Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-11-01

rise or roll of tho vessel, and which
showed at any moment the position of
the gun with reference to the plane of
the sea surface.
Before the discharge of the cannon an
observation WAS taken by one of the sci
entific men which accurately determined
the distance to the object to be aimed at,
and reference to a carefully prepared
mathematical table showed TO what
points ON the graduated scales the gun
should be adjusted; and the instant that
the lnuzzle of the cannon was in the po-
sition that it was when the observation
was taken button was touched. and the
bomb was instantaneousiy placed on
the spot aimed at. The exactness with
which tie propelling force of the bomb
could be determined was an important
factor in this method Of aiming.
As soon as three of the spring armored
vessels and five ''crabs" were completed,
the syndicate felt itself ready to begin
operations. 1t was indeed time. Tho seas
had been covered with American and
British merchantmen fastening home
ward, or to friendly ports, before the
actual commencement of hostilities. But
all had not been fortunate enough TO
reach safety within the limits of time
allowed, and several American MGR
chantmen had been already captured by
fast British cruisers.
Tho members of the syndicate well
understood that if war was to be car
ried on as they desired, they must strike
the first real blow. Comparatively speak
ing, a very short time had elapsed since
the declaration Of war, and the opportu-
| tunity to take the initiative was still open.
1t was i'll order to take this initiative
that, in the early hours of a July morn
ing, two Of the syndicate's armored
vessels, each accompanied by a crab,
steamed out Of New England port, and
headed for the point on the Canadian
coast where it had been decided to open
the campaign.
The vessels of the syndicate had no in
dividual names. The spring armored
ships were termed "repellers," and were
numbered, and the crabs were known by
the letters of the alphabet. Each rcpeller
was in charge Of director of naval
operations; and the whole naval force of
| the syndicate was under the command
of director-in- chief. On this momen-
tous occasion this officer was on board Of
| Repeller No. 1, and commanded the little
| feet
The repellers had never been vessels of
great speed, and their present armor of
steel strips, the lower portion of which
was frequently under water, considerably
| retarded their progress, but each OF them
was taken in tow by one of the swift and
powerful crabs, and with this assistance
they made very good time, reaching their
| destination on the morning of thesecond
day.
1t was on breezy day, with cloudy
sky, and the sea moderately smooth, that
the little fleet of the syndicate lay to off
the harbor of one Of the principal Cana
dian seaports. About five miles away
the headands on either side of the mouth
of the harbor could plainly be seen. 1t
had been decided that RepelIcr No. /
should begin operations. Accordingly,
that vessel steamed about q mile nearer
tho harbor, accompanied by Grab A.
The other repeller and crab remained in
their first position, ready to act in case
they should be needed.
The approach Of two vessels. evidently
men-of-war. and carrying the American
flag, was perceived from the forts and
redoubts at the mouth Of the harbor,
end the news quickly spread to the city
and to the vessels in port. Intense ex-
citement ensued on land aud water,
among the citizens Of the place as well
rs its defenders. Every man who had
post of duty was instantly at it; and in
less than half an hour the British man
of-war Scarabaus, which had been lying
at anchor Il short distance outside the
harbor. came steaming out to meet the
enemy. There were other naval vessels
in port, but they required mere time to
be put in readiness for action.
As soon as the approach OF Scarabeus
was perceived by Repelier No. /, q boat
bearing white flag was lowered from
that vessel and was rapidly rowed to-
ward the British ship. When the latter
saw the boat coming she lay to, and
waited its arrival. n note was delivered
to the captain of the Scarabeus, in which
it was stated that the syndicate, which
had undertaken on the part of the United
States the conduct of the war between
that country and Great Britain, was Low
prepared to demand the surrender of
this city, with its forts and defenses, and
all vessels within its harbor; and, as
first step, the immediate surrender of
the vessel to the commander of which
this note was delivered.
The overwhelming effrontery of this
demand caused the commander Of the
Scarabeus to doubt whether he had to
deal with raving lunatic or buster
ing fool; but he informed the person in
charge of the flag of truce boat that ne
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.
TO BE CONTINUED |