The Florida agriculturist., 1889-05-01


Soon after the fog came on one of these
indicators, properly protected from the
attraction Of the metal about it, was put
into position on Crab G. Before very
long it indicated the proximity of the
TO i INFANT; and, guided by it's steel point,
max crab moved quietly to the ironclad,
,o, Sched itself to its stern post and
allowed the happy crew of Crab K to
depart coastward.
When the fog rose the glasses of the
Adamant showed the approach of no
crab, but it was observed in looking over
the stern that the beggarly devil fish
which had the ship in tow appeared to
have made some change in it's back.
In the afternoon of that day a truce
boat was sent from the repeller to the
Adamant. 1t was allowed to come
alongside, but when the British captain
found that the syndicate merely renewed
its demand for his surrender he waxed
fiercely angry, and sent the boat back
with the word that no further message
need be sent to him unless it should be
one complying with the conditions he
had offered.
The syndicate now gave up the task of
inducing the captain of the Adamant to
surrender. Crab G. was commanded to
continue towing the great ship south
ward, and to keep her well away from
the coast, in order to avoid danger to
seaport towns and coasting vessels, while
the repeller steamed away.
l'4 Week after week the Adamant moved
southwark, roaring awav with her great
guns whenever an i4efican sail came
within possible vi IN 80 surrounding
herself with a circle iQd ,atFsting bombs
to let any c,,aats ID. sit it might ex-
. ev,e T,..os sunnrahnndanc.. lie near. Blaz-
~. 1,.o4: = stern foremost but
ystoutly she rode the waves, ready to
show the world that she was an imprsg-
nable British battle ship, from which no
enemy could snatch the royal coIors
which floated high above her.
1t was during the first week of the in
voluntary cruise of the Adamant that
the syndicate finished it's preparations
for what it hoped would be the decisive
movement of it's campaign. To do this
repeller and six crabs, all with extraor-
binary powers, had been fitted out with
great care, and also with great rapidity,
for the British government was working
night and day to get it's fleet of ironclads
in readiness for descent upon the
American coast. Many of the British
vessels were already well prepared for
ordinary naval warfare; but to resist
crabs additional defenses were necessary
1t was known that the Adamant had
been captured, and consequently the
manufacture. of stern jackets had been
abandoned, but it was believed that pro-
lection could be effectually given to rud-
ders and propeller blades by a new
method which the admiralty had adopted.
The repeller which vas to take part in
the syndicate's proposed movement had
been a vessel of the United States navy
which for long time had been out of
commission and undergoing course of
very slow and desllltory. repairs in a
dock yard. She had always been con-
sidered the most unlucky craft in the
service, and nearly every accident that
could happen to a ship had happened to
her. Years and years before, when she
would set out upon a cruise, her officers
and crew would receive the humorous
sympathy of their friends, and wagers
were frequently laid in regard to the
different kinds Of lniShaps which might
befali this unlucky vessel, which was
then known as the Tallapoosa.
TIM ,sxypcii..ateA Ci1d NOT D1rticularlV de