tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627288822362203855.post1163065339146688613..comments2023-11-14T20:44:36.587-06:00Comments on Cosmic Yarns: Before there was the Internet, there was....Semaphore!Robert Scherrerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17341214577362261827noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627288822362203855.post-85722641457452901762016-05-05T08:03:27.154-05:002016-05-05T08:03:27.154-05:00Ah, but Martin Padway introduced the telescope alo...Ah, but Martin Padway introduced the telescope along with the semaphore. Absent a means to see farther, the towers would need to be set too close together to be economical.<br /><br />BTW, I love de Camp's story.Kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627288822362203855.post-66611589865292129302016-05-04T12:49:16.293-05:002016-05-04T12:49:16.293-05:00Semaphore towers were used! For a glorious run of ...Semaphore towers were used! For a glorious run of about 50 years before the telegraph was invented. See here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semaphore_line. They were much faster than messengers in some cases.<br /><br />In fact, the boy scout version of semaphore is based on these towers. Napoleon's greatest accomplishment.Joenoreply@blogger.com