Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-04-30
srcrros v

condemnation Cf what Was considered
the insulting action u tho syndicate was
general In foreign countries tho affair
was the subject ~ good deal ~ com
mcni. but u was also the occasion u
much scfious consideration. forii proved
that one u tho syndicaic's submerged
vcsscls could. without firing a gun. aud
without fear Of injury a. itself. capturv
man-of.war and tow Il whittier u
pleased
The authorities Ut Washington took
instant action on the affair. and a. u was
quito evident that tho contract htwccn
the United States and the syndicate hal
hccn violated by tho LenoX. tho coin.
mandor oi that vessel was rrprimandcd
by the secretary % the navy, aud "a.
joined that there shouldte no rcT-rtition-
- his offence hut a. the commander u
the icnoK knew that the SECRETARY u the
navy was as angry AZ be was si what
had happsncd. hc dii not feel bis rcph.
mand o. D. In any way a Disgrace.
II may H. stated that the Stockbridgc.
which had steamed for the open "a a.
soOn a. The bushes. which had detained
her was completed. did Mt 80 outside
the oaIc. When her officers perceived
with thslr glass that tho LenoX was
returning 90 port stern foremost they
opined what had happened, and desiring
that their ship should do all her sailing
Ia the natural way. the Stockbriige was
put about and steamed. tow foremost,
10 her anchorage lshind the brcakwatcr.
the COMMANDER thanking his stars that
for once tho I:noS had goi ahead of
him.
The mcml-rs Of the syndicate were
very anxious o. remove tho unfavorahle
impression regarding what was called In
many quarter. their attack upon a
United States vessel. and circular Ia
the public vas issued. In which they cx.
pressed their dcyp rcsrct "a, bcing Obliged
81 interfere with ~ many brave officers
and men In moment Of patriotic en-
thusiasrn. ami explaining how absolutely
ncccs.aTy u was that tho lsnox should
b. removed from position wheru aeon
dict with English line % battle ship.
would H. probable. There were many
thinking persons who saw the weight u
the syndicaio's statements. bat the effect
oi the circular upon the popular mind
was not gruat.
The syndicate was now hard az work
making preparations Tor the grand stroke
which had bccn determined upon In
the whole country. there was scarcely n
man whose ability could b. made avail
able In their work. who was no, engaged
In their service. and everywhere. In
foundrics. workshops and ship yards. the
construction ~ their engines u war was
bring carried on by day and by night
No contracts were made Tor the delivery
of work Ai certain times. everything was
done under the direct supervision u the
syndicate and its saloriinatcs. and tho
work went on with a dehnitencss and
rapidiiy hitherto unknown in naval con-
struction.
In the midst of the syndicato's labor.
there arrived OIL the coast u Canada the
Grsi result - Great Briiain's prcpara-
tions for her war with tho American
syndicate. In the share 81 the Adamant.
the largest AMI finest ironclad which hal
ever crossed the Atlantic. and which
had bccn rcnt 20 raise tho blockade Of
the Canadian port by tho syndicaie's
vessels
This great ship had been especially
fitted cut o. engage in combat with rc-
psllcrs and cnls. A. FAR as was posi-
bic the I-sculiar construction q tho syn-
dicatc's vessels had been carefully stud.
icd. and English specialists In the limo of
naval construction and ordnance had
given most earnest consideration "a
methods % attack and defense most
likely to succcci with these novel ships
u war. The Adamant was the only
vessel which IL had bcen possible 10 scnd
out In 10 abort time. and her cruise
was somewhat 81 an experiment II sho
should H. successful In raising the block
ado % the Canadian port. tho British
admiralty would have but little difficulty
In dealing with the American syndicate.
The most important object was TO pro-
vido n defense against the screw ex.
tracing and rudder breaking erals; and
% this end the Adamant had been fitted
with what was termed stern jacket"
This was n great cage Of heavy steel
bars, which vas attached 20 the stern OF
the vessel In such a way that Il could
H. raised high above the water. 10 as "a
ofier no impclimcnt while under way,
and which. In time Of action, could h.
let down ~ as to surround and protect
the rudder and screw proPellers. Of
which the Adamant had two.
This was considered an adequate dc.
fense against tho nippcrs u "a syndicate
crab. but as a means of offenso against
these almost submerged vessels novel
contrivance had been adopted. From q
great boom projecting over tho stern, q
large ship's cannon was suspended per
pendicularly. muzzle downward. Thi.
gun could bc swung around 10 the deck,
hoisted into horizontal position, loaded
with a heavy charge. wooden plug
keeping tho load In position when the
gun hung perpendicularly.
III crab should come under the stern
this cannon could 10 fired directly down
ward upon her back. and II wa not b.
lieyed that any vessel of the kind could
stand many such tremendous shocks. II
was not known exactly how ventilation
was supplied TO the submarine vessels OF
the syndicate. nor how tho occupants
were enabled 20 make tho necessary oh
seryations during action. When under
way the crabs sailed somewhat elevated
above the water. but when engaged with
an enemy only small portion Of theii
covering armor could be seen.
II was surmised that under and BE-
tween some Of the scales Of this armoI
thero was some arrangement Of thick
glasses. through which tho necessary Oh
servation could 10 made; and IL was te
lieved that. even II the heavy perpen
dicular shots did not crush In the roof Of
. crab. these glAsses would 10 shattered
by conclusion Although this might up
pear a matter u slight importance. Il
was thought among naval officers II
would necessitate tho withdrawal Of q
crab from action.
In consequence Of the idea that ths
crabs were vulnerable between theii
overlapping plates, some Of the Ada
mant's boats were fitted out with Cat
ling and machine guns. by which q
shower Of balls might bs sent under thu
scales. through tho glasses and into tho
body Of tho crab. In addition to theil