The Florida agriculturist., 1889-04-10

syndicate was considered ridiculous, for
few people believed that these vessels
had any guns. Certainly there had been no
evidence that any shots had been fired
from them In the opinion of reasona-
BILE people the destruction of the forts
and the explosions in the harbor had
been caused by mines-mines of a new
and terrifying power-which' were the
work of traitors and confederates. The
destruction of the lighthouse had
strengthened this belief, for its fall
was similar to that which would have
been occasioned by great explosion un-
der it's foundation.
But however terrifying and appalling
had been the results of the explosion OF
these mines, it was not thought probable
that there were any more of them The
explosions had taken place at exposed
points distant from the city, and the
most careful investigation failed to dis
cover any present signs of mining opera
tions.
This theory of mines worked by con-
'federates was received throughout the
civilized world, and was universally con-
u0II1UGu. ENCu III lIlG OuliGu 0CctGO Ln0
feeling was so strong against this appar-
ent alliance between the syndicate and
British traitors that there was reason to
believe that popular pressure would be
brought to bear upon the government
sufficient to force it to break it's contract
with the syndicate and to carry on the
war with the national army and navy.
The crab was considered an admirable
addition to the strength of navy, but a
mine under a fort, laid and fired by per-
fidious confederates, was considered un-
worthy an enlightened people.
The members of the syndicate now
found themselves in an embarrassing
and dangerous position; a position in
which they were placed by the universal
incredulity regarding the instantaneous
motor, and unless they could make the
world believe that they really used such
a motor bomb, the war could not be pro-
secuted on the plan projected.
| 1t was easy enough to convince the
enemy of the terrible destruction the
| syndicate was able to effect; but to make
| that enemy and the world understand
that this was done by bombs, which
could be used in one place as well as an
other, was difficult indeed. They had
attempted to prove this by announcing
that at a certain time bomb should be
projected into certain fort. Precisely
at the specified time the fort had been
destroyed, but nobody believed that
bomb had been fired.
Every opinion, official or popular, con-
cerning what it had done and what
might be expected of it, was promptly
forwarded to the syndicate by it's agents,
and it was thus enabled to see very
| plainly indeed that the effect it had de-
sired to produce had not been produced.
Unless the enemy could be made to un-
derstand that any fort or ships within
ten miles of one of the syndicate's can
non could be instantaneously dissipated
in the shape of fine dust, this war could
not be carried on upon the principles
adopted, and therefore might as well
pass out of the hands of the syndicate.
Day by day and night by night the
state of affairs was anxiously considered
at the office of the syndicate in New
York new and important undertak-
ing was determined upon, and on the
success of this the hopes of the syndicate
now depended
During the rapid and vigorous prepa-
rations which the syndicate wero now
making for their new venture, several