Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-19

and shot ahead, and, turning, presented her port side to the enemy. Instant ex- animation of tho arncr cn her other side showed that the two banks of springs were uninjured, and that not an air buffer had exploded or failed to spring back to it's normal length.
 Firing from the Adamant now came thick and fast, the crab e obedience to signals turning her abo,k so as to admit u.e firing of some heavy guns mounted struck the repeller at different points on her starboard arlnor without inflicting damage, while the explosion of several shells which hit her had no moro effect upon her elastic armor than the impact of the solid shot.
 It was the desire of the syndicate not only to demonstrate to it's own satisfac- tion the efficiency of its spring armor, but to convince Great Britain that her heaviest guns on her mightiest battle ships could have no effect upon it's ar mored vessels. To prove the absolute superiority of their means of offense and defense was the supreme object of the syndicate. For this its members studied and worked by day and by night; for this they poured out their millions; for this they waged war. To prove what they claimed would be victory.
 When Repeller No. 2 had sustained tho heavy fire of the Adamant for about half an hour, it was considered that the strength of her armor had been sufi- ciently demonstrated; and, with a much lighter heart than when he had turned her broadside to the Adanlant, her direc tor gave orders that she should steam out of the range of the guns of the British ship. During the cannonade Crab had quietly slipped away from the vicinity of the Adamant, and now joined the re- peller.
 The great iroaclad battle ship, with her lofty sides plated with nearly two feet of solid steel, with her. six great guns, each weighing more than a hum dred tons, with her armament of other guns, machine cannon, and almost every appliance of naval warfare, with small army of officers and men on board, was left in charge of Crab k, of which only a few square yards of armored roof could be seen above the water. This little yes sel now proceeded to tow southward her vast prize, uninjured, except that her rudder and propeller blades were broken and useless.
 Although the engines of the crab were of enormous power, the progress made was slow, for the Adamant was being lowed stern foremost. It would have been easier to tow the great vessel had the crab been attached to her bow, but 8 ram which extended many feet under water rendered it dangerous for sub merged vessel to attach itself in its vicinity.
 During the night the repeller kept company, although at a considerable dis early the next morning her director pre- pared to send to the Adamant a boat with a flag of truce and a letter demand ing the surrender and subsequent evacu- ation of the British ship. It was SUD- posed that now, when the officers of the Adamant had had time to appreciate the fact that they had no control over the movements of their vessel; tn at their armament was powerless against their enemies; that the Adamant could be lowed wherever the syndicate chose to order, or left helpless in mid-ocean, they would be obliged to admit that there was nothing for them to do but to surrender.
 But events proved that no such ideas had entered the minds of the Adamant's officers, and their action totally pre- vented sending a flag of truce boat. As soon as it was light enough to see the repeller the Adamant began firing great ] guns at her. She was too far away for II ol, @o l>,,k t~ send a boat of any kind into a storm of shot and shell was of course impossible. The cannon suspended over tho stern of the Adamant was also again brought into play, and shot after shot was driven down upon the towing crab. Every ball rebounded from the spring armor but the officer in charge of the crab be came convinced that after a time this constant pounding, almost in the same place, would injure his vessel, and Inc signaled the repeller to that effect.
 The director of Repeller No. had beer considering the situation. There wa: only one gun on the Adamaat whicl could be brought to bear upon Crab K interfere with the persistent use of thi | gun. ACCOTuluSly CHe OO" OI the Ie peller was brought to bear upon th' Adamant, and her motor gun was aimed at the boom from which the cannon wa suspended.
 The projectile with which the canno, was loaded was not an instantaneou motor bomb. It was simply q heav, solid shot, driven by an instantaneou motor attachment, and was thus impelle. by the same power and in the same man ner as the motor bombs. The instantane ous motor power had not yet been use' at so great distance as that between tn repeller and the Adamant, and the occa sion was one of intense interest to tn small body of scientific men havin charge of the aiming and firing.
 The calculations of the distance, of tn necessary elevation and direction, an of the degree of motor power required were made with careful exactness, an when the proper instant arrived the but ton was touched, and the shot wit