Morris tribune., 1889-05-01

which was designed to prevent collisions
with iron vessels. This little instrument
was placed at night and during fogs at
the bow Of the vessel, and delicate arm
of steel, which ordinarily pointed up
ward at considerable angle, fell into q
horizontal position when any large body
of iron approached within quarter Of o
mile; and, SO falling, rang small bell
Its point then turned toward the mass
of iron.
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 tho proximity of the
Adamant; and, guided by its steel point,
the crab moved quietly to the ironclad,
attached itself to- its stern post and
allowed the happy crew Of Crab K to
depart eastward.
When the fog rose the glasses Of the
Adamant showed the approach of no
crab, but it was observed in looking over
tho 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 truce
boat was sent from the repeller to the
Adamant. It 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 tc
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.
Week after week the Adamant moved
southwark, roaring away with her great
guns whenever an American sail came
within possible range, and surrounding
herself with circle of bursting bombs
to let any crab know what 1t might ex-
pect if it attempted to come near. Blaz.
ing and laundering, stern foremost but
stoutly she rode the waves, ready tc
show the world that she was an impreg
nable British battle ship, from which nc
enemy could snatch the royal colorE
which foated high above her.
It was during the first week Of the in.
voluntary cruise Of the Adamant that
the syndicate finished its preparations
for what it hoped would be the decisive
movement Of its campaign. To do thia
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 its feet Of ironclads
in readiness for a descent upon the
American coast. Many of the British
vessels were already well prepared fol
ordinary naval warfare; but to resist
crabs additional defenses were necessary.
It 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 efectually given to rud,
ders and propeller blades by a new
method which the admiralty had adopted.
The repeller which was to take part IN
the syndicate's proposed movement had
been vessel of the, United States navy
which for long time had been out OF
commission and undergoing course OF
very slow and desultory 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 Ia
her. Years and years before, when she
would set out upon cruise, her officers
and GREY would receive the humorous
sympathy Of their friends, and wagers
were frequently laid In regard to the
different kinds of mishaps which might
befaH this unlucky vessel, which was
then known as the Tallapooss.
The syndicate did not particularly de.
sire this vessel, but there was no other
that could readily be made available fol-
its purposes, and accordingly the ITALIA
poosa was purchased from the govern
ment and work Immediately begun upon
her. Her, engines and hull were pu,
into good condition, and outside Of hel
was built another hull, composed Of
heavy steel armor plates and strongly
braced by great transverse beams run
ming through the ship. 49, -
Still outside of this was placed an inn
proved system of spring armor, much
stronger and more effective than any
which had yet been constructed. This
with the armor plate, added nearly fif'
teen feet to the width of the vessel above
water. All her superstructures were re
moved from her deck, which was GOV.
cred by curved steel roof, and under q
bomb proof canopy at the bow were
placed two guns capable of carrying the
largest sized motor bombs. The Tallar
poosa, thus transformed, was called Re
peller No. II.
The immense addition to her weight
would of course interfere very much
with the speed of the new repeller, but
this was considered Of little importance
as she would depend on her own engines
only in time of action. She was now
believed to possess more perfect defense:
than any battle ship in the world.
Early on misty morning Repeller No
II, towed by four of the swiftest and
most powerful crabs, and followed by
two others, left northern port Of the
| United States, bound for the coast Of
Great Britain. Her course was a very
northerly one, for the reason that the
syndicate had planned work for her tc
do while on her way across the Atlantic
The syndicate had now determined
without unnecessarily losing an hour, tc
plainly demonstrate the power Of the In
Simultaneous motor bomb. It had been
intended to do this upon the Adamant
but as it had been found impossible te
induce the captain of that vessel to eyac
| uate his ship, the syndicate had declined
to exhibit the efficiency of their new
agent of destruction upon a disabled
craft crowded with human beings.
This course had been highly preju.
dicial to the claims of the syndicate, foi
as Repeller No. had made no use in the
contest with the Adamant of the motor
bombs with which she was said to be
supplied, it was generally believed on
/ both sides of the Atlantic that she car.
ried NO sIrch bombs. and the conviction