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SEA SIGNALS.
HOW VESSELS COMMUNICATE
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Methods Used by Sailors in Ancient
Times and the Earlier Signal
Codes—The System in Uso
at Present.
Many different modes of communicating
at sea have been tried with more or less
success for hundreds of years, but not un¬
til 185G was a code of signals devised
which met with universal approval—the
same being known as the International
Code.
Before going into details regarding
this latter system it may be well to re¬
view the various earlier methods of com¬
munication. History informs us that the
fleets of ancient Greece, Persia and the
Roman Empire used their sails as a
means of conveying messages; special
significance being attached to them when
set, lowered or partially lowered. During
the day they could thus be used to ad¬
vantage, but at night tires or flaming
torches were customary. These rude
methods, with others equally as simple,
were in vogue for centuries, but no at¬
tempt to formulate a system appears to
have been made until about the year
1665, when King James of England is¬
sued a signal code applicable to the fleets
of the kingdom and for partial use on
land.
Flags of different colors were used,
each representing a letter of the alpha¬
bet, and when shown in different combi¬
nations expressed sentences already de¬
termined upoD, being especially adapted
to the maneuvering of ships. Without
elaborating, it may be said that the sys¬
tem, in the process of development, be¬
came so complicated with the many
changes that a radical improvement it was
deemed necessary. Nevertheless con¬
tinued in use, and it was not until about
1800 that a new code was adopted in
England, known as Lord Howe’s code, al¬
though devised by a Mr. McArthur. It
contained but thirteen flags, but by differ¬
ent combinations it was possible to make
nearly 20,000 signals.
The first United States code was adopt¬
ed in 1795, and consisted of tweuty-six
flags, representing each a letter of the
alphabet. Several pennants for use in
special cases were also provided. A
dictionary to accompany this code and
explanatory of it, was not issued until
1816, and then was quite faulty in
having no definite and determined
method. No change for the better,
however, was made until 1846, when
Mr. Rogers, then Superintendent of Tele¬
graphs, offered the navy department a
well devised system, by which, with
fourteen flogs, nearly 14,000 signals could
be made. The signal book, or diction¬
ary, which fully explained the code,
followed a regular method and the system
•prang into favor. In the meantime,
the English Government had tried and
abandoned many codes, among which
may be mentioned the admiralty codes
of 1808 and 1826, Roper’s code of 1828
and that of Phillips of 1836. After our
navy department had adopted Mr.
Rogers’s code, England recognized its
superiority and it was in use there until
the adoption of Marryat’s code in 1854.
This latter code was generally used, not
only by British vessels, but by those of
other nations.
It was on the 2d of July, 1855, that
the British Board of Trade appointed a
committee “to inquire inlo and report
upon the subject of a code of signals, to
be used at sea.” This committee, after
sitting over a year, examining all pre¬
viously published codes, receiving sug¬
gestions and making changes, finally
agreed upon and urged the adoption of
the present international code of signals.
This code, as its name implies, is in¬
tended for use by the ships of all nations.
It contains the elements of a universal
maritime language, and has been adopted,
translated and published by all principal
nations for the use of their ivar ships and
merchant marine.
The original arrangement of the code
•ignals being strictly adhered to in all
cases, and an entirely similar set of sig¬
nal-flags itfis or other symbols being always
used, quite practicable for any two
vessels of different nationalities, whether
war or merchant, to communicate intel¬
ligibly by precise signal equivalents in
their different languages, even when
neither understand the language spoken
by the other. For symbols, eighteen
consonants of the alphabet are used, each
being represented by a flag. Of the
flags, one is a burgee or swallow-tail
standing for the letter B, while four pen¬
nants represent C, D, F, and G; the re¬
maining flags being square and named
after the other consonants. There is also
a flag known as the code-pennant, which
is used as the code-signal and answering
flag. Every flag has a distinguishing
color or colors.
It is possible by the use of these flags,
in different combinations, to express
nearly eighty thousand words or sen¬
tences. The signal book which accom¬
panies this system is most comprehensive,
and admirably suited for the purpose in¬
tended. Its arrangement is so simple,
and references are so easily made, that
any person of ordinary intelligence may
use it.
