Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-15
WATER ilhe


 SECTION OF CRAB A, SHOWING METERS. A. bomb proof roof; B, water line; c. interior of crab; D. joint of nippers: E. arms of nippers; IF. rods of nippers connecting with electric en. zine; c, teak lining to crab.
 This proceeding astonished the con- mander and officers of the Scarabeus almost as much as the extraordinary at tack which had been made upon their ship. They had expected demand to surrender and haul down their flag, but the director-in-chief on board Repeller No. was of the opinion that with her propeller extracted it mattered little what flag she flew. His work with the Scarabnus was over; for it had been or dered by the syndicate that it's vessels should not cucumber themselves with prizes
 Towed by the powerful crab, which apparently had no fear that its disabled adversary might fire upon it, the Scara- bseus moved toward the harbor, and when | it had come within q quarter of a mile of the foremost British vessel. Crab A cast of and steamed back to Repcller No. 1.
 The other English vessels soon came up, and each lay to and sent a boat to the Scarabeus. After half an hours consultation. in which the amazement of those on board the damaged vessel was communicated to the officers and crews of her two consorts. it was determined that the smaller of these should tow the disabled ship into port, while the other l one. in company with a man of war just 1 coming out of the harbor, should mako attack upon Repcller No. 1.
 It had been plainly proved that ordin- ary shot and shell had no effect upon this craft. but it had not been proved that she could withstand the rams of powerful ironclads. If this vessel, that apparently carried no guns, or at least, had used none, could be crushed. cap- sized. sunk, or in any way put out of the fight. it was probable that the dangerous submerged nautical machine would not care to remain in these waters. If it re- mained it must be destroyed by torpe- does.
 two English vessels, and in very short time they were steaming toward tho re- pener. It was dangerous thing for two vessels of their size to come close enough together for both to ram an enemy at tho same time; but it was determined to take the risks and do this, if possible; for the destruction of the repeller was obviously the first duty in hand.
 As the two men-of-war rapidly ap- preached Repeller No. 1. they kept up a steady fire upon her, for if in this way they could damage her, the easier would be their task. With firm reliance upon the efficacy of the steel spring armor. the director-in-chief felt no fear of the enemy's shot and shell. but he was not at all willing that his vessel should be rammed, for the consequences would probably be disastrous. Accordingly l,. did not wait for the approach of the two vessels. but steering seaward, he signaled for the other crab.
 When Crab B made its appearance, pufHng its little black jets of smoke as 1t answered the signals of the director-in. chief, tho commanders of the two Brit ish vessels were surprised. They haa imagined that there was only one of these strange and terrible enemies, and had supposed that she would be afraid to mako her peculiar attack upon one of them, because while doing SO she would expose herself to the danger of being run down by the other. But the presence of two of these almost submerged engines of destruction entirely changed the sltuar ton.
 But the commanders of the British ships were brave men. They had started to run down the strangely armored Amer, ican craft. and run her down they would. if they could. They put on more steam and went ahead at greater speed. In such furious onslaught the crabs might not dare to attack them.
 But they did not understand the na- turo nor the powers of these enemies. In less than twenty minutes Crab A had laid hold of one of the men-of-w war. and Crab B of the other. The rudders of both were shattered and torn away; and while the blades of one propeller were