Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-04-30
r. Collier Golfers Week published spee,
with him through the American Press Association
All rights reserved

gyrous o. the hull II one as to the other.
The British admiralty would not allow
even the Adamant 90 explode torpc,iocs
or dynamite bombs under her own stern.
With rcgard to a rrpellcr. OF spring
aTmorcd vessel. the Adamant would rely
upon her exceptionally powerful arna.
mont and upon her great weight and
sT-cd She Vas fitted with twin -crcws
and engines u the highest power. and
IL was believed that she would 10 able 10
overhaul. ram and crush tho largest
vessel. arm0rci 90 unaTmor~l. which
the syndicate would b. able 30 bring
against her. Somo % her guns were oi
immcnsc caliber. firing shot weighing
nearly 600 pounds and requiring half
a ton - powder for each charge. 10
sides thc.o she carried an unusually
large numtcr of large cannon and two
dynamite guns She was ~ heavily
lated and armorcd as % 30 proof
against any known artillery In the
world.
She was floating fortress, with men
enough to make up tho population OF a
town. and with stores. ammunition and
coal sufficient 10 last for a long term Of
active service. such was tho mighty
English baitlc ship which had come for.
ward 20 raise tho sicgV of tho Canadian
port
The officers Of the syndicate were well
awarc u the character of the Adamant,
her armament and her dcfcnscs, and had
tcen informed by cable % her time VI
sailing and probable destination. They
scnt oui Repollcr No. :. with Cnbs j
and X. to meet her of the Banks Of
Newfoundland.
This rvpclla vas the largest and
strongest vessel that tho syndicate had
ruady Tor service In addition To the
spring aunor with which thc-o vessels
were supplied. this ono was furnished
with a sooond coat u arnor outside the
iirSt, the elastic steel nls u which ran
l0ngitudinally and at right angles to
tho-e - the inner sct. both coats were
Furnished with great number of im.
proved air buffers. and tho arrangvment
u spring arnor extended i've 90 slx feet
beyond tho massive siccl plates with
which the vessel was originally armorcd.
sho carried ono motor cannon % large
sire.
ono 81 the crabs vas ~ the ordinary
pattern, but Crab X was furnished With
a spring armor above the heavy plates
Of her ROOT This had been placed upon
her after the nows had bccn received by
the syndicate that tho Adamant would
carry a perpendicular cannon over her
stern. but there had not bccn time
enough to ft out another crab In the
same way.
When the dirvctor In charge of rcpcllcr
No. iint caught sight of the Adamant,
and scanned through his glass the vast
proportions - tho mighty ship which
was apidly steaming toward the coast,
ho felt that a responsibility rested upon
him heavier than any which had yet
bocn horne by an officer of the syndicate.
but he did not hesitate in tho duty which
ho had bccn sent TO perform. and immc-
diaicly ordered tho two crabs % advance
10 meet tho Adamant, and to procccd 10
action according 90 tho instructions
which they had previously received.
Ills own ship was kept, Ia pursuance q
or,lcrs. several miles distant from the
British ship
As soon as tho rcpeller had bccn
sighted from the Adamant a strict look.
out had bccn kept for the approach OF
crabs. and when the small exposed por-
tions of the hacks of two of these were
perceived glistcning In the sunlight tho
speed oi the great ship was slackened.
The ability of the syndiclie's submerged
vessels 10 move suddenly and quickly In
any direction had been clearly demon.
straied. and although a great ironclad
with ram could run down and sink a
crab without feeling the conclusion, 10
was known that IL would h. perfectly
easy for the smaller craft o. keep out Of
the way u it, bulky antagonist. There
foro the Adamant did try 10 ram tho
crabs. nor 10 get away from them. Her
commander intended, u possible, 10 nun
down one OF both of them, but hc did
no, propose 20 do this In the usual way.
As the crabs approached. the stern
Jacket Of the Adanant was Let down and
the engines wero slowed. This stern
jacket. when protecting tho rudder and
propellers, looked very much ike the
COW catcher Of a locomotive. and was ca
Fable OF being put 10 a somewhat similar
u.s.. IL was tho intention of the captain
| II the Adamant. should the crabs at
tempt to attach themselves to his stern,
90 Suddenly put on all steam. reverse his
engines and baek upon them, the stern
jacket answering as a ram.
The commander Of the Adamant had
no doubt that In this way he could run
into a crab, roll IL over In the water. and
when IL was lying bottom upward. like
n floating cask. he could move his ship
% distance and make target Of II. SO
dcsirous was this brave and somewhat
facetious captain 10 try his new plan
upon a crab that he forebore 10 fire upon
tho two vessels of that class which were
approaching him. Some Of his guns were
10 mounted that their mukzles could 10
greatly depressed and aimed at an object
In the water not far FROM tho ship. But
these were not discharged. and. indeed.
the crabs. which were new ones VI IN.
usual swiftness, were alongside tho Ada
mant In an incredibly short time and out
Of the range Of these guns.
Crab was on tho starboard side Of the
Adamant. Crab X was on the port side.
and. simultaneously. the two laid hold Of
her. But they were not directly astem
Of the great vessel Each had It's nippep
fastened 90 one side Of the stern jacket
near the hinge like bolts which held II TO
the vessel, and on which II was raised
and lowered.
In a moment the Adamant began TO
steam backward, but the only effect OF
this motion. which soon became rapid,
was 20 swing the crabs around against
her sides and carry them with her. AS
tho vessels were thus moving the great
pincers Of the crabs were twisted with
tremendous force. tho stern jacket on
one side was broken from Its bolt. and
ON the other the bolt itself was drawn
out Of the side OF the vessel The nippers
then opened, and tho stern jacket fell
from their grasp into tho sea. swapping
In It's fall the chain by which II had been
raised and lowered.
This disaster occurred 20 quickly that
few persons on board tho Adamant knew
what had happened But the captain.
who had seen everything. gave instant