Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-04-16

"ruIVE Ant SO ANSWER, SIN"
PRESTON created by Il vas intensified
when 10 became known what tho syndi.
cate proposed 90 do tho next day. Orders
and advicos from the British admiralty
AMI war Office spcd across tho ocean. and
that night few % the leaders In govern.
ment circles In England OF Canada closed
their eyes.
The opinions Of tho oommandani Of
the fort were received with bat little n.
vor by tho military and naval Authoh'
ties. Great preparations wcro already
ordered a. rcpel and crush this most
audacious attack upOn the port, but In
tho meaniime IL was highly desirable
that the utmost caution and prudence
should b. observed. Thrco men-of.war
had already bccn disabled by the novel
and destructive machines 81 tho enemy.
AMI IL had been ordered that for the
present no moro vessels - tho British
navy L. allowed to approach the orabs
of tho syndicate.
Whether II was a mine OF n bomb
which had been uscd In the destruction
of the unfinished works Of Fort Pitcher.
Il would h. impossible 10 determine
until an official survey hal bcen made of
the ruins; but. In any event, IL would b.
wise aud humane not 20 expose the gar
rison u the fort on the south sido % the
harbor 10 the danger which had over.
taken the works on tho opposite shore.
II. contrary TO the opinion of tho COM
mandani. the garri.oncd fort were really
mined. tho following day would proha.
bly, prove the fact Until this point
should bo determined Il would be highly
judicious To temporarily evacuate the
fort. This could no, be followed by oc-
cupaiion of the works by tho enemy, for
all approaches. either by troops In boats
OF by bodies % confedcrates by land.
could b. fully covered by tho inland re-
doubts and Notifications.
When the orders for evacuation reached
the commandant Of the fort, be protested
hotly. and urged that his protest bo con.
sidered. II was not until tho command
had been reiterated both from London
and Ottawa. that ho accepted the situa-
ton. and with bowed head prepared 10
leave his post. All night preparations
for evacuation went on, and during the
next morning the garrison left tho fort,
and established itself far enough away
To preclude danger from the explosion Of
a mine. but near enough TO 10 available
In case OF necessity.
During this morning there arrived In
tho offlng another syndicate vessel. This
had started from northern part Of tho
United States, before the repellers and
tho crabs, and II had been engaged In
laying a private submarine cable, which
should put tho Office of tho syndicate In
New York In direct communication with
its naval forces engaged with the enemy.
Telegraphic connection between the
cable boat and Repeller No. having
been established. tho syndicate soon TO
ceiyed from IL director-in-chief full and
comprehensive accounts OF what had
been done, and what IL was proposed 10
DO. Great was the satisfaction among
tho members Of the syndicate when
these direct and Official reports came In.
Up to this time they had been obliged 10
depend upon very unsatisfactory intelli'
gence communicated from Europe.
which had been supplemented by Wild
statements and rumors smuggled across
the Canadian border.
To counteract the effect OF these full
report was Immediately made by the
syndicate to the government of the
United States. and bulletin distinctly
describing what had happened was Is
sued to the people Of the country. These
reports. which received world wide
circulation In the newspapers, created a
popular elation In the United States, and
gave rise TO serious apprehcnsions and
concern In many other countries. but
under both elation and concern there
was q certain doubtfliness. SO far the
syndicate had been successful. but ID
syk Il wp6ass vas decidedly sxpsri.