Pioneering Days of Radio

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 14, 17 October 1930, Page 6

Pioneering Days of Radio

A Dramatic Rescue TINE incalculable value of wireless in preventing shipping disasters is apparent to-day to even the man on the street. The following incident, taken from a magazine dated July, 1918, shows that even at that period, when radio telegraphy was in its infancy, it was already an active agent in saving ves. "The incident happened at Nassau, in the Bahamas. Just outside the shoal bar-Nassau has no harbour-the cruiser Indefatigable was anchored. There was a tremendous sea, the aftermath of a hurricane which had slid past Nassau and missed it by a hair’s breadth. ‘The terrific winds, had stirred up the usually calm waters of the South Atlantic, sending out in all directions huge waves, veritable mountains of water. On board the Indefatigable, on a tour of inspection, were the Officer of the port and the Governor of the Bahamas. They stayed overnight. By morning the big seas had begun to come in, slowly and regularly, lifting the cruiser high in the air, letting her gently down into the valleys of water, and then striking the bar and rushing shoreward a mass of spray and foam. Daylight found the coast hid- den by clouds of white. At eleven o’clock. an attempt was made to cross the bar. The Governor was anxious to return, and the commander of the cruiser was under orders to proceed at noon. The long-boat, with seven pairs of oars, the crew wearing lifebelts, cautiously approached the dangerous passage. A dash was made. The next instant a big wave rose from somewhere, broke in the shoal of water directly behind the boat, and hid it from view. A moment later it emerged half-filled with water, while two of the crew were struggling in the sea perhaps fifty feet distant. From the cruiser it appeared as if the entire boat-load was doomed. To send asistance from the ship was impossible. The only help could come from those on shore, who, however, could not have witnessed the accident, and with whom communication was cut off. Then came a happy thought. The cruiser was equipped with wireless tlegraphy. There was, however, no wireless station at Nassau, but two ‘"undred miles away, on the coast of Iorida, lay Key West, with its powerful Government wireless station. Key West was called. In a moment a response was received. Three minutes more and the message for assistance had been telegraphed from Key West to the Bahama eable office, from there flashed beneath the water to Nassau, where it arrived at the Government building over the telephone. The complete passage took eight minutes. A few moments later a plucky little powerful tender found its way safely across the bar, and rescued the entire crew, who by this time were all in the water clinging to the sides of their overturned boat. /