Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-04-23
Copyrighted p r. Collier published by
with him through the American Press Association
All rights reserved


a motor bomb. the war could not h. pro
secuted on the plan projected.
II was easy enough 90 convince the
enemy ~ the terrible destruction the
syndicate was able to effect. bat 10 make
that enemy and the world understand
that thi. was done by bombs. which
could h. used In one place a well as an.
other. was difficult indeed They had
attempted 90 prove this by announcing
that AZ n certain time bomb should 10
projected into n certain fort. Precisely
at the specified time tho fort had tccn
destroyed. but nobody beloved that
bomb had teen ircd.
Every opinion. official or popular. con.
ccrning what II had done and what
might b. expected u II. was promptly
forwarded 20 the syndicate by ia agents.
and IL was thus enabled 90 80 very
plainly indeed that the effect II had de-
sircd 10 produce had not bccn produced.
Unless tho enemy could 10 made To un.
dcrstand that any fort OF ships within
ten miles Of ono of the syndicatc's ear.
non could IL instantaneously dissipatci
In the shape q fine dust. this war could
not lo carried on upon the principles
adopted. and therefore might a. well
pass cut % the hands ~ the syndicate.
Day by day and night by night the
state u Affairs was anxiously considered
at the office of the syndicate In New
York. 4 new and important undcrak.
Ing vas determined upon. and on the
success ~ this tho hops % tho syndicate
now depended.
During the npid and vigorous prcIa.
raiions which the syndicate wcro nov
making Tor their new venture. several
events ~ interest occurred.
Two % tho largest Atlantic mail
steamers carrying infantry and artillery
troops. and conveyed by two swift and
powerful mcn-of.war. arrived OF the
cuast % Canada. considerably 30 tho
north of the blockadcd city. Tho de-
parturc and probable time u arrival -
tho vessels had bccn telcgraphed 10 the
syndicate. through one Of the oontincn.
tal cables. and a rcpcller with two crabs
had bccn for some days waiting Tor
them. Tho English vessels had taken a
high northern course. hoping they might
enter the Gulf - ST Lawrence without
subiccting themselves 10 injury from tho
cncmy's erals. Il not bcing considered
probable that there wero enough of
thc.e vcssrls 10 patrol the entire coast.
But although the crabs wero few In mum
bcf. the syndicate was able 10 place them
where thcy would lo - most US. and
when the English vessels arrived od the
northern entrance 10 tho gulf. they
found their enemies there.
However strong might H. the incrcdu.
liiy Of the enemy regarding the powers
% rrpcller 10 bomhhrd a city. the syn.
dicaie felt suro thcro would h. no PRES
snt invasion ~ the United States from
Canada. but Il wished TO convince the
British government that troops and
munitions Of var could not h. safely
transported across tho Atlantic. On the
other hand. the syndicate ycry'nuch OBJ
Iccied 10 undertaking tho Imprisonment
and sustcnanoc u large body u col
dicrs. Orders were therefore given to
the officer In charge Of tho r,poller no, 10
molcst the two transports. but 10 remove
the ruddcrs and extract the screws u the
two war vessels. leaving them 10 be
towcl into port by tho troop ships.
This duty was performed by the crlts,
while tho British vessels. both rams.
were preparing TO make united and
vigorous onset on the rcpoller. and the
two mcn-of.war wero left hclplessly
tossing on tlle waves ono % the trans
ports. very fas, steamer. had already
entered the straits, and could not 10 zig
nailed. but the other one returned and
took both the war ships In tow, proceed.
Ing very slowly until. after entering the
gulf. sho was relieved by tugboais
Another event Of a somewhat different
character was the occasion of much ex-
cited feeling and comment. particularly
In the United States. Tho descent and
attack by British vessels on an Atlantic
port was a matter Of popular expectation.
Tho syndicate had repellers and Gratis at
the most important points, but In the
minds Of naval officers. and large por-
ton Of tlc people. little dependence for
defense was To BE- placed upon these.
As 10 the ability Of the war syndicate 10
prevent invasion or attack by means of
its threats to bombard the blockaded
Canadian port. very few believed In H.
Even II the syndicate could DO any more
damage In that quarter. which was i'm.
probable. what was 10 prevent the British
navy from playing tho same game. and
entering an American seaport. threaten
10 lombard the place II the syndicate did
not Immediately run all their queer yes-
scls high and dry on somo convenient
bcachi
Afeeling OF Indignation against the syn
dicate had existed In the navy from the
time that the war had been made,
and this feeling increased daily. That
the officers and men of the United States
navy should 10 penned up In harbors.
ports and sounds. while British ships and
the hulking mine springers and rudder
pinchers OF the syndicate wero allowed
t) roam the ocean al will. was very
hard thing for brave sailors TO bear
Sometimes the resentments against this
state Of Affairs roso almost 20 a revolt.
The great naval preparations Of Eng.
land were not yet complete, but single
British men -of.war were now frequently
seen OF the Atlantic coast Of the United
States. No American vessels had been
captured by these since the message OF
the syndicate 10 the Dominion OF Canada
and the British government. But one
good reason for this was the fact that Il
was very difficult now 10 find upon the
Atlantic ocean n vessel sailing under the
American Hag. As far as possible these
had taken refuge in their own ports or In
those Of neutral countries
AT the mouth Of Delaware bay, behind
tho great Breakwaier. was now collected
n number Of coastwise sailing vessels and
steamers Of various classes and sizes; and
for the protection Of these maritime
refugees two vessels Of the United States
navy were stationed at this point. These
were the Lenox and Stockbridge. two Of
tho finest cruisers In tho service, and
commanded by two OF the most restless
and bnvest officers OF the American
navy.
The appearance early ON a summer
morning Of largo British cruiser of
tho mouth OF the harbor fllod those two
commanders with uncomfortable bellig-
erency. That In time Of war vessel of
the enemy should bs allowed, undis-
msbsd, % % UP and down before "a