Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-05-14


after the news of the destruction of the
Cnglcyin had bccn tclcgnphod from
Canada 10 london. the syndicaic's fleet
entered the English channel Owing %
the power and slsc,l ~ the erals. lepcl.
lcr No. II had made a passage of the At-
lantic which In her old naval career
would have been considered miraculous
Craft of various kinds wero n2w
passed. but none ~ them carried l'lc
british nag. IN ths expectation ~ the
arrival of the enemy. British merchant
Iacn and fishing vessels had been nd
yisc,l io tccp In the background until the
british navy had concluded ~ business
with the vessel, ~ the American syndi.
cate.
IA has iccn said bcforc. tho british
admiralty had adopted new methol Of
defense for the uidders and scrcw pro
pcllcu ~ naval vcssch against the ai.
iacks II Submerged craft Tho work of
constructing thc new appliances had bccn
pushed forward a. fast NJ possible. hut
so Gar only one ~ thc-c had lecn finished
~
Tho llangarun was recently built
irunclai of ilic same slIc and class as
the Adamant. and 90 her had hccn at
iachc,l the new stern defense. This was
an immenic steel cylinder. entirely
closed. and rounded at the ends. IL was
about ten feet In diameter. and strongly
braccd inside II was suspended by
,halns from two davits which projected
over the stem - the vessel When sail.
lng this cylinder was hoisiod up 10 the
layiis. but when tie ship vas prepared
Tor action II was lowered until Il lay.
nearly submerged. atafi % tho riddcr.
In this position its ends projected about
aficcn fcci on either side Of tho propeller
blades.
IL vas believed that this cylinder would
siIcctually prevent crab from getting
near enough TO tho propcller or the rld.
Ter 90 10 any damage. II could not bc
,orn away as the stern jacket had bocn,
Cor the rounded and smooth sides and
,nds % the massive cylinder would Ohcr
no hold to tho forccps of tho erals; and,
approaching from any quarter. Il would
b. impossible Tor these forccps 90 reach
ruddcr OF screw.
Tho syndicaic's little lcci arrived In
british waters late In the day; and early
the next morning IL appeared about
twenty miles to the south 20 the lslo -
Wight. and headed 90 tho northeast as II
IL wcro making Tor Portsmouth The
course ~ thcso vessels greatly surprised
the English government and naval an.
ihoriiics. II was expected that an az.
tack would probably h. madc upon some
comparatively unprotected SPOT on the
British scahoarl. AMI therefore on the
west coast of Ireland and In ST. Georges
channel preparations - tho most for
midablc character had bccn made 20 de-
fcud British ports against Rop.ller No
N and her attendant crabs. Particularly
was this the case In Bristol channel.
whcfo a large number of lronclads were
stationed. and which was 20 have been
tho destination % tho Ilangnron II the
syndicatoa vessels had delayed their
coming long enough o. allow her 90 get
around thcrc That tihs little ilcct should
have sailed straight Cor England's great
naval stronghold was something that the
british admiralty could no, understand.
Tho fact was not appreciated that u was
tho object % the syndicate 10 measure
~ strength with the greatest strength
- the enemy. Anything les than this
would not avail ia purposc.
Notwithstanding that ~ many vessels
hal bccn sent a. different parts - tho
coast. there was still In Portsmouth har.
bor large number of war vessels u va
rious CLASSES. all In commission and
rcady for action. Tho greater part u
those had received orders % cruise that
day In the channel Consequently il
was still Early In the morning when
around tho eastern end ~ the lllo %
wieht there appeared a british Zee, com.
posed ~ ilftccn u the finest ironclads,
with several gunboais and cruisers. and
a number ~ torpedo boat.
IL was a noble sight. Tor bc.lcs tho
war ships ihcro was another ilc,t hang.
iny up0n tho outskirts oi tho iirt. and
composed of craft. large and small, and
from both sides of the channel. filed
with those who were anxious to witness
from afar tho rca fight which was totako
place under such novel conditions. Many
Of these Observers were reporters and
special correspondents Tor great news
papers. On some Of the vessels which
caino up from tho French coast were
men with marine glasses Of cxtnordi.
nary power. whose business IL was 20
send an early and accurate report u the
affair 10 the Office ~ the war syndicate
In New York
As soon as the British ships camc In
sight. the four crabs cast OIL from llepcl-
lcp No. A. Then with the other two
they prepared Tor action. moving con-
sldcrably In advance Of tho rcpcller,
which now steamed forward very slowly.
Tho wind was strong from tho north
west. and the SEA high. the shining tops
OF the crabs frcqucntly disappearing
under the waves.
Tho British ilect came steadily on,
headed by the great llangaron. This
vessel was very much In advance of tho
others, for knowing that when 6ho was
really In action and the great cylinder
which formed her stern guarl was lower
ed into the water her spccd would bc much
retarded. she had put on all steam. and
being tho swiftcst war ship % her class.
sho hal distanccd all her consorts. IL
was highly important that she should
begin tho fight and engage the attention
OF as many crabs a. possible while GER
tain OF the other ships attacked the re-
Keller with their rams. Although II was
now generally believed that motor
bombs from repcller might destroy n
man -of.war. II was also considered prob
able that the accurate calculations which
appeared 10 be necessary 10 precision OF
aim could not bc made when tho object
Of the aim was In rapid motion.
But whether or not one or more motor
bombs did strike the marx. or whether
or no, one ~ mure vessels were blown
into fine particles. there were dozen
ironclads In that fleet. each of whose
commanders and officers were deter
mined to run into that repcller and crush
her. II 80 bc they held together long
enough TO reach her.
Tho commanders Of the torpedo boats
had orders 20 dircct their swift mcssen-
gers Of destruction firs; against the crabs.
for these vessels werc far In advance OF
the repeller. and coming on with ra-
pidity which showed that they were de-