Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-02-14

t!-.'t vessel" ana was rapidly rowed to-
ward the British ship. When the latter
SAP the boat coming she lay to. and
waited its arrival. A note was delivered
to the captain Of the Scarabaus, in which
it vas stated that the syndicate, which
had undertaken on the part Of Tie United
States tho conduct Of tie wax between
.-at country and Great Britain, Was now
prepared to demand the surrender of
this city, with its forts and defenses, and
all vessels within its harbor; and, as a
first step, the immediate surrender of
the vessel to the commander Of which
this note was delivered.
The overwhelming eifrontery of this
demand caused the commander of the
Scarabeus to doubt whether he had to
deal with ravinG lunatic or 4 buster
ing fool; but he informed the person in
charge of the flag Of truce boat that lie
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
unaccustomcd to duties of this kind. In
eight minutes they had reached theiI
vessel and were safe on board.
Just seven minutes afterward the first
shot came from the Scarab9us. 1t
passed over Repeller 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
the new armor, and therefore ordered
the vessel placed in such a position that
the Englishman might have the best
opportunity for using it as target.
The Scarabaus lost no time in availing
herself of the facilities offered. She was
a large and powerful ship, with heavy
armament; and, soon getting the range
of the syndicate's vessel, she hurled ball
after ball upon her striped side. Repeller
No. 1 made no reply, but quietly sub
mitted to the 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
director-in-chief became satisfied that
the new armor had well acquitted itself
i'll 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 done 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 fire, would approach
closer and endeavor to ram her. This
was to he avoided, for the Scarabnus
was much larger vessel than Repeller
No. l, and able to run into tho latter and
sink her by mere preponderance Of
weight.
1t was. therefore, decided to now test
the powers of the crabs. Signals weye
made from Repeller No. to Crab A,
which had been lying with the larger
vessel between it and the enemy. Thece
signals were made by jets of dense black
smoke, which were elected from a small
pipe on the repeller. These slender col
umns Of smoke preserved their cylindri-
cal forms for some moments, and were
visible at great distance by day or
night, being Illuminated in the latter
case by electric light. Tho length and
frequency of these jets were regulated
by an instrument in the directors room.
Thus, by means Of long and short pulfs.
with the proper use of intervals, a mes
sage could be projected into the air as q
telegraphic instrument would mark it
upon paper.
In this manner Crab A was ordered to
Immediately proceed to the attack Of
the ScarabHus. The almost submerged
vessel steamed rapidly from behind her
consort. and made for tho British man.
of-war.
When the latter vessel perceived the
approach Of this turtle backed object,
squirting little jets of black smoke as she
replied to the orders from the rcpcllcr
there Wis great amazement on board
The crab had not been seen before, but
as it came, rapidly on thcro was no time
W. kuA tSoAAy Va 0iS(QoclOlls 1uu 6cSCIdl
heavy guns were brought to bear upon
it. 1t was difficult to hit rapidly NOV.
ing fat object scarcely above the surface
of the water; and although several she,
struck the crab, they glanced of without
IN the least interfering with its progress.
Crab A soon came SO near the 'Scars-
baus that it was impossible to depress
the guns of the latter so as to strike her.
The great vessel was. therefore headed
toward its assailant, and under full
head Of steam dashed directly at it to
run it down. But the crab could turn as
upon pivot, and shooting to one side
allowed the surging nan-of- war to pass it.
Perceiving instantly that it would be
difficult to strike this nimble and almost
submerged adversary, the commander of
the Scarabnus thought it we'll to let it
alone for the present, and to bear down
with all speed upon tho repeller. But it
was easier to hit the crab than to leave
it behind. TWAS capable of great speed,
and, following the British vessel, it
quickly came up with her.
Tho course of the Scar ab@us was in
stantly changed, and every effort was
made to get the vessel into position to
run down the crab. But this was not
easy for so large a ship, and 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 any hos
tile craft which might be discovered
close to vessel, were now brought to
bear upon the crab, and ball after ball
was hurled at her. Some of these struck,
but glanced off, without penetrating her
tough armor.
These maneuvers had not continued
long when the crew Of the crab was ready
to bring into action the peculiar appar-
atus Of that peculiar craft. An enormous
pair OF iron forceps, each massive limb
of which measured twelve feet or more in
length. was run out in front of the crab
at depth of six or eight feet below the
surface These forceps were acted upon
by ar electric engine of immense power,
by which they could be shut, opened,
projected, withdrawn or turned and
twisted.
The crab darted forward, and in the
next instant the great teeth of her pin
GERS were fastened with a tremendous
grip upon the rudder and rudder post of
the ScarabHus.
Then followed sudden twist, which
sent thrill through both vessels, a crash.
backward jerk. thesnapping of chain.
and in moment the great rudder, with
half OF the rudder port attached, was