It presents, first, signals made with
two flags, and divides them into attention
signals, compass signals and danger sig¬
nals. Then follow all three-flag signals,
expressing latitude, longitude, time, nu¬
meral and ordinary signals required for
communications. Thirdly, four-flag sig-
nals, divided into geographical signals,
spelling and vocabulary signals, names of
men-of-war, and revenue cutters and
merchant vessels.
The flags are furnished to all govern¬
ment vessels and life-saving stations, but
merchantmen must supply their own.
During the late war the United States
navy used a special code of signals, which
was changed from time to time in order
to make it still more puzzling. The
books explaining the signals were closely
guarded and never shown to strangers their or
others not directly interested in use.
Each book had a sheet of lead riveted to
the cover on the inside, and in case of
capture or abandonment of the vessel,
was ordered to be thrown overboard at
once, to prevent it from falling into the
hands of the enemy. The naval engage¬
ment in Mobile Buy, the capture of Fort
Fisher, and other important actions were
carried on by means of signals, each
manoeuvre being first determined upon
by the flag ship. signal
It is to be observed that flags
are for use only when their colors are
discernable, either with the eye or by
the aid of glasses. For signaling at a
great distance the distant signals have
been adopted for the international code,
comprising different combinations of
three symbols, namely: a ball, a square
or rectangular flag and a triangular pen¬
nant. Substitutes for these, to be used
when the former are not available, may
be a handkerchief for the flag, an oar or
spar for the pennant and a bucket for the
ball. Different combinations of these
three symbols represent the eighteen
consonants already enumerated, and the
same book and tables are used in inter¬
preting their meaning.
Other signals used for special purposes
are known as boat, coast, weather, sema¬
phore and night signals. Mycr’s code,
adopted by the United States army and
signal corps, may often be used to advan¬
tage at sea between government vessels,
communication being carried on by means
of flags by day and lanterns by night.
The Costou night signals are in general
use, being ignited by percussion and held
in the hand by the holder when burning.
Their colors are very brilliant and are
discernible at a great distance, their order
of burning determining their significance.
The navy, revenue cutter service and all
the great steamship lines have their dis¬
tinguishing Coston signal. For instance,
red-white-green denotes that the vessel
burning such signal is a revenue cutter.
Red, the danger signal, in use by the
life-saving service, has warned '‘many
strange vessels off our coasts, saving
them from mishap and perhaps total
loss.
Our storm and wind direction signals,
adopted by the Weather Bureau, are too
well known to need further explanation.
They may be seen in all seaports, places
on the great lakes and many inland cities,
and are much depended upon by marin¬
ers and others for the faithful warnings
they convey.—Detroit Free Press.
Kangaroos For America.
We are assured on what seems good
authority that the project of importing
kangaroos into this country is seriously
entertained by several enthusiastic and
wealthy sportsmen of the West. The
animals have been successfully accli¬
mated in England and France, and we
are assured that there is no reason why
they should not thrive here. The prac¬
tical extinction of the buffalo has left
the plains without any big gsme of im¬
portance, and experienced sportsmen de¬
clare that hunting the kangaroo, as
practiced in Australia, is second in ex¬
citement and in interest only to killing
the buffalo. The scheme is not without
commercial importance, Kangaroo
leather is a very valuable product and
the animals breed rapidly. The pro¬
moters hope to be privileged to introduce
the new game at the beginning of the
warm season in the Yellowstone Bark,
and so insure them for a few years Gov¬
ernment protection and immunity from
senseless sportsmen.— Helena ( Mon ,) In¬
dependent.
Silk Veneering.
Silk veneering is a new method of ar¬
tistic decoration which is applicable to
wall adornment, and to many forms of
decoration which have heretofore been
given over to hand painting. The silk,
satin or whatever material may be used,
is drawn tightly and smoothly over the
table top, panel or other surface to be
decorated, and coated repeatedly with
transparent varnish. The varnish com¬
pletely fills up the interstices in the
weave of the material, so that after the
last coat is applied the appearance of a
woven fabric has been lost, and the de¬
sign and general color of the background
only appears. The silk used may bo a
plain color and afterward decorated
with a flower spray, or figurepiece
painted upon it; Or cretonne, or even
four-cent calico in which the colors are
fastened, may be used.— Commercial Ad¬
vertiser.
