The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-29
BLOWING UP A SHIP.
POSSIBILITIES OF THE WARFARE or
THE FUTURE.
Dropping Bombs from the skies-A Miss
-Ught-Giving Rockets Which Un-
mask the Attacking Party
A Magnificent Sight.
EGreer's ..Modern DedaIus. y

t1LeerS MODERN DSeQaAuS-
Our equipment was the same as before,
except that half of US carried a single ten.
pound bomb instead of three five pound
ones. We followed the shore on the
southern side of the bay as far as Oakley
island, which borders it in that direction
About mile in the offing were visible
the lights of large steamer, the first of.
the line We knew that the next one lay
two miles beyond her, but from that dis
lance we could not make out her lights.
Arrived at a point almost directly above
the vessel, ! halted my little party
and explained my plans, which were ex-
ceediDgly 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 be was to rise upward again as fast
as possible. The rest were to remain in
readiness to repeat the manRuvre if it
should fail the first time. The man Sc
lected at once began the descent, and for
a few moments we strained our eyes
through the gloom, vainly trying to fol-
low his movements Presently a slight
rattle was heard; there was bright flash
and stunning report The bomb had
missed the funnel and exploded on the
deck
For few seconds there was dead 81
lence, then confusion of many voices;
then a shot was heard, a rocket whizzed
up past us and burst into 1000 points of
dazzling brightness which lighted up
with MONDAY clearness an area of more
than mile. In the unearthly glare we
could plainly see our comrades fastening
upward to rejOin us Before the intense
brightness had gone out, there was a sec
Ond report, another rocket came hurting
and screaming right among us. and burst
into great blazing stars above. The eff
feet was indescribably magnificent.
but sadly disconcerting to our
plans We were confused and
daZzled, and must have been plainly
visib to those on board. Scat
ter, men, scatteri" / shouted as a third
rocket came almost in the track of the
second 1t was plainly impossible to re
main where we were, but in spite of the
flaming, sulphurous masses that were
falling like a rain of fire around me. l
balanced myself for a moment while l
found with my plumb line point exactly
over the ship. Then l loosed my ten
pound shell from its sling and dropped it
/ heard the crash of its fall upon the
deck, and deep mulfied 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. l blew
shrill 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
C4dCb DOSASADAA dlOhSCo ~
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 a
lofty elevation at distance of about half
a mile from the ship, ditfUsed a bright
light over the water. by which the small
est boat within the distance of a 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 wide circle all was
light as day, the vessel herself lay beyond
in the darkness, now denser than ever
from the contrast. Her lights had all
been extinguished, and the only clews to
her position were the 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 necessary 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 a low whistle | brought all my
men around me, and, in few words, d.
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
ouivering 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 object as the head of
WINNER 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 after some minutes of suspense
deep, thunderous, sound was heard, fol
lowed, after a few awful moments, by
loud, confused shouting. The firing
ceased the light of the last shell went out
like dying lamp; and through the dark
ness a horrible, rushing gurgling sound
came up to our ears. That's the last of
her, said one of the men, in awe struck
tones; Il 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 were
about il.