The Press., 1889-04-11


 city lay under the guns of the American syndicate was considered ridiculous, for few people believed that these vessels had any guns. Certainly there had been no evidence that any shots had been fired from them. In the opinion of reasona- ble people the destruction of the forts and the explosions in the harbor had been caused by mines-mines of a new and terrifying power-which were the work of traitors and confederates The destruction of the lighthouse had strengthened this belief, for it's fall was similar to that which would have been occasioned by a great explosion un- der its foundation.
 But however terrifying and appalling had been the results of the explosion of these mines, it was not thought probable that there were any more of them. The explosions had taken place at exposed points distant from the city, and the most careful investigation failed to dis cover any present signs of mining opera lions.
 This theory of mines worked by con- federates was received throughout the civilized world, and was universally con- demned. Even in the United States the feeling was so strong against this appar- ent alliance between the syndicate and British traitors that there was reason to believe that popular pressure would be brought to bear upon the government sufficient to force 1t to break it's contract with the syndicate and to carry on the war with the national army and navy. The crab was considered an admirable addition to the strength of a navy, but a mine under fort, laid and fired by per fidious confederates, was considered un- worthy an enlightened people.
 The members of the syndicate now found themselves in an embarrassing and dangerous position; a position in which they were placed by the universal incredulity regarding the instantaneous motor, and unless they could make the world believe that they really used such a motor bomb, the war could not be pro- secuted on the plan projected.
 It was easy enough to convince the enemy of the terrible destruction the syndicate was able to effect; but to make that enemy and the world understand that this was done by bombs, which could be used in one place as well as an- other, was difficult indeed. They had attempted to prove this by announcing that at certain time bomb should be projected into a certain fort. Precisely at the specified time the fort had been destroyed, but nobody believed that a bomb had been fired.
 Every opinion, official or popular, con- corning what it had done and what might be expected of it, was promptly forwarded to the syndicate by it's agents, and it was thus enabled to see very plainly indeed that the effect it had de- sired to produce had not been produced. Unless the enemy could be made to un- derstand that any fort or ships within ten miles of one of the syndicate's can. non could be instantaneously dissipated in the shape of fine dust, this war could not be carried on upon the principles adopted, and therefore might as vel pass out of the hands of the syndicate.
 Day by day and night by night the state of affairs was anxiously considered at the office of the syndicate in New York. A new and important undertak ing was determined upon, and on the success of this the hopes of the syndicate now depended.
 During the rapid and vigorous prepa. rations which the syndicate were now making for their new venture, several events of interest occurred.
 Two of the largest Atlantic mail steamers, carrying infantry and artillery troops, and conveyed by two swift and powerful men-of-war, arrived off the coast of Canada, considerably to the north of the blockaded city. The de parture and probable time of arrival of the vessels had been telegraphed to the syndicate, through one of the continen tai cables; and repeller with two crabs had been for some days waiting fol them. The English vessels had taken c high northern course, hoping they might enter the Gulf of St. Lawrence without subjecting themselves to injury from the . enemy's crabs, it not being considered probable that there were enough oi these vessels to patrol the entire coast But although the crabs were few in mum Der, the syndicate was able to place them where they would be of most use, and when the English vessels arrived off the northern entrance to the gulf, they found their enemies there.
 However strong might be the incredu lity of the enemy regarding the powers of repeller to Lombard a city, the syn dicate felt sure there would be no pres ent invasion of the United States from Canada, but it wished to convince tho British government that troops ant munitions of war could not be safely transported across the Atlantic. On tn, other hand, the syndicate very much ob jected to undertaking the Imprisonment and sustenance of large body of sol diers. Orders were therefore given tt the officer in charge of the repeller not tt molest the two transports, but to remov, the rudders and extract the screws of tn, two war vessels, leaving them to b, lowed into port by the troop ships.
 This duty was performed by the crabs while the British vessels, both rams were preparing to make united ant vigorous onset on the repeller, and tn two men-of-war were left helplessl, tossing on the waves. One of the trans ports, a very fast steamer, had alread, entered the straits, and could not be sig naled, but the other one returned an' took both the war ships in tow, proceed ing very slowly until, after entering tn gulf, she was relieved by tugboats.
 Another event of somewhat differen character was the occasion of much ex cited feeling and comment, particularl in the United States. The descent an