Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-04-09

Il
Thus. by means of long and short puhs.
with the proper usc ~ intervals. mes
agc could H. projected into the air rs n
tolcgaphio instrument would marx 10
upon paper.
la this manner Crab 4 was ordered 10
Immediately proceed o. the attack ~
tho ScarahWus. The almost submerged
vessel steamed rapidly from behind her
consort. and made for the British man
of.wAr.
When tho latter vessel perceived the
approach - this turtle hacked object.
squirting little Jets of black smoke a. she
replied 90 the or,Icrs from the rcpcllcr.
there was grrat amaEement on b,afd.
The crab hal not been secn bcforc. but
as u came rapidly CA there was no time
for curiosity % DISCUSSION. and several
heavy guns wcrc brought 20 bear upon
H. II was difficult 90 hii a rapidly NOV.
ing ilit object scarcely above the surfars
% the water. and although several sh1a
struck the crab. they glanced on without
In the least interfering with ~ progress.
Crab 4 SON came ~ near the Scara-
bTus that u was impossible % depress
the guns of the latter - a. 10 strike her.
Tho gruat vessel was, therefore headed
toward its assailant. AMI under full
bead % steam dashed directly at Il TO
run IL down. but thccrab could turn as
upon a pivot, and shooting 90 ono eide
allowed the csurging man -of'war Ia passit.
Pcrcciving Instantly that it would 10
difficult 10 strike this nimblc and almost
submerged adversary. the commander u
the Scanhru. thought IL well 30 lct u
alone Tor the present. and to lsaT down
with all speed upon the rcpclicr. But 10
was easier to hit the crab than 90 leave
it bchind. twas capable ~ great speed.
and. following the British vessel. 10
quickly came up with her.
Tho oourso % the Scarah0us vas i'm
stanily changed. aud every effort was
made to get tho vessel into position to
run down tho crab Hut this was not
easy for % large n ship. ami Cnb 4
sccmcd 30 have DO difficulty In keeping
Gloss to her stern.
several machine guns especially adapt
cd for hring at TORPEDO boat. or any hos
tilo craft which might IT, discovered
clo.o 60 vessel. wcro now brought 10
bcar upon tho crab. and hall after hall
was hurled az her Somo 81 thcso struck.
bat glanced OF. without penetmiing her
tough armor
Thcso mancuycrs had not continued
long " whcn the crcw Of the crab was ready
to bring into action the peculiar appar-
aius ~ that peculiar craft. Autonomous
pair 81 iron forccp-. each massive limb
% which measured twelve fcct or more In
length. vas run out In front - the crab
ai a depth of siS or eight fc,i below the
surface. These forccps were acted upon
by an electric engine Of Immense power.
by which they could H. shut. opened.
projected. Withdrawn OF turned and
twisted.
Tho crab daried forward. and Ia the
next instant tho great teeth Of her pin
ccrs wcre fastened with a tremendous
grip upon the r,iddcr and rudder post Of
tho ScaralSus.
Then followed a sudden twist which
tcnt thrill through both vessels. crash.
a backward jerk. the swapping Of chain.
and Ia a moment the great ruddcr. with
half - the ruddcr port attached. was
torn from the vessel. and as the forccps
opened IL dropped To lccwarl and hung
dangling by one chain.
Again the forcep- opened wide: again
there was a rush. and this time the huge
jaws closcd upon the rapidly revolving
screw propeller. There was a trvmcn-
dous crash. and the small but massive
crab termed over 70 far that for an In
slant one of IT, sides was plainly visible
above the water. The BLADES 81 the pro
pcllcr were crushed and shiyercd; thoSe
parts of the steamers engines connect
lng with the prupcller shaft were snapped
and rent apart. while the propeller Shaft
itself was broken by the violent stop
page.
Tho crab. which had quickly righted.
now backed. still holding the crushed
propeller in it, iron grasp. and as IL
moved away from the ScarahHus, II ex'
tracted about forty feet Of It. rnopcller
shaft then. opening its massive jaws.
II allowed the useless mass of iron 10
drop 90 the bottom Of tho SEA.
Every man on board the ScarahGus
was Wild with amazement and excite
ment. Few could comprehend what
hal happened, but this very quickly 10
Came evident. So far as motive power
was concerned. the Scarabnus was to-
tally disabled. She could not direct her
course. Tor her ruddcr was gone; her
propeller was gone; her engines were
useless. and she could do no more than
float a. wind or tide might move her.
Moreover. there was a jagged hole In her
stern where the shaft had been, and
through this the water was pouring into
the vessel As mAn-of.war the Scara-
brus was worthless.
Orders now came fast from Repeller
No. 1. which had moved nearer 10 the
scene of conflict II was 90 10 supposed
that the disabled ship was properly fur
nished with bulkheads. - that the water
would penetrate no farther than the
stern compartment. and that. therefore,
she was In no danger Of sinking. Crab
A was ordered 10 make fast 10 the bow
OF tie Scarahnrls, and tow her toward
two nen-of-war who were rapidly ap-
preaching fron, tho harbor.