Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-04-11

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CAERDAFF BEFORE THE COMMANDMENT.
If the torpedo boat shot to one side in
order to get the crab out of line, the crab,
its back sometimes hidden by the tossing
waves, sped also to tie same side. When
the torpedo boat could aim q gun at the
crab and not at the gunboat, deadly
torpedo flew into the sea, but tossing
sea and o shifting target were unfavor.
able to the gunner's aim. 1t was not
long. however. before the crab had run
the chase which might so readily have
Leen fatal to it, and was so near the gun
boat that no more torpedoes could be
fired at it.
OF course the officers and crew of the
gunboat had watched with most anxious
interest the chase of the crab. The vessel
was one which had been fitted out for
service with dynamite guns, of which
she carried some of very long range for
this class Of artillery, and she had been
ordered to get astern Of the repeller and
to do her best to put few dynamite
bombs on board of her.
The dynamite gunboat, therefore, had
kept ahead at full speed, determined to
carry out her instructions if she should
be allowed to do so, but her speed was
not as great as that Of q crab, and when
the torpedo boat had given up the chase,
and the dreaded crab was drawing
swiftly near, the captain thought it time
for bravery to give place to prudence.
With the large amount Of explosive ma
terial Of the most tremendous and ter
rife character which he had on board, it
would be the insanity Of courage for him
to allow his comparatively small vessel
to be racked. shaken and partially shiv-
cred by the powerful jaws of the oncom-
ing foe. As he could neither fly nor
fight, he hauled down his flag in token
Of surrender. the first instance Of the
kind which had occurred in this war.
When the director Of Crab @, through
his lookout glass, beheld this action on
the part Of the gunboat, he was little
pePaexed a. to what he should next do.
To accept the ,surfeFder Of the British
ve1Gel and to as<me control OF her, it
va necessary to communicate with her.
Ihe communication Of the crabs were
made entirely by black smoke signals,
and these tho captain of the gunboat
could not understand. The heavy matches
IN the mailed roof, which could be put
IN use when tho crab was cruising, could
not b opened when she was at her fight
ing depfh and In tossing sea.
A means was soon devised of COM
mnnicating with the gunboat. A speak
Ing tube was run up through one of the air
pipes at tho crab. which pipe was then
ELEVATED some distance above tin, sur.
lace. Through this tbs director hailed
The other vessel, and us the air pipe was
near the. stern Of the crab, and therefore
at di1tance from the only visible por-
tton OF the turtle back roof, his voice
seemed to como out OF the depths Of the
ocean.
Tho surrender was accepted, and the
captain Of the guaboat was ordered to
stop his engines and prepare to he towed.
When this order had been given the crab
moved round to the bow of the gunboat.
md erasping the cutwater with its
foeceps, reversed It's engines and began
70 back rapidly toward the British fleet,
taking with II the captured vessel as e
protection against torpedoes while In
transit.
The crab slowed up not far from one
Of the foremost Of the British ships, and
coming round to the quarter Of the gun
boat. the astonished captain Of that yes
RI was informed. through the speaking
eubc. that Il he would give his parole to
keep out Of this fight. he would be
allowed TO proceed to his anchorage in
Portsmouth, harbor. The parole was
giren- and the dynamite gunboat, after
reporting to the Gag ship. steamed away
10 Portsmouth.
Tho situation now became one which
was unparalleled in the history OF naval
warfasa On the side Of the British seven
var shiW were disabled and drifting
1acwly to the southcatt For half an
hour no advance had been made bv the
British Aeet. for whenever one of the
laFgS vessels had steamed ahead, such
vessel had become the victim Of crab.
and the yice admiral commanding the
~ had sisnaled not to advance until
further ogden
The cEabe were also lying to, each to
~ windward o. and not far from one
= the REitish ships They had ceased to
make any attacks. and were resting
quietly under protection Of the enemy.
1haA with the fact that the repcller still
~ four miles away without any apparent
lnteution Of taking pert in the battle. |
ave the situation it's p ocular character.
Tho british vice admiral did not in
Tend to remain in this quiescent condi.
eaon. Il was. Of course, useless to order
forth his tronclads. simply to see them
disabled and sct adrift. There was an |
ueher arm Of the service which evidently |
could b used with better effect unon |
his peculiar foe than could the great |
battle shipI
But before doing anything else. be |
must provide for the safety Of those Of |
biz vessels which had been rendered |
helpless BY the crabs. and some of which
scre now drifting dangerously near to
each other. Dispatches had been sent to
Eostnnouth for tugs, for it would not do
Q wait until these arrived, and suffi-
stent number Of ironclads were detailed
. tow their injured consorts into port
When this order had been given, tie
'ice admiral immediately prepared to
'enew the Eight. and this time his efforts
Eere 70 b directed entirely against the
lfpeller. It would be useless to devote
NY further attention to the crabs, espe-
,iaiiy N their present positions. But if
NC cnlef vessel OF the syndicate's feet,
sath ITS spring armor. and its terrible
arthquakc bombs. could be DESTROYED.
was quite possible that those sea para,
atca. the csabs. coald also be disposed of.
livery torpedo boat was now ordered
the mont. and in q long line, almost
breast OF each other, these swift vessels
tho light infantry Of the sea-advanced
pon the solitary and distant foe. II
ne torpedo could but reach her hull tho
ice admiral. in spite of seven disabled
and a captured gunboat, might
e. gaze proudly at his floating fiap. Il
ven If his own ship should be drifting
roadside to the sea.
The Inc Of torpedo boats. slightly curv-
g inward. had advanced about a mile
hen Repeller No. IL invoke from her
'eming sleep. and began to act. The :;
70 great guns at her bow were trained
pwa-d. SO that bomb discharged from .