The Semaphore

In the days when ships had no radios, signaling from ship to ship or from ship to shore and back was done with flags. I do not mean the pennants which were run up and down the ensign halyard in a quick succession of different combinations according to the key which the specially designated sailor read out of a thick code book. No, I mean signaling by semaphore.

In this case the signaler on the upper deck held a flag in each hand. Standing in a position as visible as possible to the receiver of the message, he sent the signals, using certain positions of the flags to denote certain letters. The illustration shows the letter that corresponds to each position. In spite of the fact that this is an old-fashioned signaling method, it is still used today by the English coast guard service.

Signaling with the semaphore system demands a very exact position on the part of the signaler otherwise the receiver will confuse the letters. On British warships, where the cadets still practice semaphore signaling in case the radio should fail, it is worked at almost like gymnastics.

Smoke Signals over the prairie

The Indians had a great number of smoke signals at their disposal. Signals were made to mean various things according to the number, strength, form balls, spirals, columns, etc. and color (the column of smoke was colored by the addition of certain herbs to the fire). You have to be a real artist to make good smoke signals, so be satisfied at the beginning with a few signs consisting of dots and dashes which you and your friends agree upon before starting. Throw a lot of leaves and green underbrush on a strong fire so that a heavy, dark column of smoke results. Interrupt this for shorter or longer periods, according to the signal, by holding a solid piece of moistened canvas over the fire. It is best to have two signalers who each hold the cloth by two corners.

The Indians who rode horses the Apaches, for example sent a rider to bring messages to friendly tribes. But they also used signal drums and smoke signals just like the Indians who did not ride. And even today, the smoke-signal telegraph is surprisingly well developed among primitive peoples.

Not too long ago an Australian squatter lost his life in a train accident. The news was sent by telegraph to his relatives on the farm. The farm lay 55 miles from the nearest telegraph station, so the message could not be delivered by mounted messenger until the next day. But the news had already arrived at the farm: 24 hours before this, an aborigine had sent the message in smoke! The aborigines smoke signal beat the electric telegraph by a full day. And 48 hours after the catastrophe, the news had even reached Brisbane 450 miles away through the native "telegraph."

Now a days smoke signal is popularly used by the people. When you go out for camp you must be well prepared and know how to use smoke signal because it is always helpful and work fast.