The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933)(about) |
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Friday 30 December 1898
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1 correction by shutcheon - Show corrections
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY AT SEA
The practical trials which have been made at sea completely demonstrate the bread fact that messages can be received and read at varying distances up to eighteen miles. In May, 1897, the system was tried between Pensrth, an South Wales, and the Flatholm Island, in the Bristol Channel, three and a-third miles apart. Here also communication was successfully established, and subsequently the distance was extended to nine miles, from Penarth to Weston- super-Mare, the two sides of the Bristol Channel being put into effective electrical communication. Later on, with the object of showing the possibility of keeping up I regular communication across a long dis- tance, a station was established at Alum
Bay, Isle of Wight, and another at Bourne- mouth, fourteen and a-half miles of sea intervening, and between these points daily
intercourse has been kept up. In addition to this a small steamer fitted with the re- quisite instruments cruised about the vicin- ity for two weeks, and during that time
kept up continual communication with Alum Bay. This station has been visited by Lord Kelvin and Lord Tennyson, also by the Italian Ambassador, all of whom
despatched messages through space, which were duly received at Bournemouth and seat on to their respective destinations through the ordinary telegraph system of the country. In connection with the Kings-
town regatta in July îtst, a land station with instruments was established at Kings-
town, and another set of instruments was put on board a steamer specially chartered
to follow the races, the result being that
from the steamer messages containing full
reports of the progress of the races were
sent daily from various distances at sea through space to the land station, which were published in successive editions of the evening papers. During the Cowes race week, when the Prince of Wales was con- fined to the Osborne yacht by reason of the injury to his knee, two instruments were fixed up at Osborne House and two on board the yacht, whereby communication was established, and messages passed daily between her Majesty and his Royal High- ness, although the two stations were fre- quently out of sight of each other. The most recent application of the system has been carried out for Lloyd's at Rathlin island, off the north coast of Ireland, where it has been made available for transmitting from the island to Ballycastle on the main-
land reports of passing vessels, instead of by fag signalling, which had previously been in use. One great advantage of the Marconi method would be that vessels could be reported in thick weather when visual signals were unavailing. It win be interest- ing to learn how this practical utilisation
of the system progresses.
. -_-.
J Cytifs will see that Mr. Buchanan has
j been caught napping. That is to say. tie I -Buchanan whose hand and pen are against | thires ia general. In his new book. j " Father Anthony," he bringe understanding
1 and sympathy to bear on the diverse i humanity of remote Connaught. However. i tie attitude and result are orly what might
] be exppiied by readers o' Hr. Buchanan's J successful Irish verse, " O'Connor's Wake,"
for examjjle.