Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-11-08
The Great War Syndicate.
By FRANK r. STOCKTON.

Hunslreith Man." 1.-THE Casting Away
OF Mrs. Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine," 1.-THE
Dusantcs." etc.
just seven minutes afterward the first
shot came from the Scarab9us. 1t
passed over Repelier No. /, and that
vessel, instead of replying, Immediately
steamed nearer her adversary. The
director-in-chief desired to determine
the effect of an active cannonade upon
tie new armor, and therefore ordered
the vessel placed i'll such a position that
lie Engii5hman might have the best
opportunity Tor using it as a target.
The Scarabaus LOST no time Ill agailing
herself of the facilities offered. She was
a large and powerful ship, with heavy
armament; and, soon getting the range
Of the syndicates vessel, she hurled bah
after ball upon her striped side. Repellor
No. l made 10 reply, but quietly sub
mitred to tine terrible bombardment.
Some Of the great shot Jared her from
bow to stern, but not one Of them broke
a steel spring, nor penetrated the heavy
inside plates.
After half an hour of this work the
i:ireCtor-in-chief became satisfied that
tie new armor had well acquitted itself
in the severe trial to which it had been
subjected. Some OF the air buffers had
been disabled. probably on account of
faults in their construction, but these
could readily be replaced, and no further
injury had been doae the vessel. 1t was
not necessary, therefore, to continue the
experiment any longer, and besides there
was danger that the Englishman perceiv-
ing that his antagonist did not appear to
be affected by his ire, would approach
closer and endeavor to ram her. This
was to be avoided, for the Scarahpus
was much larger vessel than Repeller
No. /, and able to run into the latter and
sink her by mere preponderance of
weight.
1t was, therefore, decided to now test
the powers Of the crabs. Signals were
made from Repeller No. / to Crab A.
which Lad been lying with the larger
vessel between it and the enemy. These
signals were made by Jets Of dense black
smoke, which wcrc elected from a small
pipe on the rcpeller. These slender co..
umns Of smoke preserved their cyindri-
cal forms for some moments, and were
visible at a great distance by day or
nighV, being Illuminated in the latter
case BY electric light. The length and
frequency of these Jets were regulated
by an instrument n the directors room.
Thus, by means of long and short puhs,
with the proper use Of intervals, mes
sage could be projected into The air as a
Geographic instrument would mark ii
upon paper
In this manner Crab \ was ordered to
Immediately proceed to tie attack Of
The Scarab@us. The almost submerged
vessel steamed rapidly from behind her
consort, and made ter the British man
of-war.
When the latter vessel perceived the
approach Of this turtle backed object.
squirting little jets CT black e.n,ke as she
replied to the orders from the repeller.
q there was great amazcmont on board,
The CRAB had not been seen before. byt
as 1t came rapidly On there was no time
Tor curiosity or discussion, and several
heavy guns were brought to bear upon
It. Ii was difficult TO hit a rapidly mo1-
ing fat object scarcely above the slirfac<-
of the water; and although several sho,
struck the crab, they glanced off without
IN the least inteIferin : with its progrcss.
Grab a soCn came so near the Scara-
h9us that it was impossible to depress
The ms Of the latter SO as to strike her.
The great vessel was. therefore headed
toward lis assa.l2nt, and under a full
mead OF steam dashed directly at it to
run 1t down. But the crab could turn as
uNon pivot, and shooting to one side
A!o y2d thcsUrging man-of-war TO PASS it,
Percelvlng instantly that it would be
difficult to strike this nimble and almost
submerged adversary, the commander OF
the Scarab@us thought it well to let il
alone for the present, and to bear down
with all speed upon the repeller. But il
was easier to hit the CRAB than to leave
1t behind. 1t was capable Of great speed
and, following the British vessel, il
quickly came up with her.
The course of the Scarabpus was in.
stantly changed, and every effort was
made to get the vessel into a position tt
run down the cra6. Dut this was not
easy for SO large a ship, ana Crab A
seemed to have no difficulty in keeping
close to her stern.
Several machine guns especially adapt
ed for firing At torpedo boats. or anv hos
tic cl@ft which might be discovered
close 70 a vessel, were now brought &c
bear upon the crab, and ball after bal
was hurried at her. Some of these struck,
but glanced off, without penetrating be1
tough armor.
IAese m3ncuvers had not continued
long when the crew Of the crab was ready
to bring Into action the peculiar annar
aus OF thar peculiar craft. An enornoJ,
par OF iron forceps, each massive limb
OF which measured twelve feet or more il
length was run out il front Of the crat
at depth of six or eight feet below the
surface. these torceps were acted upor
~ an electric engine of immenss power
~ which they could be shut, openeG
projected, withdrawn OF turned am,
twisted.
The crab dartcd forward, and in tn,
next instant the great tech of her pin
GERS were fastened with a tremendou
grip upon the rudder and rudder post O
tho ScarehHus.
E1ea followed a sudden twist, which
- :: ii,I1-i through both vessels, a era. h
< - -"--rd jerk, thesnapping of chain
s-lu In moment tie great rudder, will
a'1 OF the rudGer port attached. wa
\. ! -4on t-e vessel. and as thu forcen