The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-27

The other repeller and crab remained In
their first position, ready to act in case
they should be needed.
The approach Of two vessels, evidently
men-of-war, and carrying the American
flag, was perceived from the forts and
redoubts at the mouth of the harbor,
and the news quickly spread to the city
and to the vessels in port. Intense ex-
citement ensued on land and water,
among the citizens Of the place as well
as its defenders. Every man who had a
post of duty was instantly at it; and in
less than half an hour the British man
of-war Scarabseus, which had been lying
at anchor short distance outside the
harbor, came steaming out to meet the
enemy. There were other naval vessels
in port, but they required more time to
be put in readiness for action.
AS soon as the approach of Scarab@us
was perceived by Repeller No. /, boat
bearing a white flag was lowered from
that vessel and was rapidly rowed to-
ward the British ship. When the latter
saw the boat coming she lay to, and
waited it's arrival. A note was delivered
to the captain of the Scarab@us, in which
it was stated that the syndicate, which
had undertaken on the part of the United
States the conduct Of the war between
that country and Great Britain, was now
prepared to demand the surrender of
this city, with its forts and defenses, and
all vessels within its harbor; and, as q
first step, the immediate surrender of
the vessel to the commander of which
this note was delivered.
The overwhelming effrontery of this
demand caused the commander of the
Scarab@us to doubt whether he had to
deal with a raving lunatic or buster
ing fool: but he informed the person in
charge of the flag of truce boat that he
would give him fifteen minutes in which
to get back to his vessel, and that he
would then open fire upon that craft.
The men who rowed the little boat
were not men-of-war's men, and were
unaccustomed to duties of this kind. In
eight minutes they had reached their
vessel and were safe on board.
Just seven minutes afterward the first
shot came from the Scarabaeus. II
passed over Repeller No. /, and that
vessel, instead of replying, Immediately
steamed nearer her adversary. The
director-in-chief desired to determine
the effect of an active cannonade upon
the new armor, and therefore ordered
the vessel placed in such a position that
the Englishman might have the best
opportunity for using it as target.
| The Scarabaus lost no time in availing
herself of the facilities offered She was
large and powerful ship, with heavy
| armament; and, soon getting the range
of the syndicate's vessel, she hurled ball
after ball upon her striped side. Repellel
No. l made no reply, but quietly sub
mitted to the terrible bombardment
Some of the great shot Jared her from
bow to stern, but not one of them broke
a steel spring, nor penetrated the heavy
inside plates
| After half an hour of this work the
director-in-chief became satisfied that
the new armor had well acquitted itself
in the severe trial to which it had beer
subjected. Some of the air buffers had
been disabled, probably on account OF
faults in their construction, but these
could readily be replaced, and no further
injury had been done the vessel. 1t was
not necessary, therefore, to continue the
experiment any longer. and besides there
was danger that the Englishman perceiv.
ing that his antagonist did not appear tc
be affected by his fire, would approach
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