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

COulu De ueteTUllHtu Was uu iIhPoit ah'
factor in this method of aiming.
As soon as three Of the spring srmored
vessels and five "crabs" were completed
the syndicate felt itself ready to begin
operations 1t was indeed time. The seas
had been covered with American and
British merchantmen fastening home
ward, or to friendly ports, before the
actual commencement of hostilities. But
all had not been fortunate enough To
reach safety within the limits OF time
allowed, and several American mer-
chantmen had been already captured by
fast British cruisers.
| Tho members Of the syndicate well
understood that if war was to be car
ried on as they desired, they must strike
the first real blow. Comparatively speak
ing, very short time had elapsed since
the declaration Of war, and the opportu-
tunity to take the initiative was still open.
1t was In order to take this initiative
that, In the early hours of July morn
ing, two Of the syndicate's armored
vessels, each accompanied by crab,
steamed out Of New England port, and
headed for the point on the Canadian
coast where it had been decided to open
the campaign.
The vessels of the syndicate had no in
dividual names The spring armored
ships were termed "repellers," and were
numbered, and the crabs were known by
the letters OF the alphabet. Each repeller
was in charge of director of naval
operations; and the whole naval force OF
the syndicate was under the command
of drector-in-chief. On this momen-
tous occasion this officer was on board OF
Repeller No. /, and commanded the little
| fleet
The repellers had never been vessels of
great speed, and their present armor of
steel strips, the lower portion of which
was frequently under water, considerably
retarded their progress, but each of them
was taken in tow by one Of the swift and
powerful crabs, and with this assistance
they made very good time, reaching their
destination on the morning of thesecond
day.
1t was on breezy day, with cloudy
sky, and the sea moderately smooth, that
the little fleet of the syndicate lay to off
the harbor Of one Of the principal Cana
dian seaports. About five miles away
the headlands on either side Of the mouth
Of the harbor could plainly be seen. 1t
had been decided that Repeller No. 1
should begin operations. Accordingly,
that vessel steamed about a mile nearer
the harbor, accompanied by Crab A..
The other repeller and crab remained in
their first position, ready to act in case
they should be needed.
The approach of two vessels, evidently
men-of-war, and carrying the American
flag, was perceived from the forts and
redoubts at the mouth of the harbor,
and the news quickly spread to the city
and to the vessels in port. Intense OK
element ensucd on land and water,
as its defenders. Every man who had n
post of duty was instantly at it; and in
| less than half an hour the British man
of-war Scarabeus, which had been lying
at anchor n short distance outside the
harbor, came steaming out to meet the
enemy. There Were other naval vessels
in port, but they required more time to
be put in readiness for action.
As soon as the approach of Scarabaus
was perceived by Repeller No. l, boat
bearing a white flag was lowered from
that vessel and was rapidly rowed to-
ward the British ship. When the latter
saw the boat coming she lay TO, and
waited its arrival. A note was delivered
to the captain of the Scarab@us, i'll which
| it was stated that the syndicate, which
had undertaken on the part of the United
States the conduct of the war between
that country and Great Britain, was now
prepared to demand the surrender of
this city, with its forts and defenses, and
all vessels within its harbor; and, as a
first step, the immediate surrender of
the vessel to the commander of which
this note was delivered.
The overwhelming etlrontery of this
demand caused the commander of the
Scarabaus to doubt whether he had to
deal with raving lunatic or a buster
ing fool; but he informed the person in
charge of the flag Of truce boat that ht
would give him fifteen minutes in which
to get back to his vessel, and that ht
would then open fire upon that craft.
The men who rowed the little boa
were not men-of-wars men, and were
unaccustomed to duties of this kind. Ii
eight minutes they had reached thei
vessel and were safe on board.
just seven minutes afterward the frs
shot came from the ScarabRus. l
passed over Repeller No. /, and tina
vessel instead of replying, immediatel!
steamed nearer her adversary. Thu
director-in-chief desired to determine
the effect of an active cannonade upoi
the new armor, and therefore ordered
the vessel placed in such n position tina
the Englishman might have the hes
opportunity for using it as target.
The Scarabeus lost no time in availinl
herself of the facilities offered. She wa
large and powerful ship, with heav.
armament; and, soon getting the rang
of the syndicate's vessel, she hurled bal
after ball upon her striped side. Repells
| No ,n,1o nn ranlv hut nuiptly sul