The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1889-04-26

force between train moving Mt the rate
of q mile in two minutes, or even one
minute, and another train which moves
a mile In an instant, can easily be imag-
med.
In these bombs those tubes which
might direct their powers downward or
literally upon the earth were capable Of
instantaneously propelling every portion
Of solid ground or rock to distance of
two or three hundred yards, while the
particles Of objects on the surface of the
earth were instantaneously removed to a
far greater distance. 'i'he tube which
propelled the bomb was of force grad
uated according TO circumstances, and it
would carry bomb to as great dis
lance as accurate observation for pur-
poses OF aim could be made. Its force
was brought into action while in the
cannon by means of electricity, while
the same effect was produced in the
other tubes by the conclusion of the steel
head against the object aimed at.
What gave the tubes their power was
the jealousy guarded secret.
The method of aiming was as novel as
the bomb itself. In this process nothing
depended on the eyesight of the gunner;
the personal equation was entirely elimi-
mated. The gun was SO mounted that its
direction was accurately indicated by
graduated scales; there was an instru-
ment which was acted upon by the dip,
rise or roll of the vessel, and which
showed at any moment the position of
the gun with reference to the plane OF
the sea surface.
Before the discharge of the cannon an
observation was taken by one of the sci
entifc men which accurately determined
tho distance to the object to be aimed at,
and reference to carefully prepared
hatnetnatlcaI table showed to what
points on the graduated scales the gun
should be adjusted; and the instant that
the muzzle of the cannon was in the DO
sition that it was when the observation
| was taken q button was touched, and the
bomb was instantaneously placed on
the spot aimed at. The exactness with
which the propelling force of the bomb
could be determined was an important
factor in this method of aiming.
AS soon as three of the spring armored
vessels and five "crabs" were completed,
the syndicate felt itself ready to begin
operations. 1t was indeed time. The seas
had been covered with American and
British merchantmen fastening home
ward, or to friendly ports, before the
actual commencement of hostilities. But
all had not been fortunate enough to
reach safety within the limits of time
allowed, and several American mer-
chantmen had been already captured by
fast British cruisers.
The members of the syndicate well
understood that if war was to be car
ried on as they desired, they must strike
the first real blow. Comparatively speak
ing, very short time had elapsed since
the declaration of war, and the opportu-
tunity to take the initiative was still open.
1t was in order to take this initiative
that, in the early hours of July morn
ing, two Of the syndicate's armored |
vessels, each accompanied by crab,
steamed out Of New England port, and |
headed for the point on the Canadian
coast where it had been decided to open
the campaign.
The vessels of the syndicate had no in
dividual names. The spring armored
ships were termed "repellers," and were
and the crabs were known by
the letters of the alphabet. Each repeller
was in charge of director of naval
operations; and the whole naval force of
the syndicate was under the command
of a director-in-c chief, On this momen-
l, = lei
Repellcr No. /, and commanded the little
fleet.
The repellers had never been vessels Of
great speed, and their present armor of
steel strips, the lower portion of which
was frequently under water, considerably
retarded their progress, but each of them
was taken in tow by one of the swift and
powerful crabs, and with this assistance
they made very good time, reaching their
destination ON the morning OF the second
lay.
1t was on a breezy day, with a cloudy
sky, and the sea moderately smooth, that
.he little fleet of the syndicate lay to off
he harbor of one of the principal Cana
liam seaports. About five miles away
he headlands on either side of the mouth
If the harbor could plainly be seen. 1t
lad ! zen decided that Repeller No. l
should begin operations. Accordingly,
hat vessel steamed about a mile nearer
he harbor, accompanied by Crab a.
The other repeller and crab remained in
heir first position, ready to act in case
hey should be needed.
The approach of two vessels, evidently I
and carrying the American {
lag, was perceived from the forts and |
eGoubts at the mouth of the harbor, ,
nd the news quickly spread to the city I
nd to the vessels in port. Intense e2- +
itement ensued on land and water,
mong the citizens of the place as well I,
S its defenders. Every man who had q =
ost of duty was instantly at it; and in o
SIS than half an hour the British man :,
f-war Scarabnus, which had been lying =
anchor short distance outside the !,
arbor. came steaming out to meet the -
nemy. There were other naval vessels .,
port, but they required more time to . .
? put in readiness for action :,
AS soon as the approach of Scarabaus n
as perceived by Repeller No. |, boat :,
caring a white flag was lowered from
lat vessel and was rapidly rowed to- n,
ard the British ship. When the latter =.
w the boat coming she lay to. and o,
aited its arrival. a note was delivered II
the captain of the Scarabaus, in which
was stated that the syndicate. which co
I'd undertaken on the part of the United n
atcs the conduct of the war between q,
at country and Great Britain. was now h,