Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-11-22


possible. Incse Vessels were necessarily
slow and unwieidy, and ii a heavy iron
clad could keep clear Of crabs long
enough to rush down upon one, there was
every reason to balievo that the hall
bouncer, rs the ro2ei!ers were called ~
British Sailors could bo crushed in be
low the water line and sunk. So, fuli ci
courage and determination. tie captain
Of the Craglevin bore doUn upon Tie re
paller.
Il is not necessary to enter into details
Of the ensuing action. Before tie Greg
levin HFGs within hall = lli:le e. her enc
my she w2s seized by two cf,0s, ell Of
which lad cast looso from the rcpcilor,
and il less than twenty minutes both Of
her screws were extracted ana her rUd-
der shattered. In the meantime two Of
the swiitest crabs had pursued the trans
port: and coming Up with her, one Of
them had fastened to her rGGder, with
out, however, making any attempt to in
iurc il. y hen the captain ci the steamer
saw that one Of the sea devils had him
by the stern, while another was near by
ready 10 attacl; lin, he rrudently
stopped his engines and 10y TO, the crab
keeping his ships head TO the SEQ.
The captain CT the Craslcyin was
very different man from tho CO pt&in Of
TIC Adamant. lie was quite G5 brave,
but he was V User and mere rrudent. He
saw that the transport had been cap
tIrcl ,al forced to lay 10; he saw that
the rcpaiIor mounted two heavy guns at
her bow, and whatever might te the
character Ct those guns, there could ta
10 reasonable doubt Lti.. j-laJ were suf-
fc!"nt 10 sink ali ordinary mail steamer.
His own vessel was entirely cut Of lis
control, and oven if he chose 10 Try his
guns On the spring arlnor Of the r2palIer,
it would probably result in the rcpoller
turning her fire upo1 the transport.
With disabled ship, and the lives OF
so many mon in lis charge, the captain
of the CragIevin saw that it would he
wrong for him to attempt 10 Eight, and
he did not FIRE Il gun. With IS much
calmncss as the circumstances would
permit he awaited the progress Of
events.
In q very short time 2 message came
to him from Rcpollcr No. II, which
stated that in two hours his ship would
be destroyed by instantaneous motor
bombs. Every opportunity, however,
would be given for the transfer to the
mail steamer Of all the officers and men
On heard the Craglevin, together with
such CT their possessions as they could
take with them ii that time. When this
had been done the transport would he
allowed to proceed on her way.
TO this demand nothing but acquies-
cence Was possible. Whether or not
there vas suvh thing az an instIDtane-
ous meter bomb the Craglevin's officers
did not know; but they knew that if left
to herself their ship would soon attend
to her oNn sinking, for there was terri
bic rent in her stern, owing to pitch Of
the vessel while one Ct the propeller
shafts was being extracted.
Preparations for leaving the ship were
therefore Immediately begun. The crab
was ordered to release the mail steamer,
which, in obedience to signals from the
Cragl%vin, steamed Is near that vessel
Us safety would permit. Goats were
lowered from both ships, aud the work
Of transfer went on with great activity.
There was no lowering Of flags on
board the Craglevia, for tie syndicate
esttspcir-ti Importance to such outward
signs and forrnaItie5. If the captain of
the British ship chose to haul down his
colo1s lie could 60 SO, but II lie preferred
to leave them still bravcly floating above
his vessel, he Yves equally welcome TO 90
that
When nearly every che had left tho
CragIeviu, boat was sent from the re-
Peller, which lay near b., with note
requesting the captain and first officer
of the British snip to come or board Re
peller No. ii and witness the method OF
discharging the instantaneous motor
bomb, after which they would be pat ON
board the transport. This invitation
struck the captain of the CragIevin with
surprise, but a little rejection showed
him that it would he wise to accept it.
In the first place, it was in the nature Of
a command, which in the presence Of
six crabs ard repaIler it would be
ridiculous TO Gisob2y, and, moreover, he
was moved ~ a desire to know some
thing about the syrdicate'3 mysterious
engine Of destruction, II, indeed, such q
thing rc2llT c--i5;cd.
TO BE CONTINUED.