The Washington herald., 1910-07-24

horse for ground" Under the direction
or Capt c. A. Nugent. of the Coast Ar
tillery. T. s. A.. who is attached to the
District Signal Company as observer and
director several interesting experiments
We're held to-day in buzzer-or field tele-
graph-work. Lieut.. R. w. Barker. COM
handing the company. used his horses as
a ground" to complete the electrical
circuit.
Interest in tho affair centered on the
fact that while the mounted buzze- squad
was moving forward at rapid walk,
ana sometimes trot. paying out wire
as II proceeded, il was also transmitting
and receiving messages at the same time
Lieut.. Barker Commands.
Two squads were sent out from the
District signal corps company By Capt.
Nugent in preparation for their partici-
patton in the big joint maneuvers OF the
regulars and the militia next week, when
they viii perform important duties. The
first squad. mounted. was in the direct
command of Lieut. Barker Capt. Nu-
gent remained with the second unmounted
squad
After the mounted squad had proceeded
about two miles on the York pike, II es-
tablished station. the second squad in
the meantime having set up its station
in the rear OF division headquarters.
After the interchange OF several milf
tary messages in rapid style. Lieut..
Barker and Corp. McLennan doing the
telegraphing, Capt. Nugent ordered the
station under his direction moved for
ward, and communication to be main
tanned while this movement was under
way.
The squad was moving in less than
three minutes. one mon Keeling the wire
on reel attached 70 his breast, another
preceding him as a guide, with the wire
running through HIS gauntlet, and the
operator with the buzzer. or telegraph
and telephone set. which is about the
size OF an ordinary camera. slung over
his shoulder and his hand on the key.
Another man carried the three-foot
metal peg, which is driven into the
ground to furnish what is called the
ground" or. in other words, which is
used 10 complete the circuit This man
traAed the metal plug along the ground,
or where the conformity of the earth in
terfered its point came within an inch
or two Of the ground Two hundred
yards were covered in this manner at
pace eaualed and sometimes surpassed
that of infantry.
Sends Messages Back.
Capt. Nugent then sent message TO
Lieut. Parker that the unmounted squad
would establish a stationary station and
directing the mounted squad 10 proceed
and meantime keep in touch with the
former station.
II was then that Lieut.. Parker dis
played his ingenuity and his study OF
electrical matters. He passed the
ground" wire through the bride OF his
mount and thence to the saddle where
the peTspiratiOn OF the animal furnished
a moist and excellent ground, the electric
current passing down through its legs to
the earth. The effect of the current pass
ing through the body of q man or a horse
is hardly felt.
Lieut.. Barker attached the headpiece
or receiver to his head, placed the buzzer
on the pommel Of his saddle. and. driv-
ing with his left hand, telegraphed back
10 Capt. Nugent at the stationary station
The latter sent the final message direct
ing the squad TO reel in and return Be
fore the squad on foot had taken in half
mile Of wire the mounted squad ap-
peared over the breast OF a hill.
1t Is probable that the experiments win
be continued Monday and an endeavor
made to have both stations moving and
in touch at the same time, one paving
out and the other picking up the wire as
they move forward. This is expected to
be necessary in the maneuvers next week
and be Of great value.
Erect wireless Pole.
The District signal men again erected
:he!r wireless pole to-day. This time 1t
was run up in much more rapid style.
1t was decided to leave It up all night
and possibly until Monday The other
pole was not assembled, but will be Mon
day.
Dress parade by the First Infantry.
n. @. D. C., YVES enlivened this evening
BY a ane exhibition Of hroncho busting.
For FIVE minutes the mount of Lieut..
Oliver Terry. OF that regiment, bounced
into The air and came down stlff-legged-
bucking 10 its hearts con.ent-dashIng
from one end Of the parade ground to
the other. Lieut. Terry maintained his
seat well. and eventually tired the ami
nal out. As ne dismounted. he stepped
on stone. Ids ankle gave way. and it
was thought for a while that he had been
thrown or fell from his seat.
The exhibition Of horsemanship was
witnessed by all the regular army Of !
ficers, the brigade officers Of the District
Guard, and Brig. Gen. G. II. Harries and
ME EFrFf nal
mobile parties. The interesting side is /
sue occurred at the most ceremonious Pc
Rod OF the dress parade. As Lieut.. Terry /
dismounted and slipped, his horse got
away He gave chase. but Lieut.. Col |
8. E. Smiley. adjutant general of the Dis
tr:et Brigade, dismounted and gave his
horse 70 Lieut. Terry
Seven Horses shot.
The matter OF the poisoned fodder"
has grown TO be a serious one II was /
learned tonight that, all told. seven /
horses OF the Fifteenth Cavalry. U. s. A.
have been shot. and that eight more are
dangerously I'll. The trouble comes from
moidy hay
Investigation shows that the fodder
was purchased by the quartermaster Of
the Department OF the East from a far
mer living about two miles from Gettys-
burg. The hay was baled within two
days after being cut. When opened for
consumption at the camp Of instruction
the bales were found 10 be mildewed. but
were. despite this. fed 70 the horses. with
fatal result in many cases. It is quite
probable that the horses and stable de-
tail VIII be forced 70 remain here after
the troopers return to Fort Myer. sergt
DAnssl Dsvtne. Ct sns District Of coiuu,-