Lightning Makes Mincemeat of a Troe
During a recent storm at Playford
Suffolk, England, a poplar tree was struct
by lightning, und the bark was com¬
pletely stripped from top to bottom, the
southern half of the trunk being riven
into match wood. One piece, five and
one-half pounds in weight, was picked
up 126 yards away from the tree, and
the splinters covered about two acres of
land .—Hew York Post.
The elm tree planted in Nashville,
Temi., by General Lafayette, in 1824,
is dying from neglect.
CRAWFORD SHERIFF'S SALES.
PEOKBIA-GKAWf URD 11"
u Pickens Yarbrough, administrator
of Mrs. X. R. Causey, deceased, has ap¬
plied to me for letters of dismissory from
his admministration on the estate of said
deceased. This is therefore to cite all
persons concerned to show cause, if any
they can, before me on the lirst Monday
in October next, why such letters shoul i
not be granted applicant. June 30, 1890.
O. P. Wright, Ord’v.^
pEOKU lA—C rawford Uouhiy. —A.
|3C. Banders and James M. Sunders,
executors of the will ofThos. J. Sanders,
deceased, have applied to me for letters
dismissory from their executorship;
therefore all persons concerned are here¬
by required to show cause, if any they
nave, on the first Monday in May next,
why such letters should not be granted.
Witness my hand officially, January
27th, 1690. Q. P. WRIGHT,
Jan. 81—13t Ordinary.
|"*LOii(iiA— Crawford County.—
|3James A. Moore and John I. Cham¬
pion, executors of James Roberts, de¬
ceased, have upplied to me for letters of
dismission from their executorship. Un¬
less good objections are filed* I will
graut them letters dismissory on the first
Monday in June, 1890. Witness my
hand officially this the 4th day of
March, 1890. O. P. WRIGHT,
Ordinary.
OEORG1A, Crawford Colntt— W.
U P Blasingame, administrator o f
Mary A. Bryce, deceased, has administra¬ applied to
me for dismission from his
tion on the estate of the said deceased,
and this is to cite all persons cobcerncd
to show cause, if any they have, before
me, on or before the first Monday in Oc¬
tober next, why letters dismissory should
not be granted applicant. Witness my
hand officially. This June 30th. 1890.
O. P. WRIGHT, Ordinary.
i^rUSTKHA, xJX T'rawford administrator Cocntt—J.
W. Mathews, of es¬
tate of James N. Mathews, deceased, has
applied to me for dismission from his ad¬
ministration on said estate. This is,
therefore, to notify all persons concerned
that the said J. W. Mathews will be
granted lettere dismssory on the first Mon¬
day in October next, unless good objec¬
tions are filed. Witness my hand offi¬
cially, this the 7th dav of Julv, 1890.
O. P. WRIGHT,
Ordinary.
_
OEORGIA—Crawford County.
13 Will be sold beforo the court house
door in the town of Knoxville on tbefirsi
Tuesday in September next within the
legal hours of sale, for cash, the following
lands, Iriltt:. situat a and being in the sec¬
ond (2d)*distriet □ f originally Houston,
now Crawford county, towit: Lots num¬
bers one hundred and thirty-six, one
hundred and thirty-seven, one* hundred
and twenty-one, one hundred and fifty-
two and one hundred and fifty-three
(136, 137, 121, 152 and 153). All lying
in one body and containing one thousand
and twelve and one-half acres, more or
less. Levied on as the prop* rty of C. B.
Colbert to satisfy a mortgage ti fa issued
from the Superior court of said county in
favor of J. W. Coombs against said C.
B. Colbert and against said lands. Ten-
int in possession notified.
July 28th, 1890.
B. A. Hartley, Sheriff.
GEORGIA. — Crawford County
|j M. F. Jordan has applied to me for
letters of administration on the estate of
E. T. Jordan deceased. This is there¬
fore to cite all persons concerned to show
cause if any they have by the first Mon¬
day in September next, why said appli¬
cation should not be granted.
