Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-02-21

ing, boiling tumult fell the tremendous
cataract from above, and the harbor be
came one wild expanse Of leaping, mad
dened waves, kissing their whirling
spray high into the air.
During these few terrific moments
other things happened which passed un.
noticed in the general CONSERVATION.
All along the shores Ct the bay and in
front Of the city the waters seemed to
be sucked away, slowly returning as the
sea forced them to their level, and at
many points up and Gown the harbor
there were submarine dctonations and
upheavals of the water.
These were caused by the explosion, by
conclusion of every torpedo and subma.
rine battery in the harbor; and it was
with this object in view that the instan-
taneous motor bomb had been shot into
the mouth of the bay.
The effects Of the discharge of the mo-
tor bomb astonished and even startled
those on board the repellers and the
the crabs. At the instant Of touching
the button hydraulic shock was felt on
Repeller No. l. This was supposed to be
occasioned by the discharge of the mo-
tor, but it was also felt on the other YES
sells. 1t was the same shock that had
been felt on shore, but less in degree.
\ few moments after there was a great
heaving swell of the sea, which tossed
and rolled the four vessels and lifted
the steel protecting net so high that for
an instant parts OF it showed themselves
above the surface like glistening sea
ghosts.
Experiments with motor bombs had
been made in unsettled mountainous dis
tricts, but this was the first one which
had ever exerted its power under water.
On shore, in the forts, and in the city,
no one for an instant supposed that the
terrific phenomenon which had just &C.
CURED was in any way due to the yes
sells of the syndicate. Tho repellers
were in plain view, and it was evident
that neither Of them had fired q gun.
Besides, the firing of cannon did not pro-
duce such effects. 1t was the general
opinion that there had been an earth
quake shock accompanied by a cloud
burst, and extraordinary commissions of
the sea. Such 4 combination of elemen-
tary disturbances had never been known
in these parts, and great many persons
were much more frightened than if they
had understood what had really hap
pened.
In about half an hour after the dis
charge Of the motor bomb, when the sea
had resumed its usual quiet, boat car
rying a white flag left Repeller No. 1,
rowed directly over the submerged net
and made for the harbor. When the ap-
proach Of this flag of truce was perceived
from the fort nearest the mouth of the
harbor, it occasioned much surmise.
Had the earthquake brought these syn
dictate knaves to their senses? Or were
they about to make further absurd and
outrageous demands? Some irate officers
were Of the opinion that enemies like
these should be considered no better than
pirates. and that their flag of truce
should be fired upon. But the com.
n,andant Of the fort paid no attention to
such counsels, and sent a detachment
with white flag down to the beach to
meet the approaching boat and learn its
errand.
The men in the boat had nothing to do
but to deliver letter from the director
in-cliief to the commandant Of the fort
and then row back again. No answer
w2s required.
When the commandant read the brief
note he made no remark. In fact, lie
could think of no appropriate remark to
make. The missive simply informed
him that at ten O'Clock and eighteen
minutes a. m, of that day, the first
boom from the marine forces of the syn
dictate had been discharged into the
waters Of the harbor. At. or about two
O'Clock p. M, the second bomb would be
discharged at Fort Pitcher. That was all.
What this extraordinary message
meant could not I've imagined by any
officer Of the garrison. If the people on
board the ships were taking advantage
Of the earthquake. and supposed that
they could induce British soldiers to BE-
iieve that it had been caused by one Of
their bombs. then were they idiots il
decd. They would fire their second shot
at Fort Pilchcrl This was impossible,
for they had not yet fired their first shot.
These syndicate people were evidently
very tricky. and the defenders of the
port must therefore Ike very cautious.
Fort Pitcher was very large and un-
finished fortification. on bluff on the
opposite si,le of the larbor Work had
been discontinued on it as soon as the
syndicaic's vessels had appeared of the
port. for it was not desired to expose the
builders and workmen to possible
boml'ardmcit. The place was now,
therefore. almost deserted. but after the
receipt Of the syndicate's message, the
commandant feared that the enemy
might throw an ordinary shell into the
unfinished works. and he sent boat
across the triy to order away any work
men or others who might be lingering
about the place.
A little after , O'Clock p. m an instan-
taneO,is motor bomb was discharged
from Repeller No. into Fort Pitcher
It was set to act five seconds after i'm
pact with the object aimed at. 1t struck
in central portion Of the unfinished
fort. and having described a high curve
in the air. descended not only with its
own motive power. but with the force of
gravitation, and penetrated deep into the
earth.
Five seconds later u vast brown clo.d
appeared ON the Fort Pitcher promo1r
tory. This cloud was nearly spherical
in form, with an apparent diameter OF
about a thousand yards. At the same
instant shock similar to that accom-
panying the first motor bomb was felt in
the city and surrounding country, but
this was not SO severe as the other, for
the second bomb did not exert its force
upon the underlying rocks of the region,
as the first one had done.
The great brown cloud quickly began
to lose its spherical form. part Of it de-
scending heavily to tho earth and part
floating away in vast dust clouds borne
inland by the breeze. settling downward
as they moved. and depositing on land,
water. ships, houses. domes and trees an
almost impalpable powder.
When the cloud had cleared away
there were no Notifications, and the bluff
on which they had stood had disappeared.
Part Of this bluff had fioatcd away on
the wind and part of it lay piled in great
heaps of sand on the spot where its rocks
were to have upheld fort.
The effect of the motor bomb was fully
observed with glasses from the various
Notifications of the port and from many