The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1889-07-19

|. wa, during llse iirst week of the in
voluntary cruise of the .ldamant that
the syndicate finished its preparations
for what it hoped would he the decisive
movement of its campaign. TO do this
repcller and six crabs, all with extraor-
dinary powers, had been fitted out with
great care, and also with great rapidity,
for the British government was working
night and day to get its fleet Of ironclads
in readiness for a descent upon the
American coast. Many of the British
vessels were already well prepared for
ordinary naval warfare; but to resist
crabs additional defenses were necessary.
1t was known that tho Adamant had
been captured, and consequently the
manufacture of stern jackets had been
abandoned, but it was believed that pro-
lection could be effectually given to rud-
ders and propeller blades by q new
method which the admiralty had adopted.
The repcllcr which was 70 take part in
the syndicute's proposed movement had
been 4 vessel Of the United States navy
which for a long time had been out Of
commission and undergoing q course Of
very slow and desultory repairs in a
dock yard. She had always been con-
sidercQ the most unlucky craft in the
service, and nearly every accident that
could happen to a ship had happened to
her. Years and years before, when she
would set out upon q cruise, her officers
and crew would receive tho humorous
sympathy Of their friends, and wagers
were frequently laid i'll regard to the
different kinds Of mishaps which might
befall this unlucky vessel which was
then known AS the T;Ilupoosa. $
The syndicate did not particularly de-
sire this vessel, but there was no other
that could readily be made available for
its purposes, and accordingly the Talla-
poosa was purchased from the govern
ment and worl: Immediately begun upon
her. Her engines and hull were put
into good condition. and outside of her
was built another hul'. composed of
heavy steel arnor plates and strongly
braccd by great transverse beams run
ming through the ship.
Still outside of this was placed an i'm
proved system of spring arlnor, much
stronger and more effective than any
which had vet been constructed. This,
with the artnor plate added nearly iif-
teen feet to the width of the vessel above
water. All her supcrstructurcs were re-
moved from her deck, which WAS cov-
cred by Il curved steel roof, and under a
bomb proof canopy at the bow were
placed two guns capable Of carrying the
largest sized motor bombs. The Talla-
poost, thus transformed, was called Re
peller No. II.
The immense addition to ler weight
would of course interfere very much
with the speed Of the new repcller, but
| this was considered Of little importance,
| as she would depend on her own engines
| only in time of action. She was now
believed to posseEgmore perfect defenscs
| than any battle ship in the world
Early on misty morning Iacpcller No
II, towet by four Of the swiftcst anG
most powerful crabs, and followed by
two others, left northern port of the
| United States, bound for the coast o1
Great Britain. Her course was a very
northerly one, for the reason that ths
syndicate had planned work for her te
do while on her way across the Atlantic
The syndicate had now determined
without unnecessarily losing an hour, t.
plainly demonstrate tho power of the in
Simultaneous motor bomb. It had bee1
intended to do this upon the Adamant
but as it had been found impossible t.
induce the captain Of that vessel to erac
uate his ship, the syndicate had declnct
to exhibit the efficiency Of their new
agent of destruction upon disabled
craft crowded with human beings.
This course had been highly prcju
dicial to tho claims Of the syndicate, 70
as Repcller No. had made no use in Tn
contest with the Adamant of the moto
bombs with which she was said to h
supplied, it was generally believed q
both sides of the Atlantic that she car
ried no such bombs, and the conviction
that the destruction at the Canadian pol
had been effected by means of mines con
tinued as strong as it had ever been. r
correct these false ideas was now til
duty Of Repeller No. II.
For some time Great Britain had becl
steadily forwarding troops and mum
tons of war to Canada, without interruE
ton from her enemy. Only onco ha
the syndicates vessels appeared abov
the banks of Newfoundland. and as til
number of these peculiar craft must nee
essarily be small, it was not suppose
that their line of operations would be cS
tended very far north, and no DANCE
from them was apprehended, provide
the English vessels laid their courses we
to the north.
Shortly before the sailing of Repclle
No. II, the syndicate had received new
that one of the largest transatlantic ma
steamers, loaded with troops, and wit
heavy cannon for Canadian fortification!
and accompanied by the Craglevin, OH
of the largest ironclads in the Roy;
navy, had started ACROSS the Atlantic
The first business Of the. .repeller and he
attendant crabs concerned these two We
sells.
Owing to the power and speed of IL
crabs which towed her, Repeller No.
made excellent time;. and on the morl
ing Of the third day out the two Britis
vessels were sighted. Somewhat alte
ing their course, the syndicates vcsse
were soon within few miles of Il
enemy.
When the captain Of tho Craglevi
perceived the approach of the repelle
he was much surprised, but ho did Al
hesitate for moment as to his cours
He signaled to the transport, then abo'
I mile to the north, to keep on the VIC
while he steered to meet the enemy.
had been decided in British naval circl
that the proper thing to do in regard
J, q repeller waste ram her as quickly
# ,,oecih1a Thesa vessels rara pnracca ri
slow and unwieldy, and if heavy iro
clad could keep clear of crabs lo1
Il enough to rueh down upon one, there "
= every reason to believe that the "bs
bouncer," as the repellers were called
British sailors, could be crushed in
low the water line and sunk. So, full
!, courage and determination, the capita
Of the Craglevin bore down upon the !
peller.
It ia not necessary to enter into deta