The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1889-06-14

British force landed on any point Of the
seacoast, the contract should be con-
silcrcd at all end, and security and pay
mcnt forfeited. Ii any point Oh the
northern boundary of the United States
should be taken and occupied by the
enemy, $1,000,000 Of the deposited Sc
cllrity should be forfeited for every such
occupation, but the contract should con-
tinua.
1t was stipulated that the land and
naval forces Of the United States should
remain under the entire control of the
government, but should be maintained
as u defensive force and not brought
into action unless any failure on the part
of the syndicate should render such
action necessary. .-
The state of feeling in governmental
circles, and the evidences of alarm and
distrust which were becoming apparent
i'll congress and among tho people, cx-
crtcd all important influence in favor Of
the syndicate. The government caught
at its proposition, not as if it were q
straw but as if it were Il life raft. The
men who offered to relieve the executive
departments Of their perilous response
hililics were men of great ability, plomi
ncllt positions, and vast resources, whose
vast enterprises had already made them
known all over the globe. Such men
wcro not likely to jcopardizc thc;r repu
ta,ions and fortunes i'll a case like this
unless they had well founded reasons for
believing that they would be successful
Even tile largest amount stipulated to bc
paid them in case Of success would be
less than the ordinary estimates for the
military and naval operations which lad
been anticipates; anfin case Of failure,
the amount forfeited would 90 far to
repair The losses which might be sl,s-
saincd by the citizens Of the various
states.
At all events, should the syndicate be
allowed 10 take immediate control Of the
war, there would be tiIne 70 put the
army and navy, especially the latter, in
better condition TO carry on the contest
in case Of the failure Of the syndicate.
Organization and construction might
still go on. and, should it DC necessary.
the army and navy could step into the
contest fresh and well prepared.
@ All branches Of the government unitcA
in accepting the offer of the syndicate,
The contract was signed, and the world
waited 70 see what would happen next.
Tic influence which for years had been
cxerted by the interests controlled by tie
men composing the syndicate had its
effect i'll producing Il popular confidence
in the power Of the members Of the syn
dicatc to conduct a war as successfully
as they had conducted other gigantic
enterprises. Therefore, although prcde-
tions Of disaster came from many quar-
,crs, the American public appeared will
ing to wait with but moderate inpaticnce
for the result Of this novel undertaking
+ The government now proceeded to
mass troops at important poi1-s on the
northern frontier; forts were supplied
with mon and armaments; all coast de-
fcnscs were put i'll the best possible con
dition; the navy was stationed at impor-
tant ports, and work at the slip yards
went on. But, without reference to all
this, the work Of the syndicate immcdi-
atcly began,
This body Of men were Of various pol
itics and OF various pursuits in life. But
politics were no more regarded III the
III
would have been in the purchase Of land
or of railroad iron. No manifcstoes Of
motives and intentions were issued 10
the public. The syndicate simply won't
10 work. There could be no doubt that
carly success would he :; direct profit 10
it, hut there could also be no doubt that
its SUCCESS would be Il vast benefit and
profit, not only to the business enter
prises in which these men were scvcrally
engaged, hut to the business Of the whole
country. 10 save the United States from
Il dragging war, and to save themselves
from the effects of it, were the prompt
ing motives for the formation of the syn-
dicate.
All known Inventions and improve
ments in the art of war had been thor
ougLly considered by tho syndicate and
by the eminent specialists whom il had
enlisted in its service. Certain recently
perfected engines of war. novel i'll na-
ture, were the exclusive property uf
the syndicate. 1t was known on ;ur-
missed in certain quarters that the syMli-
cate had secured possession of important
warlikc inventions, bat wnlt they were
and how they acted was a secret care
fully guarded and protected.
The first step Of the syndicate was tt
purchase from the United States govern
mcnt ten war vessels. These were o
medium size aud in good condition, bu
they were Of All old fashioned type, ant
it had not been considered expedient Il
put them in commission. This acton
caused surprise and disappointment il
| l.
| that the syndicate, through its agents
scattered al over the world, would i'm
mediatcly acquire, by purchase or lease
fleet Of fine ironclads culled from vari
Gus maritime powers. But the syndicat
having no intention of involving, or at
tempting to involve, other countries il
this quarrel, paid no attention to publi
opinion, and went to work in its owl
| way.
Its vessels, eight of which were on til
| Atlantic coast and two Oh the Pacific
were rapidly prepared for the pcculia
service in which they were to be Ell
/ gagged. The resources of the syndicat
were great, and in a very short tim
| several of their vessels, already hcavil
plated with steel, were furnished wit
/ an additional outside armor, formed Q
strips of elastic steel, each reaching frol
the gunwales nearly to the surface c
the water. These strips about foe
wide, and placed au inch or two apart
were each backed by several powcrft
air buffers, SO that q ball striking one c
more Of them would be deprived {
much of its momentum. Tho exper
ments upon the steel spring and buffer
adopted by tho syndicate showed tha
the force of the heaviest cannonadin
was almost deadened by the powerfl
elasticity of this armor.
~;