The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-04-30
THE AWFUL TORPEDO,
what tho Naval Engagement OF tho Fu-
ture May Bean Uncertain Fight
of One Against a Hundred

OF One Against Hundred.
The role of the torpedo boat, reads o
translation from Figaro in the New
Orleans Ta1nrS- Democrat, is terrible,
and those who direct its movcmc. ..,s
are exposed TO tho greatest dangers.
A single heavy shot may scatter it to
atoms, and when it approaches the
enemy hail of balls from the II trail
leuscs and rifles will do terrible cxccu-
ton on board. Therefore, the mere
fact of embarkinG on q torpedo boat is
guaranty of bravery. Figure to YOUR
self the situation of the officer in COM
mand of such q torpedo-boat who is
ordered to sink o ship of the ,encmy's
squadron. All his surroundings con-
stitute one vast danger. The very sea
that hides and protects him during the
hrst part Of his expedition may in an
other moment toss his corpse hither
and thlthcr upon its waves. His ad-
Versary will seek TO riddle the boat
with rain of steel, cast-iron and lead.
The torpedo itself, which c"rrics such
terror with il, might be touched with q
missile and explode, bursting the tor
| pcdo-boat into atoms.
The combat commences. Th ves-
sells of the fleet have opened fire
| Shells rain in all directions. One of
| our cruisers, cannonudcd heavily on
the starboard side by Il fort mounting
twelve Krupp guns, is simultaneously
attacked on the l;:rboard side by one of
the enemy's iron-cia,ls. She has al
ready suffered severely, and her posi-
ton becomes critical. A mast signal
from the admirafs ship is given, and a
torpcdo-boat starts. The watchful en-
emy las observed the signal. Ho
knows the danger, and at once concen-
tratcs his fire upon the little gray spcck
which is shooting rapidly toward him.
Three miles separate them, and the
torpcdo-boat must make that three
miles in ten minutes. If it is not sunk
before it has travcrscd that distance
the iron-clad is lost Therefore, the
most scrupulous care. The first shells
pass wide of their mark; but the aim
is rcctitied, and soon the shells fall so
near the torpedo-boat that they throw
tho water over it. Now one has fallen
right at its PROV, A geyscr Jet of wa
ter thirty feet high conceals the tor
pedo-boat; the enemy believe it has
been sunk, and utter tremendous
cheer. But the projectile has only ri
cochettcd and passed over it. The wa
ter falls back in rain, and the brave
littlo vessel reappears all streaming
with brine, IS though it had emerged
from the sca-decps, and rushing on at
full steam in the face of death.
There arc only nine men on the lit
tie vessel, and they are going to attack
sort OF leviathan carrying an immense
10 fho fo.bt
ton. but Of one against hundred.
Not single word is uttered bcvond
the necessary orders. Those men,
whom death already touches with his
fingers, are silent and grave. And do
not suppose for q moment that they do
not think Of the danger. On the con-
trary, they think Of nothing else. But
1t is not of their own danger they are
thinking, but of the danger of failure.
1t Is not question Of their lives, but
of the success of the enterprise. 1t is
essential that the torpedo-boat shall
reach the enemy's flank and rescue our
cruiser After that, if the torpedo
boat sinks, so much the worSe
Every nerve is strained, every eve is
directed toward the object in view.
Now the boat is only five hundred
yards away from the iron-clad. The
| fire of the mitraillcuses mingles with
the showers of shells and swccps tho
aeck; everything wooden is splintered
to atoms with grapc-shot. An inces-
SAINT fire of repeating rifles from tho
mast tops of tho iron-clad plays over
| the torpedO-boat, and the balls, enter
ing through the few openings in the
! decks. have already disabled three men.
They lie III Il corner, to which they
have been able to drag themselves, for
there is no time now to attend to them.
They may be thought of in two minutes
more-after the fate of all shall have
been decided.
The torpedo-boat has almost reached
its enemy. The success of the expedi-
tion is now assured, for the shell bat
terles arc powerless to harm the tor
pedo boat at such short range. The
rifle fire, terrible as it is, can not sink
her. 1t can only kill some of hel
crew; but that is of no great conso.
quence. Now is the time when the
captain needs all his surety Of eye and
GOODNESS of will; now is the time that
his men must execute orders with the
rapidity of lightning, for if the torpedo
be fired second too soon it will fai
to do its terrible duty, and yet if there
be a delay Of moment tho torpedo
boat must dash itself to pieces against
the sides Of its mighty adversary.
Now tho boat seems almost ready tC
touch the cnemy's vessel. Hand-gron,
AIDES flung upon her deck rebound and
burst; one man is killed; the captain
| has received n terrible wound in the
face, but, Summoning all his strength,
nc supports himself erect against the
iron wall by a sublime effort of will.
Liyid, drenchcd with blood, but ter
rible in his calm resolve and bravery,
he keeps his eye still upon the enemy.
''Rcady! Let her go!'
The awful missile is launched. An
enormous surge appears in tho water,
and frightful cracking noise is heard,
followed by terrible cry OF distress.
The pigmy has conquered the giant.
"IIard n starboard!'
And the little vessel, suddenly wheel
ing around, stoams away at full speed,
while the enemy's iron-clad sinks to
4 Al>DI I.,.N