Signaling and Indian Signs 



251 



The most important of the signs used by men of the wil- 

 derness are herein described. They are interesting as a crude 

 beginning of literature. The knowledge of such things 

 appeals to most boys. They find pleasure in learning this 

 crudest of writing. Furthermore, many a one in the past 

 has owed his Hfe to an inkling of this woodcraft knowledge, 

 and there is no reason to doubt that many a wilderness 

 traveler in the future will find it of equally vital service. 



WEATHER SIGNALS 



(Adopted for general use by the United States Signal 

 Service on and after March i, 1887.) 



No. 1 

 White Flag 



Clear or Fair 



No. 2 

 Blue Flag 



No. 3 

 Black Triangular 

 Flag 



p p ^ 



Rain or Snow Temperature 



No. 4 



White Flag 



Black Centre 



No. 5 

 White and Blue 



pWIi 



Cold Wave Local Rain or Snow 



No. I, white flag, clear or fair weather, no rain. 



No. 2, blue flag, rain or snow. 



No. 3, black triangular flag, refers to temperature, and above 

 Nos. I or 2, indicates warmer weather; below No. i 

 or 2, colder weather, and when not displayed, station- 

 ary weather. 



No. 4, white flag with black centre (cold wave flag), sudden 

 fall in temperature; this signal is usually ordered at 

 least twenty-four hours in advance of the cold wave. 

 It is not displayed unless a temperature of forty-five 

 degrees, or less is expected, nor is flag No. 3 ever 

 displayed with it. 



No. 5, means local rain or snow; with 3 above it means with 

 higher temperature; with 3 below it means lower 

 temperature. 



A red flag with a black centre indicates that a storm of marked 

 violence is expected. 



