The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-10

rival at the other would not be appre-
ciable. The difference in concussionary
force between train moving at the rate
of mile in two minutes, or even one
minute, and another train which moves
mile in an instant, can easily be mag
med.
In these bombs those tubes which
might direct their powers downward or
laterally upon the earth were capable of
instantaneously propelling every portion
of solid ground or rock to distance of
two or three hundred yards, while the
particles of objects on the surface of the
earth were instantaneously removed to a
far greater distance. The tube which
propelled the bomb was of force grad
uated according to circumstances, and it
would carry bomb to as great dis
lance as accurate observation for pur-
poses of aim could be made. Its force
was brought into action while in the
cannon by means of electricity, while
the same effect was produced in the
other tubes by the conclusion of the steel
head against the object aimed at.
What gave the tubes their power was
the jealousy guarded secret.
The method of aiming was as novel as
the bomb itself. In this process nothing
depended on the eyesight of the gunner;
the personal equation was entirely elimi-
mated. The gun was SO mounted that its
direction was accurately indicated by
graduated scales; there was an instru-
ment which was acted upon by the dip,
rise or roll of the vessel, and which
showed at any moment the position of
the gun with reference to the plano of
the sea surface.
Before tho discharge of the cannon an
observation was taken by one of the sci
ent1fic men which accurately determined
the distance to the object to be aimed at,
and reference to q carefully prepared
mathematical table showed to what
points on the graduated scales the gun
should be adjusted; and the instant that
the muzzle of the cannon was in the po-
sition that it was when the observation
was taken button was touched, and the
bomb was instantaneously placed on
the spot aimed at. The exactness with
which the propelling force of the bomb
could be determined was an important
factor in this method of aiming
As soon as three of the spring armored
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.
The members of the syndicate well
understood that if a 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 theinitiative was still open.
It 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 a crab,
steamed cut 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 10 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 q director of naval
operations; and the whole naval force of
the syndicate was under the command
of director-in-chief. On this momen-
tous occasion this officer was on board of
Repeller No l, 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 a breezy day, with a 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. /
should begin operations. Accordingly,
that vessel steamed about 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
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 ex-
element ensued on land and water,
among the citizens of the place as well
as its defenders. Every man who had
post of duty was instantly at it; and in
less than half an hour the British man
of-war Scarabaeus, which had been lying
1t anchor short distance outside the
harbor, came steaming out to meet the
enemy. There were other naval vessels
N port, but they required more time to
De put in readiness for action.
As soon as the approach of Scarabaus