Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-21
WAR FROM THE SKY.
,,ow SHIPS OF War Are 10 BE Blown
Tp i'm the Future.
THE Modern Dedalus Greer. !

The Modern D&ualuS Greer.
o.,,. continent was the same as before
ou ,,t that half OF us carried a sincl,
A'V,ir,nnd bomb instead of three five
te ll'PJ ones. We followed the shore on
o1S southern side of the bay as tar as
n TJ Island, which borders it in that
pgaont;ons. About Il mile in the ofIinp
,.,,ro visible the lights of large steamer,
W.. frst of the line. We knew that the
unvt one lay two miles beyond her, but
IN I'M the distance we could not make Out
hor Tohts Arrived at a point almost
Ifrootiy above the vessel, l halted my
I T party and explained my plans,
n,bicb were exceedingly simple. One OF
,bo men. bearing a ten-pound bomb, was
20 descend cautiously until he was near
,nonrb 10 drop his burden into the fun
unI after which he was to rise upward
nrain as fast as possible. The rest were
70 remain in readiness to repeat the
vancouver if it should fail the first time
The man selected at once began the de-
cent and for a few moments we strained
our eyes through the gloom, vainly try
inc 70 follow his movements. Presently
Slight rattle was heard; there was a
brioht flash and a stunning report. The
bomb had missed the funnel and ex-
nloded on the deck. For few seconds
there was dead silence, then confu-
sion of many voices; then a shot was
heard. rocket whizzed up past us and
hurst into a thousand points of daz-
ling brightness, which lighted up with
MONDAY clearness an area of more than
mile. In the unearthly glare we could
Mainly see our comrade Fastening up-
ward to rejoin us. Before the intense
brightness had gone out there was a
scond report, another rocket came hurt
Inc and screaming right among us, and
burst into great blazing stars above. The
effect was indiscribably magnificent, but
sadly disconcerting to our plans. We
we're confused and puzzled, and must
have been plainly visible to those on
board. " Scatter, menl Scatterp'
shouted, as the third rocket came almost
in the track of the second. 1t was plainly
impossible TO remain where we were;
but in spite of the flaming, sulphurous
masses that were falling like a rain of
fire around me, | balanced myself for a
moment, while l found with my plump
line point exactly over the ship. Then
loosened my 10 pound shell from its
sling and dropped it. [ heard the crash
OF its fall upon the deck, and a deep,
muiiled explosion, which told that it had
broken through and burst below l did
not wait TO see the end, but striking off
at my utmost speed, | blew a shrill blast
on my whistle to rally my followers, and
held my course to the next ship. 1t was
not easy now to make out her exact To-
cation. Evidently aroused by the COM
motion, though probably not understand
ing its cause, she was throwing out lumi-
nous shells on the side nearest the land,
distance of about hall a mile from the
ship, diffused a bright light over the
water, by which the smallest boat within
the stance of mile might have been
seen. The rattle of a drum
beating to quarters came across the water
lut it was clear that she at least would
lot be caught mapping. But, while
within wide circle all was bright as day,
he vessel herself lay beyond the dark
ness, now denser than ever from the con- !
-ast. Her lights had all been eXtin- |
yuished, and the only clues to her posi- |
ion were the frequent flashes of her |
nortars and the duh reports as shell |
fter shell was sent up. This was the |
cry thing we wanted. The darkness in |
which she was shrouded was necessary |
o our success, while the intensity OF
-igilance with which her crew scanned |
he surface of the water prevented any |
sye being turned toward the sky. With |
/ low whistle [ brought all nv men |
uound me, and, in few words, directed |
me who carried large shell to descend |
ow over the vessel and make quite sure
hat it dropped into the tunnel. He was
hen to shoot away to the dark side as
quickly as possible. The rest of us as
,ended to a great height, keeping as
directly over the doomed ship as we .
could in the darkness. For a few min
utes, which seemed an age, we waited
looking down. No grander or more strik-
ing spectacle could be imagined than met
our gaze; the quick flashes OF the mortar,
the intense blaze of the bursting shells,
the quivering light reflected from the
illuminated circle of sea, and in the dis
lance the rockets which the other vessels
to throw up. The third ship
was now burning lights, too, and so
brightly was the surface of the water dis
PLAYED that even so small an object as
lle Iledu OI SWlnlIlleI IluSI ndFS pOCh
seen. But we had not a long time to adj
mire this brilliant display. We could not
follow our comrades movements in the
darkness, which fortunately enshrouded
him. But after some minutes OF suspense
q deep, thunderous sound was heard, fol-
lowed, after a few moments, by loud,
confused shouting. The firing ceased;
the light of the last shell went out like
dying lamp, and through the darkness a
horrible, running, gurgling sound came
up to our ears. That's the last OF her,
said one of the men, in awe-struck tones; !
" guess that shell has blown hole in
her bottom. Say, captain, shall we go
and try the other one? We may as well
make a complete job while we are about
it."