The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-04-25

OF the enemy. anything less than this
would not avail its purpose.
Notwithstanding that SO many vessels
had been sent to different parts Of the
coast, there was still in Portsmouth Ia1-
Dor . large number Of war vessels of We
rious classes, all i'll commission and
ready for action. The greater part Of
these had received orders to cruise that
day in the channel. Consequently it
was still early in the morning whcn
around the eastern. end Of the Isle of
Wight there appeared q British feet com
posed Of fifteen Of tho finest ifonclads,
with several gunboats and cruisers, and
q number Of torpedo boats.
It was & noble sight, for besides the
war ships there was another feet hang
ing upon the outskirts OF the first, and
composed OF craft, large and small, and
from both sides of the channel, filed
with those who were anxious to witness
from afar the sea fight which was to take
place under such novel conditions. Many
OF these observers were reporters and
special correspondents for great news
papers. On some Of the vessels which
came up from the French coast We're
men with marine glasses Of cNtraordi
nary power, whose business it was to
send an early and accurate report Of the
affair to the Office Of the war syndicate
III New York
AS soon IS the British ships cano in
sight. the four crabs cast off from Itepcl
ler 10. H. Then with the other two
tlley prepared for action, moving con-
A. III
which now steamed forward very slowly.
The wind was strong from the north
west, and the sea high, the shining tops
of the crabs frequently disappearing
under the waves.
The British fleet came steadily on,
headed by the greet Llangaron. This
vessel was very much in advance Of the
others, for knowing that when she vas
really il action and the great cylinder
whicl. formed her stern guard was lower
. ed into the water her speed would be much
retarded, size had put on all steam, ana
being the awiitcst war ship OF her class,
she had distanccI all her consorta. II
was lli,SiIiy Important thai she a!,o7.lI
begin the tight and engage the attention
OF as many crabs is possible while cor
tain Of Tho other ships aetaclcd the t.
reIicr Will! shcir rams. Although it y;;.s
and I: back again, alld inst;;ntlT tIla two
crabs, each still grasping chain Of tll.
cylinder, began to sink. Oh board the
Ilangaron an order was shouted to let
cut the cylinder chains, but as these
chains had only been made long enough,
to allow the top Of the cylinder TO hang
at or little below, the surface CT tbs
water, a foot or two Of length was al
! Chat could be gained.
! The davits from which the cylinder
/ hung were thick and strong, and The
! iron ,yindl2sScs"tO which the chains weTC
attacited were large and pondeTous, bat
| these were not stSonS enough to with
stand TIE weight Of two crabs with s:ce
armorcd roofs. enormous engines aro
iron huh. In less than & minute che
da1it mapped like a pipe stem under Tx
| tremendous strain, and Immediately
,fteiw&rl the winilass to which tllt
chain was attached was torn from ii:
belt; and went crashing overheard. tear
;:i% away a portion OF the stcr. rail il
ita descent.
Crab . Instantly released the chain i
had held, aHd IN Il moment thc grca
cylinder hung almost perpendicular,
from one chain. But only for 4 mo
merit. The nippers OF Crab Il still firmly
held the chain. and the tremendous lev
crage excrtel hy the falling of onc end o
the cylinder wrcnched it from the risidls
helt! end Of lis cllain; and III d fash. t,:t
enormous stern guard CT the Llan@cro,
sunk, end foremoet.to the bottom OF III,
channel.
III ten minutes afterwalJi the l-lansa
ron. rud,lerle;s. and with the blades o
~ Iropoliegs shiyered and crushed, va
slowly turning her starLoard to the VIZ
and the sea and beginning 10 roll ike ;
ioc; ofc,CG) tons.
Besides the LiauS,:-o:i ti;rse iro.1cl.l,
were na~ dril:ia.s tIt:,.e.sie;c to The go
i2,:E t.syz-c was 40 tiEae 10 succor ,5!s-Jl2,
v,-.se!l, lnr Tho rest OF The !leet w.ss coz.
rs on and there ~-as great work for Ia
crabs.