The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-05-18

OF HtT GiNlN'N'
She now moved slowly through the
water, and her men greeted the advanc-
ing crabs with yells of defiance, and
shower of shot from machine guns.
The character of the new defense
which had been fitted TO the llangaron
was known to the syndicate, and the
directors of the two new crabs under
stood the heavy piece of work which
Law before them. But their plans OF ac-
ton had been well considered, and they
made straight for the stern OF the British
ship.
1t was, of course, impossible to en-
deavor to grasp that great cylinder with
its rounded ends; their forceps would
slip from any portion Of its smooth sur
face on which they should cndeavor to
Law hold, and no such attempt was made
Keeping near tho cylinder, one at each
end Of it, the two moved slowly after the
Llangaron, apparently discouraged.
In a short time, however, it was per-
ceiyed bv those on board the ship, that a
change had taken place in the appear
ance of the crabs: the visible portion of
their backs was growing larger and
larger; they were rising in the water.
Their mailed roofs became visible from
end to end, and the crowd of observers
looking down from the ship were amazed
to see what large vessels they were.
Higher and higher the crabs arose,
their powerful air pumps working at
their greatest capacity, until their pom
derous pincers became visible above the
water. Then into the minds of the Off
GERS Of the Llangaron flashed the true
object of this uprising, which to the
crew had seemed an intention on the
part of the sea devils to Chamber on
board.
If the cylinder were left in its present
position the crab might seize tho chains
| by which it was suspended, while if it
were raised it would cease TO be a de-
tense. Notwithstanding this latter con-
tingeney, the order was quickly given to
raise the cylinder, but before the hoist
ing engine had been set in motion Crab
| O thrust forward her forceps over the
TOP gof the cylinder and held it down.
Another thrust, and tho iron jaws had
grasped one of tho two ponderous chains
by which the cylinder was suspended.
The other end of the cylinder began to
rise. but at this moment Grab r, appar-
entity by n single effort, lifted herself a
foot higher ou- of the sea; her pincers
flashed forward, and the other chain was
grasped.
The two crabs were now placed in tho
most extraordinary position. The over
hang of their roofs prevented an attack
on their hulls by the Llangaroa, but
their unmailed hulls were so greatly eX-
posed that "a few shot from another ship
could easily have destroyed them. But
as any ship firing at them would be very
likely to hit the Llangaron, their direc-
tors felt safe on this point,
Three of the foremost ironclads, less
than two miles away, were heading di-
recily for them, and their rams might DO
used with but little danger to the Liam
garon. but, on the other hand, three
swift crabs were beading directly for
these ironclads.
1t was impossible for Crabs @ and Il
to operate in the usual way. Their mas
siye forceps, lying flat against the top Of
/ the cylinder, could not be twisted The
enormous chains they held could not be
severed by the greatest pressure, and if
both crabs backed at once they would
probably do no more than tow the Liam
garon stern foremost. There was, more
over. no time TO waste In experiments,
for other rams would be coming on, and
there were not crabs enough to attend to
them all.
No time was wasted. q signaled to r
and II back again, and instantly the two
crabs, each still grasping a chain of the
cylinder, began to sink. On board the
Llangaron an order was shouted to let
out the cylinder chains, but as these
chains had only been made long enough
to allow the top Of the cylinder to hang
at, or little below, the surface of the
water, a foot or two Of length was all
that could be gained.
The davits from which the cylinder
hung were thick and strong and the
iron windlasses to which the chains were
attached were large and ponderous, but
these were not strong enough to with
stand the weight of two crabs with steel
armorcd roofs, enormous engines and
iron hull. In less than minute one
davit snapped like pipe stem under the
tremendous strain, and Immediately
afterward tho windlass to which the
chain was attached was torn from its
bolts and went crashing overheard, tear
ing away portion of the stern rail in
its descent.
Crab Q instantly released the chain it
had held, and in q moment the great
cylinder hung almost perpendicularly
from one chain. But only for mo-
mcnt. The nippers of Crab II still firmly
held the chain, and the tremendous lev
erage exerted by the falling of one end of
the cylinder wrenched it from the rigidly
held end Of its chain; and in flash, the
enormous stern guard of the Llangeron
sunk, end foremost, to the bottom of the
channel.
In ten minutes afterward the Llanga-
ron, rudderless, and with the blades of
her propellers shivercd and crushed, was