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

southwark, rta.n1s away WITH ner greet
guns whenever al American sail came
within possible range, ard surrounding
herself with circle Ct bursting bombs
to let any crab know what it might ex-
pact If il attempted to come near. Blaz-
ing and laundering, stern foremost but
stoutlv she rode the waves, ready to
show Tho world that she was an iInpreg-
r2bic British battle chip, from which no
enemy c0yeij snatch the royal colors
which fioatcd high above her.
It was during tie Grst week Of the IL
voluntary cruise Of the Adamant that
the sy2dicate finished its preparations
for what it hoped would bc the decisive
Increment Of its campaign. TO Go this
d rapeller and six craos, al with c1traor-
binary powers, had been fitted out with
great care, ana also with great rapidly,
for the British government was working
night and Gay 10 set It's feet Of ironclads
in readiness for a descent upon the
American coast. Many Of the British
vessels were already well prepared fer
ordinary naval warfare; bet to resist
crabs additional GefCuscs were necessary.
It wa3 known that the AGa9nant had
been captured. and consequently the
manufacture CT stern jackets had been
abandoned. but it was believed that pro
lection could Ec eHectually given 10 rud-
dcr8 and propeller blades by a new
method which the admiralty he'd adopted.
The rcPclIcr which was to take part in
the syndicate'5 proposed movement had
bcea q vessel Of the United States navy
which fer q long Ginc Lad been out of
conIisgiol and undergoing 3 courso Of
very slow and Gcsaltcry repairs in
dock y&r;l She he'd always been con-
cidercl the r2oat unlychy craft in the
service, and nearly every accident that
could happen to slip he'd happened tc
her. Eear3 &nd ye2r3 before, when che
would set olt upon cruise, her officers
and crew would receive the humorous
sympathy OF their friends, and waScrs
were frequently l@id il regard to the
different kinds Of l1liahaI33 which might
bcf1I ills unIti1l~ vessel, which was
then known as the IaIIapoosa.
The syndicate did not particularly de-
sire this vessel, but there wGs no other
that could readily he made available for
its purposes. and accordingly the Talla-
poosa was purchased from the govern
ment and work Immediately begun upon
her. Her engines and hull were put
into cood condition. and outside OF her
was built another hull, composed OF
heavy steel armcr plates ard strongly
braced by great transverse beams run
ming through the ship.
Still outside Of this was placed an i'm
provel system Of spring armor, much
stronger and more effective than any
which had get been constructed. This,
with the aTrlor plate, added nearly fiji
teen feet 10 the width of the vessel above
water. Al her Representatives, We're re-
moved from her deck, which was COW
cred by Il curved steel roof, and under u
bomb proof canopy at the bow were
placed two Gyns capable Of carrying the
largest si.;ea motor bombs. The Talla-
pocsa, thus Transformed, vas called Re
pellar No ii.
The Immense addition to her weight
would Of course Interfere very much
with the speed CT the new rcpellcr, but
this was considered Of little importance.
IS she would depend ON i.cr own engines
only in tiiEe Of action. She was row
believed to possess r1orc perfect Gefenscs
tHan any bartl2 SNIP II tl1c world.
Early on q misty morning EopcIler 70.
Ii, towed By four Of the swiltast and
mos5 powerful ccahs, and followed b.
two others, lett d northern port Of the
United States, bound for tA2 coast OF
Great Britain. Her c0Jirac vas very
northerly one, fer the reason that tho
syndicate had planned work for her to
do while on her way across the Atlantic.
The syndicate had now determined,
without unnecessarily losing an h0ar, tc
plainly demonstrate the power Of the in
st2ntauccEs motor bomb. It had hccn
intended to 10 this upon The A1aman,,
but as il had been found impossible to
induce the captain Of that vessel TO evac-
uats lis ship, the syndicate had declined
to exhibit the efficiency Of their new
agent Of destruction upon i disabled
craft crowded with human beings
This course had been highly preju-
dicial to the claims Of the syndicate, for
as Rcpciler 10. had made no Use il The
contest with the AGamant Of the motor
bombs with which she WAS said to be
supplied, it w;.a generally believed CT
I both sides OF the atlantic that the c2T-
ricd 10 6uch bombs, and The conviction
/ that the destruction at the Canadian port
| had been effected ~ means Of mines con-
tinued as strong as It had ever been. To
correct these false IDEAS was now the
! duty Of Eepcller No. II.
Tor somc time Great Britain lad been
steadily forwarding troops and MUM
tons OF war to Canada, without Interrupt
ton from her enemy. Only once had
the syudicatc's vessels appeared above
! the banks CT Newfoundland. and as the
number OF these peculiar craft must nee
| cssarily be small, it was not supposed
that their line Of operations would lie ex-
/ tended very far north, and no dancer
from them was apprehended, provided
/ the English vessels laid their courses well
/ to the north.
Shortly before the sailing Of Repellcr
4 No, II, the syndicate had received news
that one Of the largest Transatlantic mail
steamers, loaded with troops, and with
heavy cannon fOr Canadian Notifications,
and accompanied ~ the Craglevin, one
CT the largest ironclads il the Royal
navy, had started across the Atlantic.
The first business Of the repeller and her
attendant crabs concerned these two YES
sells.
Owing to the power and speed of the
crabs which toved her, EcPellcr No. II
made excellent time; and on the morn