The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-03-26
The -AMEuL ToRPepo.

Uncertain Fight of One Against a Hum
dred.
The role of the torpedo-boat is ter
rible; and those who direct its move
ments are exposed to the greatest
dangers. A single heave shot may
shatter it to atoms, and when it APP
proaches the enemy hail of balls from
the mitrailleuses and rifles will do ter
rible execution on board. Therefore the
mere fact of embarking on torpedo
boat is guarantee of bravery. Figure
to yourself the situation of the officer in
command of such a torpedo-boat who is
ordered to sink ship of the enemy's
squadron. All his surroundings consti-
tute one vast danger The very sea that
hides and protects him during the first
part of his expedition may in another
moment toss his corpse hither and
thither upon its waves, His adversary
will seek to riddle the boat with rain
ofssteel, cast-iron and lead. The tor
pedo itself, which carries such terror
with it, might be touched with missile
and explode, bursting the torpedo-boat
into atoms.
The combat commences. The yes.
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 cannon, is simultaneously at
tackled on the larboard side by one of
the enemys 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-
envy has observed the signal. He knows
the danger, and at once concentrates
all his fire upon the little gray speck
which is shooting rapidly towards him.
Three miles separate them; and the tor.
pedo-boat must make that three miles
in ten minutes. If it is not sunk before
it has travelled that distance, the iron.
clad is lost. Therefore. the cannoniers
point their guns with the most scrupu-
lous care. The first shells pass wide OF
the 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 water thirty feet high con-
ceals the torpedo-boat; the enemy be-
lieyes it has been sunk, and utter a ire
mendous cheer. But the proiectile has
only ricochetted and passed over it.
The water falls back in rain, and the
brave little vessel reappears all stream
ing with brine, as though it had
emerged from the sea-deeps, and rush.
ing on at full steam in the face of death.
There are only nine men on the little
vessel, and they are going to attack a
sort of leyiathan carrying an immense
crew. 1t is not the fight of one against
ten, but of one againsta hundred.
Not single word is uttered beyond
the necessary orders. Those men whom
death already touches with his fingers
are silent and grave. aAnddo not sup
pose for moment that they do not
think of the danger. On the contrary,
they think of nothing else. But it is not
of their own danger they are thinking,
but of the danger of failure. 1t is moi
a question of their lives, but of the sue.
cess 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, sc
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 ironclad. The fire OF
the mitrailleuses mingles with the
showers of shells and sweeps the deck;
everything wooden is splintered to atoms
with grapeshot. An incessant fire OF
repeating rifles from the mast-tops OF
the ironclad plays over the torpedo.
boat; and the balls, entering through
the few openings in the decks, have
already disabled three men. They lie
in corner to which they were able to
drag themselves, for there is no time
now to attend to them. They may be
thought of in two minutes more-afteT |
the fate of all shall have been decided |
The torpedo-boat has almost reached |
its enemy. The success of the expedi- |
ton is now assured, for the shell batter |
les are powerless to harm the torpedo |
boat at such short range. The rifle |
fire, terrible as it is, can not sink her.
1t can only kill some of her crew; but |
that is of no great consequence! Now |
is the time when the Captain needs all |
his surety of eye and GOODNESS of will, |
now is the time when his men must ex-
ecute orders with the rapidity of light
ming, for if the torpedo be fired a sec
ond too soon it will fail to do it's terrible |
duty, and yet if there be delay of |
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-gre-
nades flung upon her deck rebound and |
burst; one man is killed; the Captain
has received a terrible wound in the |
face; but, summoning all his strength, |
he supports himself erect against the |
iron wall by "a Sublime effort of will.
Livid, drenched with blood, but terrible |
in his calm resolve and bravery, be |
keeps his eye still upon the enemy.
'Ready! Let her gor'
The awful missile is launched. An |
enormous surge appears in the water,
and a frightful, cracking noise is
heard, followed by terrible cry of dis
tress. The pigmy has conquered the
giant.
lizard a starboard!''
And the littlevessel, suddenly wheel
n