The New York herald., 1920-01-27
Herald Scored Beat
with First Radio
from Ship to Shore
Built Siasconset Station and Linked
Incoming Vessels with Port
by Wireless.
OF THE HERALD

To TIE EpITcR OF THE HERALD
In reading the many press notices and
complimentary articles on the achieve
ments Of the NEW YORK HERALD under the
control Of James Gordon Bennett. I am
surprised that there has been no mention
Of the fact that it was the NEW YORK
HERALD which first demonstrated the COM
mercial use Of the wireless telegraph be-
tween ship and shore.
1t was in 1901 that the HERALD estab-
lished the first wireless station on shore
with regular communication at sea.
Wireless telegraphy was then in its in
fancy, but Mr. Bennett was so convinced
Of its practicability that he employed a
force Of Marconi experts to come to this
country and install what was the first
wireless service in America.
The land station was erected in the
village Of Siasconset, on the eastern end
of Nantucket Island, and for nearly three
months the HERALD had a large force of
men there, erecting a 150 foot staff, in
stalling the wireless apparatus, &C., and in
addition to the experts a force of riggers
was sent down from New Bedford.
Experts Get to Work.
Commander j. D. j. Kelley, of the
HERALD staff, was sent here to superin-
tend the work, and associated with him as
assistants were Marconi's first assistant,
Mr.. Bradfield. and Mr.. Mitchell, who
was considered one of the most expert land
operators at that zine.
AS soon as the wireless pole was erected
and the riggers completed their work, the
HERALD chartered steamship and took
the riggers out to the Nantucket South
Shoals lightship, forty-three miles from
Nantucket Island, together with force
Of Marconi experts. and the lightship be-
came a wireless station for the HERALD
by special permission OF the government
A sixty foot topmast was placed on the
lightship's mainmaSt, and when the rig
gers had completed their work and the
wireless outfit had been installed, three
operators were left on the lightship and
the remainder of the force returned to
shore to await the opening of the first
wireless service.
Secretly, almost was the work carried
on, and not until August 16, 1901, did the
HERALD tell the public what ii had been
doing. The Nantucketers knew, OF course,
but they we're kept In the dark as much
as possible and no public announcement
was made Of when the station would be
pldceu IN operation.
First Faint Call Heard.
Early in the evening of August IS. how
ever, the wireless station on the lightship
received a faint call from the steamship
Lucania, approaching America. and at
once "wirelessed' the news ashore.
Commander Kelley gathered his force to-
gether gave each man instructions, and
then waited. The HERALD office In New
I.
and cable that the Lucania was approach
ing. and there must be some members OF
the force now who can recall that evening.
About ten o'clock the Lucanias mes
sages became stronger and soon messages
were received-not direct by the Siasconset
station, but rolayed in from the lightship.
Ii must be remembered that wireless"
was then In its infancy. and a distance OF
sixty miles seemed wonderful TO receive
message through the air. The writer
recalls the excitement here when Il was
known for sure that the HERALD's project
was to be successful. Commander Kelley
threw his hat in the air, passed around
cigars and then settled down TO business.
The story the HERALD published next
morning will live In history. and the world
marvelled thereat 1t was keen newspaper
enterprise. and to the HERALD belongs .hc
credit for establishing the first CONNER
cial wireless system in America.
Sold station to Marconi Company.
The HERALD maintained the station at
Siasconset about four years. employing
operators on both the lightship and
ashore, and il gradually perfected the sys-
tenn. overcoming difficulties which pre-
sented themselves in the first few months.
and after it had featured" it's enterprise
fully II sold the outfit to the Marconi COM
pany, which maintained it until IL passed
into government control. two years ago.
At present the Siasconset station is con-
sidered one OF tho most important in
America. and it has figured in number
OF sensational marine disasters. being the
medium through which the steamship Re-
public disc ster was covered on January
g. 1907.
7 feel that IN the resume Of the HSRALD's
achievements under the Bennett owner
ship IL would not be right to have the
wireless pass unnoticed.
HARRY 3. TURNER,
Editor the Enquirer and Mirror. Nam
tucket. Mass.
Nantucket. Mass, Jan. "A, 1920.