Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-18

 returning to port stern foremost they opined what had happened, and desiring that their ship should do all her sailing in the natu-al way. the Stockbridge was put about and steamed, bow foremost, to her anchorage behind the breakwarer, the commander thanking his stars that for once tue Lenox had got ahead of him.
 The members of the syndicate were very anxious to remove tho unfavorable impression regarding what was called in many quarters tl.oir attack upon a United States vessel, ard a circular to the public was issued, in which they ex- pressed their deep regret at being obliged to interfere with so many brave officers and men in a moment of patriotic en- thusiasm, and explaining how absolutely necessary it was that the Lenox should be removed from position where con- fiict with English line of battle. ships would be probable. There were many thinking persons who saw the weight of the syEdicate's statements. but the effect of the circular upon the popular mind was mt great.
 The syndicate was now hard at work making preparations for the grand stroke which had been determined upon. In the whole country. there was scarcely a man whose ability could be made avail able in their work. who was not engaged in their service: and everywhere, in foundries, workshops and ship yards. the construction of their engines of war was being carried on by day and by night No contracts were made for the delivery of work at certain times: everything was done under the direct supervision of the syndicate and it's subordinates: and tho work went on with a definiteness and rapidity hitherto unknown in naval con- struction
 In the midst of the syndicate's labors there arrived off the coast of Canada the first result of Great Britains prepara- tions for her war with tho American syndicate, in the shape of the Adamant, the largest and finest ironclad which had ever crossed the Atlantic, and which had been sent to raise tho blockade of the Canadian port by the syndicate's vessels.
 This great ship had been especially fitted out to engage in combat with re- pellers and crabs. As far as was possi- ble the peculiar construction of tho syn dicate's vessels had been carefully stud jed, and English specialists in the line of naval construction and ordnance had given most earnest consideration to methods of attack and defense most likely to succeed with these novel ships of war. The Adamant was the only vessel which it had been possible to send out in so short a time, and her cruise was somewhat of an experiment. If she should be successful in raising the block ade of the Canadian port. tho British admiralty would have but little difficulty in dealing with the American syndicate.
 Tho most important object was to pro- vide defense against the screw ex- tracting and rudder breaking crabs: and to this end the Adamant had been fitted with what was termed stern jacket" This was a great cage of heavy steel bars, which was attached to the stern of the vessel in such a way that it could be raised high above the water, so as to offer no impeachment while under way, and which, ill time of action, could be let down so as to surround and protect the rudder and screw propellers, of which the Adamant had two.
 This was considered an adequate de- fense against the nippers of syndicate crab: but as a means of offense against these almost submerged vessels novel contrivance had been adopted. From a great boom projecting over the stern, a large ships cannon was suspended per pendicularly. muzzle downward This gun could be swung around to the deck, hoisted into a horizontal position, loaded with heavy charge, a wooden plug keeping the load in position when the gun hung perpendicularly.
 If q crab should come under the stern this cannon could be fired directly down. ward upon her back, and it was not be- ieved that any vessel of the kind could stand many such tremendous shocks. It was not known exactly how ventilation was supplied to the submarine vessels of the syndicate, nor how the occupants were enabled to mako the necessary ob- servations during action. When under way the crabs sailed somewhat elevated above the water. but when engaged with an enemy only a small portion of their covering armor could be seen.
 It was surmised that under and be- tween some of the scales of this armor there was some arrangement of thick glasses, through which the necessary ob- servation could be made; and it was be- ieved that. even if the heavy perpen- dicular shots did not crush in the roof of crab, these glasses would be shattered by concussion. Although this might ap- pear a matter of slight importance, 1t was thought among naval officers it would necessitate the withdrawal of & crab from action.
 In consequence of the idea that the crabs were vulnerable between their overlapping plates, some of the Ada mant's boats were fitted out with Cat ling and machine guns, by which 8 shower of balls might be sent under the scales, through the glasses and into the body of the crab. In addition to their guns, these boats would be supplied with other means of attack upon the crab.
 Of course it would be impossible to destroy these submerged enemies by