The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-04-13

| much eelio'S commentator, iOrit proven
that one Of the syndicate's submerged
vessels could, without firing a gun, and
without fear Of injury to itself, capture
q man.of-war and tow it whittier il
pleased.
The authorities at Washington took
instant action on the affair, and as it was
quite evident that the contract between
the United States and the syndicate had
been violated by the Lenox, tho com
mander of that vessel was reprimanded
by the secretary Of the navy, and en-
Joined that there should DO no repetitions
Of his offence. But Us the commander Of
tho Lenox knew that the secretary of the
navy was as angry as he was at what
had happened, he did not feel his repri-
mand to be In any way disgrace.
1t may be stated that the Stockbridge,
which had steamed for tho open sea as
soon as the business which had detained
her was completed, did not go outside
the cape, When her officers perceived
with their glasses that the Lenox was
returning to port stern foremost they
opined what had happened, and desiring
that their ship should do all her sailing
in the natural way, the Stockbridge was
put about and steamed, bow foremost,
to her anchorage behind the breakwarer,
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 unfavorable
impression regarding what was called in
many quarters their attack upon a
United States vessel, and a circular to
the public was issued, in which they eX-
pressed their deep regret at being obliged
to interfere with so many brave officers
and men in moment Of patriotic en-
thusiasm, and explaining how absolutely
necessary it was that the LenoX should
be removed from a position where aeon
lict with English line of battle ships
would DE probable. There were many
thinking persons who saw the weight of
the syndiCates 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
man whose ability could be made avail
able in 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 on by day and by night.
No contracts were made for the delivery
Of work at certain times; everything was
done under the direct supervision of the
syndicate and its subordinates; and the
work went on with a defnteness and
rapidity hitherto unknown in naval con-
struCtion.
In the midst of the syndicate's labors
there arrived off the coast of Canada the
first result of Great Britain's prepare
tons for her war with the American
syndicate, in the shape of the Adamant,
the largest and finest ronclad which had
ever crossed the Atlantic, and which
had been sent to raise the blockade of
the Canadian port by the syndicate's
vessels.
This great ship had been especially
fitted out to engage in combat with re-
pellers and crabs. AS far as was posi-
BILE the peculiar construction Of the syn
dicate's vessels had been carefully stud
led, and English specialists in the line of
naval construction and ordnance had
given most earnest consideration to
methods of attack and defense most
likely to succeed with these novel ships
of war. The Adamant was the only
vessel which it had been possible to send
out in so short time, and her cruise
was somewhat of an experiment. If she
should DO successful in raising the block
ade of the Canadian port, the British
admiralty would have but little difficulty
in dealing with the American syndicate.
The most important object was to pro-
vide n defense against the screw ex-
tracing and rudder breaking crabs; and
to this end the Adamant had been fitted
with what was termed n stern jacket"
This was II great cage of heavy steel
bars, which was attached to the stern of
the vessel in such a way that it could
be raised high above the water, so as to
offer no impediment while under way,
and which, in time of action, could be
let down SO as to surround and protect
the rudder and screw propellers, of
which the Adamant had two.
This was considered an adequate de-
Tense against the nippers of n syndicate
crab; but as Il means of otfense against
these almost submerged vessels novel
contrivance had been adopted. From a
great boom projecting over the stern, a
large ships cannon was suspended per-
pendicularly, muzzle downward. This
gun could be swung around to the deck,
hoisted into horizontal position, loaded
with a heavy charge, n wooden plug
keeping the load in position when the
gun hung perpendicularly.
If crab should come under the stern
this cannon could be fired directly down
ward upon her back, and it was not be-
ieved that any vessel of the kind could
stand many such tremendous shocks. 1t
was not known exactly how ventilation
was supplied to the submarine vessels of
the syndicate, nor how the occupants
were enabled to make the necessary OBJ