First communication by canons

[TexiKan]

Every week I proof our weekly newspaper and we have a column entitled "Moments in Time." In that column, there was a date given for the "First communication" and it was done by a series of canons. As I recall, once a canon blast was head, another one fired and this went on until the last one reached its destination, I believe in New York or somewhere thereabouts. I thought it would be an interesting topic for the Forum and decided to wait until the column was printed and I would retrieve the exact dates and information. Seems the column was bumped and I have not been able to find the original information. Does anyone know about this? I wanted to check and see, specifically, what message the canon blast was supposed to have conveyed. I believe this happened in ther 1700's or so. I tried a Google search but was unsuccessful.

TexiKan

 

[TexiKan]

Found it!

From the King Features...

"On Oct. 26, 1825, an ingenious method of communication is used to inform New York City that the Erie Canal is completed. Cannons were arranged along the length of the canal, each within hearing distance of the next cannon. As each cannon was fired, it signaled the next. Within 81 minutes, the word was relayed to New York, the fastest communication the world had ever known."

TexiKan