Witness my hand officially, July 28,
1890. O. P. Wright,
t-rdiuitxx^
_
pEORGIA, 13 Mrs. J. CRAWFORD B. Lowe, administratrix COUNTY.— of
John W. Lowe, deceased, has in due
form applied to me for leave to sell a
small portion of the land belonging to
the estate of said deceased; this is to
cite all persons concerned to show cause
before me on or before the first Monday
in October next, if any they have, why
such leave should not be granted appli¬
cant. Witness my baud officially, this
September 1st, 1890.
O. R. Wright, Ordinary.
ATLANTA i FLORIDA R R.
TIME TABI.E.
S UTH BerND NORTH B 'USD
NO. 5.| NO. 1. NO, 2. XO. 6.
8 OOo 8 00p Lv.. .Atlanta .. .Ar 10 20a in 40 T3
12 27p ( 5 OSp ....Williamson ... 8 15« tz 25
..Topeka Colloden.
312p 6 23p .Muaella. |......J...... 6 55a 11 4L&
4 ................Gaillunl. 17pi • 53p .... Knoxville, 6 24i>'10 37a
..............Live Oak......... 45ai
5 40p 7 SOolAr.For Valiev.Lvi 5 8 30a
Train* No. 1 and 2 run daily.
Nos. 5 an 1 6 run tri-week y. Going north oh
Tues lavg. Thursdays and Saturdays, and goin{
•oath on Mondays, Wednesday* anl Fridars.
T. W. GAUGE IT,
M. H. Carfes, Gko. Supe'inendcnt. Howakd,
P.
Agent Knoxville. F. and P. Agent.
DR.W.F. BLASINGAME
DBNTIST,
Knoxville, - - Georgia.
I respectfully tender my services in the
Practice of Dentistry to the citizens of
Knoxville and surrounding country, and
will spare no effort to secure my patron*
com potent work and perfect satisfaction.
t® r "Charges Seasonable. ____
WRIGHT. TV. p; il.LEa,
T. ii.
WRIGHT & ALLEN,
-Dl.Ai.Lno tt*- "r-i l v T>T'rj TXT In-
.
Dry Goods, Shoes, Groceries,
Hats,
HARDWARE AND PLANTATION SUPPLIES,
We can furnish you with High CradJ
fertilizers, the best on the market. Try
them. Best quality Corn, Hay, Oats, Bran
Our stock of Ladies’ Goods is complete, and
we extend a cordial invitation to call and inspect
You win. be pleused with what we have
VUN ■ vi
to show you.
B. B. RAl
ROBERT COLEMAN.
COLEMAN * RAY
Mod Factors and Comisslofl fetal
_dealers in-
rocerles, Provisions, Planters’ Supplies and Fertilizer,
3 VI-A-CO IN’, GBORGrlA. Buggies, Ac.,i
We also full line of Groceries, Bagging, Tics, AVagons,
carry a G-EORGrIA.
KNTOXVIXjI^Et tSLiu business at Knoxville, which is 1
c°t3. We solicit Peonage „ M
Macon and Knoxville.
I
SBAIjERS in
dry GOODS, NOTIONS, GROCER.
IES, HARDWARE CORN, FLOUR,
hay, oats, bran and plan¬
tation SUPPLIES
WE HAVE A COMPLETE SUPPLY OF
Ladies’ Dress Goods, Hosery
and Millinery,
Agr icultural Implements, Ice
We extend a cordial invitation to ail, and the Ladies
especially, to call and examine our stock.
Our Prices will Compete with Macon & Atlanta
MUSELLA, GA. IT
FINE MILLINERY,
My Stock of FALL MILLINERY is now beautiful, and will soon be complete.
I have a nice line of NOTIONS ut the lowest prices. My Stock of
GLASSWARE, CLOCKS AND JEWELRY
Are remarkably cheap, and if you see them, you will be compelled to buy.
DRESS-MAKING A SPECIALTY,
And all pains taken, and every effort made to give satisfaction. For convenience o
some of my customers, I will have a full lot of MILLINERY, NOTIONS, Ac., 4
the depot by the 15th. I cordially invite all the ladies to call aad see my Stock.
6m MRS. M. B. PIERCE-
JOB PRINTING
OF
EVERY DESCRIPTION
NEATLY EXECUTED AT THIS OFFICE.
Orders Will Receive Prompt Attention t
GIVE US A TRIAL!