The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-23

vessel between il and the enemy. These
signals were made by jets Of dense black
smoke, which were elected from small
pipe on the repeller. These slender col
umns of smoke preserved their cylindri-
cal forms for some moments, and were
visible at great distance by day or
night, being illuminated in the latter
case by electric light. The length and
frequency Of these jets were regulated
by an instrument in the directors room.
Thus, by means of long and short pulls.
with the proper use of intervals, mes
sage could be projected into the air as a
Geographic instrument would mark ii
upon paper.
In this manner Crab A was ordered to
Immediately proceed to the attack Of
the Scarabaus. The almost submerged
vessel steamed rapidly from behind her
consort, and made for the British man.
of-war.
When the latter vessel perceived the
approach of this turtle backed objeHt,
squirting little jets Of black smoke as she
replied to the orders from the repeller,
there was great amazement on board.
The crab had not been seen before, but
as it came rapidly on there was no time
for curiosity or discussion, and several
heavy guns were brought to bear upon
it. 1t was difficult to hit a rapidly NOV
ing fiat object scarcely above the surface
OF the water; and although several shN
struck the crab, they glanced off without
In the least interfering with its progress.
Crab A soon came so near the Scara-
baus that it was impossible to depress
the guns of the latter so as TO strike her.
The great vessel was, therefore headed
toward its assalant, and under full
head Of steam dashed directly at it to
run it down. But the crab could turn as
upon pivot, and shooting to one side
allowed the surging man-of-war to pass it.
Perceiving instantly that it would be
difficult to strike this nimble and almost
submerged adversary, the commander of
the Scarabeus thought it well to let it
alone for the present, and to bear down
with all speed upon the repeller. But it
was easier to hit the crab than to leave
it behind. 1t was capable of great speed,
and following the British vessel, it
quickly came up with her.
The course of the Scar abeus was in
stantly changed, and every effort was
made to get the vessel into position to
run down the crab. But this was not
easy for so large ship, and Crab A
seemed to have no difficulty in keeping
close to her stern.
Several machine guns especially adapt
ed for firing at torpedo boats, or any hos
tile craft which might be discovered
close to vessel, were now brought to
bear upon the crab, and ball after ball
was hurled at her. Some of these struck,
but glanced OFF, without penetrating her
tough armor.
These maneuvers had not continued
long when the crew of the crab was ready
to bring into action the peculiar appar-
atus Of that peculiar craft. An enormous
pair of iron forceps, each massive limb
of which measured twelve feet or more in
length, was run out in front of the crab
at depth of six or eight feet below the
surface. These forceps were acted upon
by an electric engine of immense power,
by which they could be shut, opened,
projected, withdrawn or turned and
twisted.
The crab darted forward, and in the
next instant the great teeth of her pin
GERS were fastened with a tremendous
grip upon the rudder and rudder post of
the Scarab9us.
Then followed n sudden twist, which
sent thrill through both vessels, a crash,
backward jerk, thesnapping of chain,
and in IA moment the great rudder, with
half of the rudder port attached, was
torn from the vessel, and as the forceps
opened it dropped to leeward and hung
dangling by one chain.
Again the forceps opened wide; again
there was rush, and this time the huge
jaws closed upon the rapidly revolving
screw propeller. There was tremen-
dous crash, and the small but massive
crab turned over so far that for an in
slant one of its sides was plainly visible
ABOVE tnc NuttI, ne DItClto VI iilc i'ip
pelier were crushed and shivered; those
parts of the steamers engines connect
Ing with the propeller shaft were snapped
and rent apart, while the propeller shaft
itself was broken by the violent stop
page
The crab, which had quickly righted,
now backed, still holding the crushed
propeller in its iron grasp, and as 1t
moved away from the Scarabaus, it ex-
tracted about forty feet of its propeller
shaft; then, opening its massive jaws,
it allowed the useless mass of iron to
drop to the bottom of the sea.
Every man on board the Scarabaus
was wild with amazement and excite
ment. Few could comprehend what
had happened, but this very quickly be-
came evident. So far as motive power
was concerned, the Scarabaus was to-
tally disabled. She could not direct her
course, for her rudder was gone; her
propeller was gone; her engines were
useless, and she could do no more than
float as wind or tide might move her.
Moreover, there was jagged hole in hel
stern where the shaft had been, and
| through this the water was pouring into
| 81.