The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-05-17

.-.-. ~ aH1pn could build vessels
IKE tnem, ana pnere were many means
Of destroying them. Tho spring armor
was complete defense against ordinary
artillery, but it was not a defense against
subm.ri torpedoes. The claims of the
syndicate could be firmly based on moth
ing but the powers of absolute annihila-
ton possessed by the instantaneous mo-
tor bomb.
About o'clock on the appointed morn
ing Repeller No. II, much to the surprise
Of. the spectators on the high grounds
with field glasses and telescopes, steamed
away from Caerdaff. What this meant
nobody knew, but the naval military OBJ
servers Immediately suspected that tho
syndicate's vessel had concentrated atten-
ton upon Caerdaf in order to go over to
Ireland to do some sort of mischief there.
1t was presumed that the crabs accom-
panied her, but as they were now at their
fighting depth it was impossible to see
them at SO great q distance.
But it was soon perceived that Repel-
Ter No. II had no intention of running
away, nor of going over to Ireland.
From slowly cruising about four or five
miles off shore she had steamed west
ward until she had reached point
which, according to the calculations Of
her scientific corps, was nine marine
miles from Cacrdaf. There she lay to
against a strong breeze from the east.
1t was not yet l0o'clock when the Off
Ger in charge of the starboard gun re-
marked to the director that he supposed
that it would not be necessary to give
the smoke signals. as had been done in
the channel, as now all the crabs were
lying near them. The director reflected
q moment, and then ordered that the
signal should be given ut every discharge
of the gun, and that the columns of black
smoke should be shot up to their creates
height.
At precisely 10 o'clock, up rose from
Repeller No. II two tall jets of black
smoke. Up rose from the promontory
of Caerdaff, a heavy gray cloud. like an
immense balloon, and then the people
on the hill tops and highlands felt a
sharp shock of the ground and rocks be-
meath them, and heard the sound of a
terrible but momentary grinding crush.
AS the cloud began to settle, it was
borne out to sea by the wind, and then it
was revealed that the Notifications of
Caerdaff had disappeared.
In ten minutes there was another
smoke signal, and great cloud over the
castellated structure. on the other side of
the bay Tho cloud passed away, leav-
ing vacant space on the other side of
the bay.
The second shock sent panic through
the crowd of spectators. The next earth
quake bomb might strike among them.
Down the eastern slopes ran hundreds of
them, leaving only few of the bravest
civilians, the reporters Of the press, and
the naval and military men.
The next motor bomb descended into
The fishing village, the comminuted par
ticles of which, being mostly of light
material, foated far out to sea.
The detachment of artillerists who had
been deputed to man the guns on the
heights which commanded the bay, had
been ordered to fall back to the noun
Gains as soon as it had been seen that it
was not the inten''"n of the repeller to
send boats on sh The most courage
Gus of the spectators trembled little
when the fourth bomb was discharged,
for it came farther inland, and struck
the height on which the battery had
been placed, removing all vestiges of the
guns, caissons, and the ledge of rock on
which they had stood.