The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-30

| Inc Cnlef OF tne scientific corps theI
showed him the exact point upon the
scale, which would DO indicated wher
the gun was in its proper position, and
the piece was then moved upon its bear
ings 30 as to approximate as nearly as
possible this direction.
The bow of the vessel now rose upon
the swell of the sea, and the instant that
the index upon the scale reached the de-
sired point, the director-in-c touched
the button.
There was no report, no smoke, no
visible sign that the motor had left
the cannon; but at that instant
there appeared, to those who were
on the lookout, from a fort about
mile away, q vast aperture in
the waters of the bay, which was
variously described as from 100 yards to
800 yards in diameter. At that same in
stant in the neighboring headlands and
islands far up tho shores Of the bay, and
In every street and building of the city,
there was felt a sharp shock as If the
underlying rocks had been struck by
PlRdnllC "TRIP ldiilllleI.
At the same instant the sky above the
spot where the motor had descended was
darkened by wide spreading cloud.
This was formed Of that portion of the
water of the bay which had been in
Simultaneous raised to the height Of about
thousand feet. The sudden appear
ance Of this cloud was even more terri
BILE than the yawning chasm In the
waters Of the bay, or the startling shock,
but 1t did not remain long in view. 1t
had no sooner reached its highest eleva-
ton than 1t began to descend. There
was strong sea breeze blowing, and In
Its descent this vast mass Of water was
impelled toward the land.
1t came down, not as rain, but as the
waters of a vast cataract, as though
mountain lake, by an earthquake shock,
had been precipitated in a body upon a
valley. Only one edge Of it reached the
land, and here the seething flood tore
away earth, trees and rocks, leaving be-
hind it great chasms and gullies as it
descended to the sea.
The bay itself, into which this vast
body of the water fell, became scene
of surging madness. The towering walls
of water which had stood up all around
the suddenly created aperture hurled
themselves back into the abyss, and down
into the great chasm at the bottom Of
the bay, which had been made when the
motor sent its shock along the great rock
beds. Down upon, and into, this roar
ing, boiling tumult fell the tremendous
cataract from above, and the harbor be-
came one wild expanse Of leaping, mad
dened waves, Kissing their whirling
spray high into the air.
During these few terrific moments
other things happened which passed I'M
noticed in the general CONSERVATION. |
All along the shores Of the bay and in
front Of the city the waters seemed to
be sucked away, slowly returning as the
sea forced them to their level, and at
many points up and down the harbor
there were submarine detonations and
upheavals of the water.
These were caused by the explosion, by
of every torpedo and subma-
rine battery in the harbor; and 1t was
with this object in view that the instan-
taneous motor bomb had been shot into
the mouth of the bay.
The effects Of the discharge Of the mo-
tor bomb astonished and even startled
hose on board the repellers and the
he crabs. At the instant Of touching
he button hydraulic shock was felt on
Itepeller No. 1. This was supposed to be
,ccasioned by the discharge of the mo-
or, but it was also felt on the other YES
,els. 1t was the same shock that had
1een felt on shore, but less in degree.
A few moments after there was great
leaving swell Of the sea, which tossed
md rolled the four vessels and lifted
,he steel protecting net 80 high that for
IN instant parts Of it showed themselves
above the surface like glistening sea
ghosts.
Experiments with motor bombs had
been made in unsettled mountainous dis
riots, but this was the first ono which
lad ever exerted its power under water.
On shore, In the forts, and in the city,
40 one for an instant supposed that the
errific phenomenon which had just oc-
cured was in any way due to the YES
els Of the syndicate. The repellers
we're in plain view, and it was evident
hat neither of them had fired gun.
Besides, the firing of cannon did not pro-
luce such effects. 1t was tho general
opinion that there had been an earth
luake shock accompanied by cloud
'urst, and extraordinary commissions Of
he sea. Such a combination Of elemen-
airy disturbances had never been known
n these parts, and a great many persons
we're much more frightened than if they
lad understood what had really hap
,ened.
In about half an hour after the dis
harge of tho motor bomb, when the sea
lad resumed It's usual quiet, boat car
wing a white flag left Repeller No. 1,
owed directly over the submerged net
md made for the harbor. When the APP
roach of this flag of truce was perceived
rom the fort nearest the mouth of the
larbor, it occasioned much surmise.
Had the earthquake brought these syn
lirate knayes to their senses? Or wera