Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-05-07
nwaltcd WIN carer intercst.

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nonading had had no effect. either In
bringing assistance or In injuring the
enemy; sho was being towcd steadily
southwark farther and farther from the
probable ncighborhood Of British man.
of-war. and IL was agreed that u would
- the part Of wisdom a. come 60 terms
with tho syndicaie's vessels.
Therefore the captain Of tho Adamant
sent letter 10 the rcpcllcr. In which he
stated 10 the persons In charge of that
ship that although his vessel had been
injured In n manner totally az variance
with the rules of naval warfare. be would
overlook this fact and would agree 10
ccaso firing upon tho syndicato's vessels.
provided that the submerged craft which
was now madc fast to his vessel should
attach itself 90 the Adamant's bow, and
by means ~ suitable cable which she
would furnish. would tow her into Bnt.
ia waters II this were done be would
guarantee that the towing craft should
have six hours In which 90 gct away.
When this letter was read CA boanl
the rcrcllcr II created considerable mor.
rimcnt, and an answer was sent hack
that no conditions but those % absolute
surrender could bo received frum the
british ship.
IN three MINUTES after this answer lad
bccn received by the captain u the Ada.
mant two shells went whiTing and
shnoking through the air toward llepcl.
lcr 40. :. and after that the cannonading
from tho bow. the stern. tho starboard
and the port guns % tho great baiilo ship
went on Whenever there was a visible
object on tho ocean which looked In the
least like an American coaSiing vessel or
man-of.waT.
Tor week Crab X towcd steadily 90
tho south this blazing and laundering
marino citadel. and then tho crab sig-
nalcl 10 tho still accompanying rupcllcr
that Il mus, b. relieved. IL had no, bccn
iiiicd ou, Tor - long a cruise, and sup
plies wcro getting low.
Tho syndicate. which had bccn kept
informed % all tho details u this affair.
had already perceived tho necessity of
relieving Crab X. and another crab. well
proyisioncd and fitted out. wns already
on tho way 90 tako IT. place. This was
Crab c, possessing powerful engines, but
In point - roof armor tho weakest u its
clasA II could h. better sparcd than any
other crab 90 tow tho Adamani. and "a
tho British ship had not. and probably
could not. put out another suspended
cannon. Il was considered quito suitable
for tho service required.
hut when Crab q camo within half q
mile u tho Adanani IL stopped. II was
evident that on board tho Driilsh ship
steady lookout had been maintained for
tho approach ~ frcsh crabs. for 6ovcral
enormous shell and shot from heavy
guns. which had been trained upward at
a high angle, now fcll into tho sca a
short distance from the crab.
Crab q would not have feared these
heavy shot had they bccn lrcd from an
ordinary elevation. and although no
other vessel In tho syndicaie's service
would have hcsiiatod 30 run tho terrible
gauntlet. this one, by reason Of errors In
construction, being less able than any
other crab % resist tho fall from great
hcigh, ot pondcrous sho; and shell.
thought 10 pruden, no, venture into this
rain of iron. and moving rapidly bcyond
tho line % danger. li attempted 20 ap-
pruach tho AdAmani from another
quarter. II 10 could get wllhla the csrclo
oi falling sho, 1, would bc safe. Du. this
IL could no, DO. On al sides Q! the I'D.
amAni guns had been trained 90 drop
sho, and shells a, q distance os hall o
milo from tho ship.
Around and around tho mighty Iron.
clad steamed Crab c, but wherever tho
went her prcseaco was betrayed 10 tho
iino glasses on board the Adamani by tho
biz Of her shining hack and tho ripple
about IL, and ever between her and tho
ship came down that hail % iron In
masses % a quarter ton. half ton, or
nearly a whole ton. Crab q could not
venture under these. and all day she ac-
rompanici the Adamant on her voyage
south, dashing 10 this side and that, and
looking Cor the chance that did not come,
for all dAy the cannon % tho battle ship
roarcd NJ her wherever shc might b..
Tho inmates Of Crab X were now very
rcstiyc and uneasy. for they wcro on
short raiions, both % food and water.
They would have been glad enough 20
cast loosa from the Adamant, and leave
the spitcful ship 90 roll TO her hearts
content, broadsldo 10 the sca. They
dill not fear % run their vessel, with
it, thick roof plates protected by spring
armor. through tho heaviest cannonade.
But signals from tho repellcr com
mandod them 30 stay by the Adamani as
long as they could hold out, and they
were obliged 10 content themselves with
a hopo that when night fell the other
crab would H. able 10 set In under tho
stern of tho Adamant. and mako the de-
sired exchange.
But 10 the great discomforturo Of tho
syndicaios forces darkness had scarcely
como on before four enormous electric
lights blazed high up on tho single lofty
mast Of tho Adamant, lighting up tho
ocean Tor mile on every sido Of the
shin. II was Of no moro Use for Crab 4
Ia try 10 get In now than In broad day
light: and all night the great guns roared,
and the little crab maneuyored
Tho next morning heavy fog fell
upon tho sea, and the hattie ship and
Crab q were completely shut out OF sight
Of each other. Now the cannon Of the
Adamant were silent. for the only result
Of firing would 10 To indicate 90 the crab
tho location Of tho British ship. Tho
smoke signals Of tho towing crab could
not H. seen through the fog by her con.
sorts, and shc seemed TO H. incapable Of
making signals by sound. Therefore the
commander Of the Adanant thought 1t
likely that until the fog roso the crab
could not find his ship.
What that other crlb intended 10 do
could bc, of course. on hoard the Ada
mant, only n surmisc. but II was believed
that she would bring wi's her torpodo
to 10 exploded under the British ship.
That one crab should tow her away from
possible all until another fhould bring a
torpedo 90 faStcn % her stern post
seemed reasonable explanation of the
action Of the 6yndicaie's ycssolA
The officers of the Adamant litilc un.
ierstood the RESOURCES and intentions of
their opponents Every vessel Of the
syndicate carried magnetic indicator.
which was designed 20 prevent collisions
with iron vessels. This little instrument
was placed nt night and during foss ct
A -