Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-02-28

most careful investigation failed to dis
cover any present signs of mining opera
tons.
This theory of mines worked by con
federates was received throughout the
civilized world. and was universally con
demned Even in the United States the
feeling was so strong against this appar-
ent alliance between On syndicate and
British traitors that there Mos reason to
believe that a popular pressure wo;.!d he
brought to bear upon the government
sufficient to force it to break its 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 Il
mine under q fort, laid and fired by PER
tidious confederates. wac considered I'M
worthy an enlightened peop.e.
The members of the syndicate now
found themselves in an embarrassing
and dangerous position; 4 position in
which they were PLACED by the universal
incredulity regarding the instantaneous
motor, and unless they could mako the
world believe that tl,cy really used such
a motor bomb, the var could not lie 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
cOIrl1 ha ,,ca1 in, v.1aoa xr-o1
other, was difficult indeed. They had
attempted to prove this by announcing
that at certain time 4 bomb should be
projected into q certain fort. Precisely
at the specified time tho fort had been
destroyed, but nobody believed that
bomb had been fired.
Every opinion, official or popular, con-
corning what it had done and what
might be expected of it, was promptly
forwarded to the syndicate by its 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 I'M
derstand that any fort or ships within
ten miles of one of the syndicate's can
non could be instantancously 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. A 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 werc now
making for their new venture, several
events of interest occurred.
Two of the largest Atlantic mail
steamers, carrying infantry and artillery
troops, and conveyed by two swift and
powerful men-of-war. arrived off the
coast Of Canada, considerably to the
north Of the blockaded city. The de-
parture and probable time of arrival OF
the vessels had been telegraphed to the
syndicate, through one of the continen,
tai cables; and a repeller with two crabs
had been for some days waiting for
them. The English vessels had taken q
high northern course, hoping they might
enter the Gulf of st. Lawrence without
subjecting themselves to injury from the
enemy's crabs, it not being considered
probable that there were enough of
these vessels to patrol the entire coast.
But although the crabs werc few in mum.
Der, the syndicate was able to place them
where they would be Of most use, and
when the English vessels arrived off the
northern entrance to the gulf. they
found their enemies there.
However strong might be the incredu-
lily of the enemy regarding the powers
Of repeller to lombard a city, the syn
dictate felt sure there would be no pres.
ent invasion of the United States from,
Canada, but It, wished to convince the
British government that troops and
munitions of war could not be safely
| transported across the Atlantic. On the
other hand, the syndicate very much OBJ
jected to undertaking the Imprisonment
and sustenance of large body of sol
diers. Orders were therefore given te
the officer in charge Of the repeller not to
modest the two transports, but to remove
the rudders and extract the screws of the
two war vessels. leaving them to be
towed into port by the troop ships.
This duty was performed by the crabs,
while the British vessels, both rams,
were preparing to make united and
vigorous onset on the repeller. and the
two men-of-war were left helplessly
tossing on the waves. One of the trans.
ports, very fast steamer, had already
entered the straits, and could not be sig.
nailed, but the other one returned and
took both the war ships in tow. proceed
ing very slowly until. after entering the
gulf, she was relieved by tugboats.
| Another event of q somewhat different
character was the occasion of much ex
cited feeling and comment, particularly
in the United States. The descent and
attack by British vessels on an Atlantic
port was a matter of popular expectation
The syndicate had repellers and crabs al
the most important points. but in the
minds Of naval officers. and large por
ton Of the people, little dependence fol-
defense was to be laced upon these
As to the ability OF tine war syndicate t.
prevent invasion or attack by means Of
lts threats to lombard the blockade.
canadian port. very few believed in It.
Even Il the syndicate could do any more
lamage in that quarter, which was inn
probable, what was to prevent the British
navy from playing the same game, and
mtering an American seaport, threaten
% lombard the place if the syndicate did
not Immediately run all their queer YES
,els high and dry on some convenient
beach?
Affecting Of indignation against the syn
1cate had existed in the navy from the
Is at; !
| All11lR!lI(R)It