The morning call., 1890-11-08
MODERN WARFARE.
Graphic Description of a Night
Attack by a Torpedo Boat.

The opportunity comes-a night dark and
tempestuous. The clouds have covered the
stars like pail, and there is a bowling wind
which browns all other sounds. The pigmy
vessel makes ready and puts out to sea. 1t
rushes along as swift as the wind and as
silent rs a calm. Big waves sometimes
sweep over it from end to end as 1t plunges
through the darkness, but they are not
needed. Small as it is, it is stanchly built
and can stand the strain of storm as well rs
its adversary. Ali men save one are snugly
shut inside, tending the flying engine and
preparing the missile of destruction. This
is strange bolt, shaped like cigar, over
ten feet in length; and the crew place 1t IN
the bow tube. The man on deck stands be-
hind little iron tower which shields him
from the shock of the waves, and there he
steers the boat
In the darkness, writes John NJ. Ellcott
in November st. Nicholas. they seek their
adversary determinedly. and with deadly
purpose, since they are the protectors OF
their native land. The boat searches for
time in vain, for the big ship has covered all
lights and is lying like sleeping monster
upon the waves, awaiting morning TO renew
the havoc. Perhaps if the ship remained
her; but IS Goliath " becomes uneasy;
he fears :. David I" will make an attack, so
he has determined to watch. A dazzling
cone of white light suddenly starts from
point in the darkness and Droadens upon the
water. Slowly itsweepS about over the sea in
circing ares. All at once the little boat is
bathed in brilliant, binding glare. The
monsters eye finds it! But III finding the
enemy the battle-ship has disclosed itself,
and the dauntlesS little adversary Steams
straight forward at utmost speed. Streaks
OF fame are now shooting from under the
u In
rifles and machlne-guns rise sharply above
the winds roar. Shot and small shell are
falling about like hail upon the water, but
the monster annot keep the range OF the
on-rushing boat and the missiles fly wide OF
the mark.
Suddenly the great ship looms up-tall,
long, shadowy, overp0wering 1t IS not lar
OF, almost near enough to be attacked. Yet
little closer and the intrepid pigmy, stlli
unharMed, slows and fsteadies with that
omin0us black tube pointing toward the
monsters blazing side. Shots are falling
upon the boat ami the man who was steer
ing has taken refuge in his iron tower; but
inside there is wheel and he can steer as
well as before, Tor around him, on level
with his eyes. are little Sits through which
he can see. Now seconds are precious II
the fragile little craft is 10 escape destruc-
ton. The moment has come! A lever is
pulled and from that black tube comes
short hoarse roar. At once the little boat
begins to turn, ready TO escape with tn6
speed of the wind.
But before the boat can turn dull, heavy
shock has Jared the sea. A gigantic col
umn of white water rushes upward toward
the black clouds. In it the tall masts of the
monster ship seem to sway about and clash
together. The banging of the guns is
sharply succeeded by cries OF human terror.
The mass OF water falls back into the sea
with roaring crash and scatters over the
waves in great wisps of glistening foam.
The wind, sweeping on again, forms new
waves over the disturbed wafer. The mon.
ster ship has disappeared Goliath of
the Deep is conquered by his pigmy antago-
mist.