The evening world., 1889-01-26

the true object of this uprising, which to the
crew had seemed an intention on the part of
the sea-deyils TO Chamber on board.
If the cylinder were LETT in its present posi-
ton the crab might seize the chains by which
it vas suspended, while if it were raised it
would cease to lie n defense. Notwithstand-
ing this latter contingency. the order was
quickly given TO raise the cylinder; but be-
fore the hosting engine had been set in mo-
ton Crab Q thrust forward her Iorceps over
the top OF the cylinder and held it down.
Another thrust, and the iron jaws Ind grasped
one of the two ponderous chains by which the
cylinder was suspended.
The other end of the cylinder began to
rise, but at this moment Grab r.. apparently
by a single effort, lifted herself n foot higher
out of the sea. her pincers flashed forward.
and the other chain was grasped.
The two crabs were now placed in the most
extraordinary position. The overhang of
their roofs prevented An attack on their hulls
by the Llangaron. but their unmailed hulls
were so gre atty exposed that a few shot from
another ship could easily have destroyed
them. But as any ship firing at them would
be very likely TO hit the Llangaron, their
directors felt sfe on this point.
Three of the foremost iron-clads, less than
two miles away, were heading directly for
them, and their rams might be used with hut
little danger to the Llangaron, but, on the
other hand, three swift crabs were heading
directly for these iron-clads.
1t was impossible for Crabs @ and r TO
operate in the usual way. Their massive for
ceps, lying fiat against the top, of the cylin-
der, could not be twisted. The enormous
chains they held could not be severed by the
greatest pressure, and II both crabs backed at
ance they would probably do no more than
tow the Llangnron stern Oremost There
was, moreover, no time to waste in expert
mcnts. for other rams would be coming on
and there were not crabs enough to attend to
them all.
No time was wasted. Q signalled to r, aud
X back again, and instantly the two crabs,
I poHb still rraCnInu a nlnIn nf the pVlinlar
began to sink. On board the Llangaron an
order was shouted to let out the cylinder
chains, tut as these chains had only been
made long enough to allow the top of the
cylinder to hang at, or a little below. the sur
face of the water, "A foot or two of length was
all that could be gained.
The davits from which the cylinder hung
were thick and strong, and the iron wind
lasses 10 which the chains were attached were
large and ponderous, but these were not
strong enough TO Withstand the weight of two
crabs with steel.armored roofs, enormous
Engines and iron hull. In less than "A minute
one daylt snapped like a pipe-stem under the
tremendous strain. and Immediately after
wards the windlass to which the chain was
attached was torn from its bolts and went
crashing overheard. tear ne away n portion of
the stern rail in its descent.
Crab = Instantly released the chain il had
held, and in n moment the great cylinder
hung almost pe%rpendlcularly from one chain.
But only for a moment, The nippers Of
tremendous leverage eXerted by the falling
Of one end Of the cylinder wrenched it flom
the rigidly held end of its chain; End, in q
fash. the enormous s~tern-guard of the Liam
garon sunk, end foremost, TO the bottom of
the channel.
In ten minutes afterwards the Llangaron,
rudderless, and with the blades OF her pro-
pellers shiyerod end crushed, was slowly
turning her starboard 10 the wine and the
sea and beginning to roll like a log Of 8, 200
tons.
Besides the Llangaron. three iron clads
were now drifting broadside to the sea. But