The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-04-25

came on. opened the ball by sending
''rattler' in the shape of 5o0-pound shot
into the ribs Of the repeller, then at least
four miles distant, and Immediately after
began firing her dynamite guns, which
We're OF limited range. at the roofs of the
advancing crabs.
There were some on board the pepelicr
who, at the moment the great shot struck
her, with q ringing and clangor of steel
springs, such ss never was heard before,
wished that in her former state of ex-
istence she had been some other vessel
than the Tallapoosa.
But every spring sprang back to its
place DIS the great mass Of iron glanced off
into the sea. The dynamite bombs flew
over the tops of the crabs, whose rapid
motions and slightly exposed surfaces
gave little chance for accurate aim, and
in q short time they were too close to the
LlaaGaron for this class of gun to be used
upon them.
As the crabs came nearer, the Liam
garon lowered the great steel cylinder
which hung across her stern, until it lay
almost entirely under water, and abaft
Of her rudder and propeller blades.
She now moved slowly through the
water, and her men greeted the advanc
ing crabs with yells Of. defiance, and
shower OF shot from machine guns.
The character of the new defense
which had been fitted to the Llangaron
was known to the syndicate, and the
directors of the two new crabs under
stood the heavy piece of work which
lay before them. But their plans Of ac-
ton had been well considered, and they
made straight for the stern of the British
ship.
1t was, of course, impossible to en-
deayor to grasp that great cylinder with
its rounded ends; their forceps would
slip from any portion of its smooth sur.
face on which they should endeavor tc
lay hold, and no such attempt was made.
Keeping near the cylinder, one at each
end Of it, the two moved slowly after the
Llangaron, apparently discouraged.
In a short time, however, it was per-
ccived by those on board the ship, that
change had taken place i'll the appear
ance.of the crabs: the visible portion of
their backs was growing larger and
larger; they were rising in the water.
Their mailed roofs became visible from
end to end, and the crowd Of observers
! looking down from the ship were amazed
to see what large vessels they were.
Higher and higher the crabs arose,
their powerful air pumps working at
their greatest capacity, until their pom
I derous pincers became visible above the
/ water. Then into the minds of the Off
GERS Of the Llangaron flashed the true
object Of this uprising, which to the
crew had seemed an intention on the
part Of the sea devils to Chamber on
board.
If the cylinder were left in it's present
position the crab might seize the chains
by which it was suspended, while if it
were raised it would cease to be de-
fense. Notwithstanding this latter con-
tingeney, the order was quickly given to
raise the cylinder, but before the hoist
ing engine had been set in motion Crab
| Q thrust forward her forceps over the
top Of the cylinder and held it down.
Another thrust, and the iron jaws had
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 Crab r, appar-
emily by a single effort, lifted herself q
foot higher ou1 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 over
hang Of their roofs prevented an attack
( on their hulls by the Llangaron, but
| their unmailed hulls were so greatly ex-
posed that 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 direc-
tors felt safe on this point.
Three Of the foremost ironclads, less
than two miles away, were heading di-
rectly for them, and their rams might be
used with but little danger to the Liam
garon. but, on the other hand, three
swift crabs were heading directly for
these ironclads.
It was impossible for Crabs Q and r
to operate in the usual way. Their mas
sive forceps, lying fat against the top Of
the cylinder, could no. be twisted. The
enormous chains they held could not be
both crabs backed at once they would
probably do 10 more than tow the Liam
garon stern foremost. There vas, more
over, 40 time to waste in experiments,
for other rams would be coming on and
there were not crabs enough to attend 10
them all.
SO time was wasted. Q signalo<. to z
Elevated some distance above the sur
face. Through this the director hailed
the other vessel, and as the air pipe was
hear the stern Of the crab, and therefore
at distance from the only visible por
tea of the turtle back roof. his voice
seened TO come out of the depths Of the
ocean.
The surrender was accepted, and the
captain OF the nunJoat was ordered to
stophis engines and prepare to be towed.
When this order had been given the crab
moved round to the bow of the gunboat,
and grasp;ng the cutwater with its
forceps. reversed its engines and began
to back rapidly toward the British fleet,
taking with it the captured vessel as q
projection against torpedocs while in
transit.
The crab slowed up not far from one
Of the foremost Of the British ships, and
coming round 10 the quarter Of the gun
boat, the astonished captain of that ycs-
sci was informed, through the speaking
tube, that if he would givc his parole to
keep out OF this fight, he would be