Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-02
THE AWFUL TORPEDO.
What the Naval Engagement of the Fu-
ture May Bc-An Uncertain Fight
of One Against a. Hundred.

a translation from Figaro in the New
Orleans TtmcS- Democrat, is terrible,
and those who direct its movements
are exposed to the greatest dangers.
A single heavy shot may scatter it to
atoms, and when it approaches the
enemy n hail of balls from the nitT all
leuscs aud rifles will do terrible eXecu-
ton on board. Therefore. the mere
fact of embarking on torpedo-boat is
a guaranty of bravery. Figure to your
self the situation of the officer in com
mand of such a torpedo-boat who is
ordered to sink a ship of the enemy's
squadron. All his surroundings con-
stltute one vast danger. The very sea
that hides and protects him during the
first part of his expedition may in an
other moment toss his corpse hither
and thither upon its waves. His ad-
versary will seek to riddle the boat
with a rain of steel, caSt-iron and lead.
The torpedo itself, which carries such
terror with it. might be touched with a
missile and explode. bursting the tor
pedo-boa into atoms.
The combat commences. The ves-
sells of the fleet have opened fire.
Shells rain in all directions. One of
our cruisers, cannonaded heavily on
the starboard side by fort mounting
twelve krupp guns, is simultaneously
attacked on the larboard side by one of
the enemy's iron-clads. She has al
ready suffered severely, and her posi-
ton becomes critical. A mast signal
from the admiral's ship is given. and a
torpedo-boat starts. The watchful en-
emv has observed the signal. He
knows the danger, and at once concen-
trates his fire upon the little gray speck
which is shooting rapidly toward him.
! Three miles separate them. and the
torpedo-boat must make that three
| miles in ten minutes. If it is not sunk
| before it has traversed that distance
the iron-clad is lost. Therefore, the
cannoneers point their guns with the
most scrupulous care. The first shells
pass wide of their mark; but the aim
is rectified, and soon the shells fall so
near the torpedo-boat that they throw
| the water over it. Now one has fallen
right at its PROV. A geyser jet of wa
ter thirty feet high concealS the tor
pedo-boat; the enemy believe it has
been sunk. and utter a tremendous
cheer. But the projectile has only ri
cochetted and passed over it. The wa
ter falls back in rain. and the brave
little vessel reappears all streaming
with brine, as though it had emerged
from the sea-deeps, and rushing on at
full steam in the face of death.
There are only nine men on the lit
tie vessel, and they are going to attack
a sort of leviathan carrying an immense
crew. 1t is not the fight of one against
ten, but of one against hundred.
Not single word is uttered beyond
the necessary orders. Those men,
whom death already touches with his
fingers, are silent and grave. And do
not suppose for a moment that they do
not think of the danger. On the con-
trary, they think of nothing else. But
it is 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 eye is
directed toward the object in view.
Now the boat is only five hundred
wards away from the iron-clad. The
fire of the mitrailleuses mingleS with
the showers of shells and sweeps the
deck; everything wooden is splintered
to atoms with grape-shot. An inces-
SAINT tHe of repeating rifles from the
mast tops of the iron-clad plays over
the torpedo boat, and the balls. enter
inr through the few openings in the
decks. have already disabled three men.
They lie in 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
mcre-after the fate of all shall have
been decide !.
The torpedo-boat has almost reached
its enemy. ] lie success Of the eXpedi-
ton is now assured. for the shell bat
teres are powerless to harm tie tor
pedO boat at such short range. The
rifle fire, terrible As it is, can nos sink
her. 1t can only kill some of her
crew; but that is Of no great conse-
Guence. 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 q second too soon it will fail
to do its terrible duty, and yet if there
be delay of 4 moment the torpedo
boat must dash itself to pieces against
the sides of its mighty adversary.
Now the boat seems almost ready to
touch the enemy's vessel. Hand-gren-
ades flung upon her deck rebound and
burst; one man is killed; the captain
has received terrible wound in the
face, but, summoning all his strength,
he supports himself erect against the
iron wall by sublime effort of will.
Livid, drenched with blood, but ter.
rible in his calm resolve and bravery,
he keeps his eye still upon the enemy.
Ready. Let her go!'
The awful missile is launched. An
enormous surge appears in the water,
and frightful cracking noise is heard,
followed by a terrible cry OF distress
The pigmy has conquered the giant.
Hard starboardr'
And the little vessel. suddenly wheel
ing around, steams away at full speed,
while the enemy's iron-clad sinks to
the bottom.
Ten minutes afterward the torpedo
boat has returned to its post beside the
admiraIS vessels. The admiral sends
for the captain in order to congratu-
late him. He is carried to him upon a
bier. Meanwhile the fight goes on. A
new expedition may prove necessary.
A provisory captain is at once appoint
ed. ard four men to complete the deci-
mated crew: and the torpedo boat is
ready TO fulfill another mission; it has