‘Old Salt’ Discovers Possible Code For Recent Sounds
The mysterious “signals from Mars” have been read! A local man, a retired and retiring sea captain, has a theory concerning the sounds, not of earthly origin, recorded on radio Instruments during the recent approach of Mars to the Earth, and in view of the fact that scientists themselves are disputing as to what these noises may be, his theory is as good as any other.
“Old Salt,” as the originator of the theory prefers to be known, started from the fact that the sounds consisted of four dots and five dashes, often repeated. He then proceeded to number the bodies in the solar system, starting with the Sun as No. 1. Mercury No. 2, Venus No. 3, Earth No. 4, Mars No. 5, and so on.
Observation has shown that Mars is habitable and probably habitable, and, assuming this last, “Old Salt” goes on to say that the Martians must know as much about the solar system as we of the Earth and so know the above numbering of the planets. If this is so, four dots and five dashes could verily easily mean, “No. 4 is wanted by No. 5,” or, translated Into everyday English, “The Earth is wanted by Mars.”
He says that they seem to be a polite bunch, giving our number the place of honor, and hopes that somebody will reverse the numbering and send the message back to Mars, This, according to “Old Salt.” might start something interesting. And who will say that inter-planetary communication is not interesting?
New Britain Herald, New Britain, CT, September 2, 1924