The Rock Island Argus., 1885-08-07
BLOWING UP A SHIP.
POSSIBILITIES OF THE WARFARE or
THE FUTURE.
Dropping Bombs from the Skies-A Miss
-Light-Giving Rockets Which On.
mask the Attacking Party
A Magnificent Sight.


tGreer's Modern Dedalns Y
Our equipment was the same as before.
except that half OF US carried single ten.
pound bomb instead of three five pound
ones, We followed the shore on the
southern side of the bay as far as Dalkey
island, which borders it in that direction.
About mile in the ofing were visible
the lights Of a large steamer, the first of
the line We knew that the next one Law
two miles beyond her, but from that dis
lance We could not make out her lights.
Arrived at point almost directly above
the vessel, | halted my little party
and explained my plans, which were ex.
ceedlngly simple. One of the men, bear.
ing ten pound bomb, was to descend
cautiously until he was near enough to
drop his burden into the funnel, after
which he was to rise upward again as fast
as possible The rest were to remain in
readiness to repeat the manpuvre if il
shou d fail the first time The man Sc
iected at once began the descent, and for
few moments we strained our ewes
through The gloom, vainly trying TO FOL.
low his movements Presently a slight
rattle was beard there was bright lash
and stunning report. The bomb had
missed the funnel and exploded on the
Geek.
For few seconds there was dead ST.
lence, then confusion of many voices
then shot was heard, a rocket whizZed
up past US and burst into 1000 points of
daiZltEg brightness which lighted up
with MONDAY ciearness an area of more
than mi.e. In the unearthly glare we
could plainly zee our comrades Fastening
upward 10 rejoin US Before the intense
brightness had gone out there was a sec
oEd report another rocket came hurting
and screaming right among us, and burst
into great bla ing stars above. The ef-
feet was indescribably magnificent,
but sadly disconcerting to our
plans We were confused and
dazZled, and must have been plainly
visib e TO those on beard. scat
Ter, men, scatterl" | shouted as a third
rocket came almost in ihe track Of the
second. 1t was plainly impossible to re-
main where We were, but in spite of the
famIi G, sall lhurous masses that We're
falling Ike a rain Of fire around me-
balanced myself for a moment while
found with MY plumb line point exactly
over the ship Then | lo0sed my ten
pound shell from its sling and dropped il.
| heard the crash of its fall upon the
deck, and deep mu1ied explosion, which
told it had broken through and burst be
low. ! did not wait TO see the end, but.
striking off at my utmost speed, | blew a
shrlll blast on my whistle to rally my fol-
lowers, and held my course toward the
next ship.
1t was not easy now to make out her
exact position Evidently aroused by
the commotion, though probably not
understanding its cause, she was throw
ing out luminous shells on the side near.
est the land Each of these, bursting at
lofty elevation al distance of about half
a mile from the ship, ditfused bright
light over the water, by which the small
est boat within the distance of mile
might have been distinctly seen. The
rattle of drum beating to quarters came
across the water and it was clear that
she at least would not be caught mapping.
But while within a wide circle all was
light as day, the vessel herself lay beyond
in the darkness, now denser than ever
from the contrast Her / ghts lad all
been extinguisled, and the only clews to
her position were tie frequent flashes Of
her mortar, and the dull reports, as shell
after shell was sent up This was the
very thing we wanted The darkness in
which she was shrouded was ncces sary to
our success while the intensity Of vigil
ance with which her crew scanned the
surface Of the water prevented any eye
being turned toward the sky.
With low whistle | brought all nv
men around me, and in few words, di.
rected one who carried large shell to de-
scend low over the vessel, and make
quite sure that it dropped into the funnel.
He was then to shoot away TO the dark
side as quickly as possible The rest of
US assembled to a greater 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
striking spectacle could be imagined than
met our gaze, the flashes Of the mortar,
the intense blaze Of bursting shells, the
quivering light reflected from the illumi-
mated circle Of sea, and in the distance the
rockets which the other vessel continued
to throw up The third ship was now
burning lights too, and so brightly was
the surface Of the water displayed that
even so small an OBJ ect as the head Of a
swimmer must have been seen.
But we had not long time to admire
this brilliant display We could not fol-
low our comrades movements in the dark
ness which fortunately enshrouded him;
but af'e: some minutes of suspense a
deep. thuuderous, sound was heard, fol
lowed, after a few awful moments, by
loud, confused shouting. The firing
ceased the light q the last shell went out
like dying lamp, and through the dark
ness horrible rushing gurgling sound
came up to our ears. That's the last of
her said one Of the men, in awe struck
tones; II guess that shell has blown q
hole in her bottom. Say captain, shall
we go and try the other one? We may as
well make complete job while we're
a