The Florida agriculturist., 1889-05-01
SECTION VII.

SECTION VII.
Firing from the Adamant now came
thick and fast, the crab in obedience to
signals turning her about so as to admit
the firing of some heavy guns mounted
amidships. Three enormous solid shot
struck the repeller at different points on
her starboard armor without inflicting
damage, while the explosion of several
shells which hit her had no more effect
upon her elastic armor than the impact
of the solid shot.
1t was the desire of the syndicate not
only to demonstrate to its own satisfac-
tion the efficiency of it's spring armor,
but to convince Great Britain that her
heaviest guns on her mightiest battle
ships could have no effect upon it's ar
mored vessels. To prove the absolute
superiority of their means of offense and
defense was the supreme object of the
syndicate. For this it's members studied
and worked by day and by night; for
this they poured out their millions; for
this they waged war. To prove what
they claimed would be victory.
When Repeller No. had sustained
the heavy fire of the Adamant for about
half an hour, it was considered that the
strength of her armor had been suffi-
GENTLY demonstrated; and, with much
lighter heart than when he had turned
her broadside to the Adamant; her direc-
tor gave orders that she should steam out
Of the range of the guns of the British
ship. During the cannonade Crab j had
quietly slipped away from the vicinity
of the Adamant, and now joined the re-
peller
The great iro1clad battle ship, with
her lofty sides plated with nearly two
feet of solid steel, with her six great
guns, each weighing more than a hun
dred tons, with her armament of other
guns, machine cannon, and almost every
appliance of naval warfare, with small
army of officers and men on board, was
left in charge of Crab K, of which only
few square yards of armored roof could
be seen above the water. This little ves-
sci now proceeded to tow southwark her
vast prize, uninjured, except that her
Ea1dder and propeller blades were broken
and useless.
Although the engines of the crab were
of enormous power, the progress made
was slow, for the Adamant was being
towed stern foremost. 1t would have
been easier to tow the great vessel had
the crab been attached to her bow, but a
ram which extended many feet under
water rendered it dangerous for sub
merged vessel to attach itself in it's
vicinity.
During the night the repeller kept
company, although at considerable dis
tance, with the captured vessel; and
early the next morning her director pre-
pared to send to the, Adamant boat
with flag of truce and letter demand
ing the surrender and subsequent evacu-
alton of the British ship. 1t was sup
posed that now, when the officers of the
Adamant had had time to appreciate the
fact that they had no control over the
movements of their vessel; th at their
armament was powerless against their
enemies; that the Adamant. could be
towed wherever the syndicate chose to
order, or left helpless in mid-ocean, they
would be obliged to admit that there was
for them to do but to surrender.
But events proved that no such ideas
had entered the minds of the Adamant's
officers, and their action totally pre-
vented sending flag Of truce boat. As