Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-03-18


more formidable than the tanks of the great war
ana a mysterious agent of wholesale destruction
even more deadly than any gas used by either
side.
Well, who shall say that Wells hasn't the right
idea about Mars being inhabited by beings just
as smart as we are-and probably a good deal
smarter?
1t is bold man who say Impossible" these
days.
Anyway, Guglielmo Marconi, the famous Ital-
ian engineer, who perfected wireless teegraphy,
has opened up exceedingly interesting question
by this statement:
Il have encountered during my experiments with
wireless telegraphy most amazing phenomena.
Most striking of all is the receipt by me person
ally of signals which believe originated in the
space beyond our planet. believe it is entirely
possible that these signals may have been sent
by the inhabitants of other planets to the inhabi-
tants of earth
"If there any human beings on Mars I
would not be surprised if they should find mearE
of communication with this planet Linking of
the science Of astronomy with that of electricity
may bring about almost anything
"While planet is a storehouse of won
ders we are not warranted in accepting as fact
the general superstition that the inhabitants of
our comparatively insignificant planet are any
more highly developed than inhabitants (f there
be such) Of other planets.
For all we know, the strange sounds that
have received by wireless may be only forerun-
her of a tremendous discovery.
"The messages have been distinct but unntel-
lgible They have been received simultaneously
in London and in New York, with identical in
tensty Indicating that they must have originated
at great distance.
"These signals are apparently due to electro
magnetic waves of great length, which are not
merely stray signals. Occasionally such signals
can be imagined to correspond with certain let
tiers of the Morse code. They steal in at our sta
irrnp Ot all Wo
the signals unless establish minimum of 65-
mile wave lengths. Sometimes we hear these plan
etary or interplanetary sounds 20 30 minutes
after sending out long They do not in
terrupt traffic, but when they occur they are very
persistent.
1.-THE most familiar signal received is curousy
musical. 1t comes in the form of three short raps,
which may be interpreted as the Morse letter 49,
but there other sounds which may stand for
other letters.
1.-THE prevented an investigation of the
Hertzian mystery but now our organization in
tends to undertake thorough probe"
Australia corroborates Marconi's statement
Highly skilled and experienced operators at Sgd
ney have received numerous signals similar to
those reported as having been received in England.
They consist of frequent repettions of two
dashes representing the letter NJ They are on
lengths Of $4,000 to 100000 meters. The
Australian experts say such lengths have
never yet been used by any wireless station of
the earth.
Now what do the electrical authorities say on
the general subject? Here it is in brief:
Thomas A. Edison has this to say: "Although
l am not an expert in wireless telegraphy, can
plainly that the mysterious wireless interrupt
lions experienced by Mr.. Marconi's operators may
be good grounds for the theory that inhabitants
Of other planets are trying to signal to us. Mr.
Marconi is quite right in stating that this is en-
tirely within the realm of the possible.
my to tha
can record one personal experience which may
may not have bearing proving that Mr. Mar
conf is right. Il seated on the peak of a great
pile of iron ore the reduction plant at Orange
ore day when 1 noticed that the magnetic needle