The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-04-04

returning to port stern foremost they
o7ined what had happened. and desiring
that their ship should do all her sailing
in the natural way. the Stockbridgs was
put about and steamed. bow foremost.
to her anchorage behind the hreakwater.
the commander thanking his stars that
for once the Lenox had got ahead of
him.
The members Of the syndicate were
very anxious to remove the unsavorable
impression regarding what was called In
many quarters their. attack upon q
United States vessel, and circular to
the public was issued, in which they cx-
pressed their deep regret at Icing obliged
to interfere with 80 many brave officers
and men In a moment Of patriotic en-
thusias,n. and explaining how absolutely
necessary it was that the Lenox should
be removed from position where con-
ilict with English line Of battle ships
would be probable. There were many
thinking persons who saw the weight of
the syndicats's statements, but the effect
Of the circular upon the popular mind
Was not great.
The syndicate was now hard at work
making preparations for the grand stroke
which had been determined upon. In
the whole country. there was scarcely q
man whose ability could be made avail
able III their work. who was not engaged
in their service; and everywhere. in
foundries, workshops and ship yards. the
construction of their engines of war was
being carried Oh by day and by night.
No contracts were made for the delivery
Of work ut certain times: everything was
done under tho direct supervision of ths
syndicate and it's subordinates: and thu
work went on with a definiteness and
rapidity hitherto unknown in naval con-
struction.
In the midst Of the syndicatc's labors
there arrived off the coast of Canada the
first result Of Great Britain's prersra-
tions for her war with the American
syndicate, in tho shape Of tho Adamant,
tho largest and finest ironclad which had
ever crossed the Atlantic. and which
had been sent to raise tho blockade Of
the Canadian port by tho syndicate's
vessels.
This great ship had been especially
fitted out to engage IN combat with ro-
pcllcrs and crabs. As far Us was posi-
bic the peculiar construction Of tho sym
dicate's vessels had been carefully stud
led, and English specialists in the limo of
naval construction and ordnance had
given most earnest consideration to
methods of attack mad defense most
likely to succeed with these novel ships
Of war. The Adamant was tho only
vessel which it had been possible to send
out in SO short u time. and her cruise
was somewhat of an experiment. If she
should bc successful in raising the block
ade Of the Canadian port, tho British
admiralty would have but little difficulty
in dealing with the American syndicate.
Tho most important object was to pro-
vide defense against the screw CT
tracting and rudder breaking crabs: and
to this end tho Adamant had been fitted
with what was termed "stern jacket.
This was great cage Of heavy steel
bars. which was attached to tho storm OF
the vcsscl in such a way that it could
be raised high abore the water. SO as to
offer no impeachment while under way,
and which. in tinc Of action, could Ike
let down SO az to surround and protect
the ruddor and screw propellcrs, OF
which the Adamant had two.
This was considered an adequate do.
fcnse against tho nippcrs Of . syndicate
crab: but as u means Of ofense Against
these almost submerged vessels novel
continuance had beon adopted. From o
greet boom projecting over tho stern, O
large ships cannon was suspended per.
| pendicularly, muzzle downward. This
gun could be swung around to tho deck,
hoisted into horizontal position. loaded
with q heavy charge, n wooden plug
keeping the load in position when the
gun hung perrendicularly.
If q crab should como under tho stern
this cannon could bc fired directly down.
ward upon her back, and it was not be-
lieved that any vessel Of tho kind could
stand many such tremendous shocks. Il
was not known exactly how ventilation
was supplied to the submarine vessels OF
the syndicate, nor how tho occupants
were enabled to mako tho necessary OBJ
scrvations during action. When under
way the crabs sailed somewhat elevated
above the water, but when engaged will
an enemy only small portion of thei,
covering armor could be ceen.
It was s,lrmised that under and DO
tween some Of the scales Of this arrnol
there was some arrangement Of thicl
glasses, through which, the necessary OBJ
servation could lie made; end it was he
lieved that, even If tho heavy pcrpen
dicular shots did not crush In the roof o1
crab, these glasses would be shatterc(
by conclusion. Although, this might ap
pear q matter of slight Importance. {
was thought among naval officers i
would nccessitate tho withdrawal Of .
crab from action.
In consequence Of tho idea that tn,
crabs were vulnerable between thci
overlapping plates. some Of tho Ada
mant's boats were fitted out with Cat
ling and machine guns, by which .
| shower of balls might be sent under tn
scales, through the glasses and into tn
body Of tho crab. In addition to thei
guns, these Loats would be supplied viii
other means Of attack upon the crab.
Of course it would be impossible t.
destroy these submerged enemies b1
means Of dynamite or torpedoes; 70
with two vessels in close proximity, tn
explosion of torpedo would be as dan
gerous to the hull Of one rs to tho other
Tho British admiralty would not allow
even the Adamant to explode torpedoe