Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1889-03-27


mountain lake, by an earthquake shock,
had been precipitased in body upon q
valley. Only one edge OF 1t reached the
land. and here tho seething food tore
away earth, trees and rocks, leaving be-
hind it great chasms and gullies as it
descended to the sea.
The bay itself. into which this vast
body of the water fell, became scene
of surging madness The towering walls
of water which had stood up all around
tho suddenly created aperture hurled
themselves back into the abyss, and down
into the great chasn at the bottom of
the bay, which had been made when the
motor sent it's shock along the great rock
beds. Down upon. and into, this roar
ing, boiling tunlult fell the tremendous
cataract from above, and tho harbor be-
came one wild expanse of leaping, mad
dened waves, kissing their whirling
spray high into the air.
During these few terrific moments
other things happened which passed un-
noticed in the general CONSERVATION.
All along the shores of tho bay and in
front of the city the waters seemed to
be sucked away, slowly returning as the
sea forced them TO their level, and at
many points up and down the harbor
there were submarine detonations and
upheavals of the water.
These were caused by the explosion, by
conclusion of every torpedo and subma-
rine battery in the harbor; and it was
with this object in view that the instan-
taneous motor bomb had been shot into
the mouth of the bay.
The effects of the discharge of the mo-
tor bomb astonished and even startled
those on board the repellers and the
the crabs. AT the instant Of touching
tho hutton hydraulic shock was felt on
Repeller No. /. This was supposed to be
occasioned by the discharge of the mo-
tor, but it was also felt on the other ves-
sells. 1t was the same shock that had
been felt On chore, hut less in degree
A few moments after there was q great
heaving swell Of the sea, which tossed
and rolled tho four vessels and lifted
the steel protecting net SO high that for
an instant parts of it showed themselves
above the surface like glistening sea
ghosts.
Experiments with motor bombs had
been made in unsettled mountainous dis
tricts. but this was the first one which
had ever cxertcd lis tnwer under water.
On shore. i. the ferris, and in the city,
no one for an instant supposed. that the
terrific phenomenon which had just oc-
CURED was in any way due to the YES
sells Of the syndicate. The repellers
were in plain view, and it was evident
that neither of them had fired gun.
Besides, the firing of cannon did not pro-
duce such effects. 1t was the general
opinion that there had been an earth
quake shock accompanied by cloud
burst, and extraordinary commissions Of
the sea. Such combination of elemen-
tary disturbances had never been known
in these parts, and a great many persons
were much more frightened than if they
had understood what had really hap
pened.
In about half an hour after the dis
charge of the motor bomb, when the sea
had resumed its usual quiet, boat car
rying white flag left Repeller No. l.,
rowed directly over the submerged net
and made for the harbor. When the APP
proach of this flag of truce was perceived
from the fort nearest tho mouth of the
harbor, it occasioned much surmise.
Had the earthquake brought these syn
dicate knaves to their senses? Or were
they about to make further absurd and
outrageous demands? Some irate officers
were of the opinion that enemies like
these should be considered no better than
pirates, and that their flag of truce
should be fired upon. But the COM
mandant of the fort paid no attention to
such counsels, and sent a detachment
with white flag down to the beach to
meet the approaching boat and learn its
errand.
The men in the boat had nothing to do
but to deliver letter from the director
in-chief to the commandant of the fort
and then row back again. No answer
was required.
When the commandment read the brief
note he made no remark. In fact, he
could think of no appropriate remark to
make. The missive simply informed
him that at ten o'clock and eighteen
minutes a. M, of that day, the first
boom from the marine forces Of the syn
dictate had been discharged into the
waters of the harbor. At, or about two
o'clock p. M, the second bomb would be
discharged at Fort Pitcher. That was all
TO BE CONTINUED.