Morris tribune., 1889-03-27
The Great War Syndicate.
By FRANK r. STOCKTON.


FCopyrssated by P. f. Collier, of Golfers Once
q Week, and published by special arrangement
with him through the American Press Associa-
ton. All rights reserved.l
The overwhelming effrontery Of this
demand caused the commander OF the
Scarabeus to doubt whether he had to
deal with raving lunatic or q buster
ing fool: but he informed the person IN
charge of the flag Of truce boat that lie
would give him fifteen minutes in which
to get back to his vessel, and that he
would then open fire upon that craft.
The men who rowed the little boat
were not men-of-war's men, and were
unaccustomed to duties of this kind. In
eight minutes they had reached their
vessel and were safe on board.
Just seven minutes afterward the first
shot came from the Scarabeus. 1t
passed over Repeller No. /, and that
vessel, instead of replying, Immediately
steamed nearer her adversary. The
director-in-chief desired to determine
the effect of an active cannonade upon
the new armor, and therefore ordered
the vessel placed in such position that
the Englishman might have the best
opportunity for using it as target.
The Scarabeus lost no time in availing
herself of the facilities offered. She was
large and powerful ship, with Il heavy
armament; and, soon getting the range
Of the syndicate's vessel, she hurled ball
after ball upon her striped side. Repeller
No. made no reply, but quietly SUBJ
mitted to the terrible bombardment.
Some of the great shot Jared her from
bow to stern, but not one of them broke
a steel spring, nor penetrated the heavy
inside plates.
After half an hour of this work the
director-in chief became satisfied that
the new armor had we'll acquitted itself
in the severe trial to which it had been
subjected Some Of the air buffers had
been disabled, probably on account of
faults in their construction, but these
could readily be replaced, and no further
injury had been done the vessel. 1t was
not necessary, therefore, to continue the
experiment any longer, and besides there
was danger that the Englishman perceiv-
ing that his antagonist did not appear to
be affected by his fire, would approach
closer and endeavor to ram her. This
was to be avoided, for the Scarabeus
was much larger vessel than Repeller
No. /, and able to run into the latter and
sink her by mere preponderance of
weight.
1t was, therefore, decided to now test
the powers of the crabs. Signals were
made from Repeller No. to Crab A.,
which had been lying with the larger
vessel between it and the enemy. These
signals were made by jets Of dense black
smoke, which were elected from small
pipe on the repeller. These slender col
umns of smoke preserved their cylindri-
cal forms for some moments, and were
visible at {. great distance by day or
night, being illuminated in tho latter
case by electric light. The length and
frequency Of these jets were regulated
by an instrument in the directors room..
Thus, by means of long ,aIsasahTsh0rt pufffs,
with the prQIeEslaagS5ee Of Intervals, a mes
sage could Be projected into the air as q
Geographic instrument would mark it
upon paper.
In this manner Crab A was ordered to
Immediately proceed to the attack of
the Scarabeus. The almost submerged
vessel steamed rapidly from behind her
consort, and made for the British man
of-war.
When the latter vessel perceived the
approach of this turtle backed object,
squirting little jets of black smoke as she
replied to the orders from the repeller,
there was great amazement On board.
The crab had not been seen before, but
as it came rapidly on there was no time
for curiosity Or discussion, and several
heavy guns were brought to bear upon
1t. 1t was difficult to hit a rapidly NOV
ing flat object scarcely above the surface
of the water; and although several shoe
struck the crab, they glanced off without
in the least interfering with its progress.
Grab A soon came so near the Scara-
beeus that it was impossible to depress
the guns of the latter so as to strike her.
The great vessel was, therefore headed
toward its assailant, and under full
head of steam dashed directly at it to
ruin it down. But the crab could turn as
upon a pivot, and shooting to one side
allowed the surging man-of-w to pass it,.
Perceiving instantly that it would be
difficult to strike this nimble and almost
submerged adversary, the commander of
the Scarabseus thought it well to let it
alone for the present, and to bear down
with all speed upon the repeller. But it
was easier to hit the crab than to leave
it behind. It was capable of great speed,
and, following the British vessel, it
quickly came up with her.
The course of the Scarabaus was in
stantly changed, and every effort was
made to get the vessel into position to
run down the crab. But this was not
easy for so large a ship, and Crab A
seemed to have no difficulty in keeping
close to her stern.
Several machine guns especially adapt
ed for firing at torpedo boats, or any hos
tile craft which might be discovered
close to vessel, were now broug ht to
bear upon the crab, and ball after ball
was hurled at her. Some of these struck,
but glanced off, without penetrating her
tough armor. -...-..... w..
These maneuvers had not continued
long when the crew of the crab was ready
to bring into action the peculiar appar-
atus of that peculiar craft. An enormous
pair of iron forceps, each massive limb
of which measured twelve feet or more in
length, was run out in front of the crab
at depth of six OF eight feet below the
surface. These forceps were acted upon
by an electric engine of immense power,
by which they could be shut, opened,
projected, withdrawn or turned and
twisted.
The crab darted forward, and in the
next instant the great teeth Of her pin
GERS were fastened with a tremendous
grip upon the rudder and rudder post Of
the Scarabeus. -
Then followed sudden twist, which
sent a thrill through both vessels, a crash,
abackward jerk, thesnapping Of a chain,
and in a moment the great rudder, with
half Of the rudder port attached, was
torn from the vessel, and ais the forceps
opened it dropped tofleeward and hung