Chow dynasty. before Christ lila.
All this, however. may be granite
without in the least impairing the jus
claims of Gioia to the gratitude of maj
kind. The truth appears to be tht
the position of Gioia In relation to Il
compass was precisely that Of Watt
relation to the steam engine-the Ell,
ment existed: he augmented Its utilit,
The compass used by the mariner
In the Mediterranean during tt
twelfth and thirteenth centuries WI
very uncertain and unsatisfactor
apparatus. 1t consisted only Of ma
netic needle floating In vase or basl
by means Of two straws on a bit
cork supporting 1t on the surface I
the water.
The compass used by the Arabial
in the thirteenth century was an 4
strument of exactly the same desert
ton. Now. the Inconvenience and l
efficiency of such an apparatus are o
vious. The agitation Of the ocean Ar
the tossing of the vessel might rend'
Il useless In a moment.
But Gioia placed the magnetic
needle ON pivot. which permits 1t
turn to all sides with facility. Ate
ward 1t was attached to n card divide
into thirty-two points, called rose {
vents, and then the box containing
was suspended In such manner tina
however the vessel might be tosse
1t would always remain horizontal.
Electrical Engineer