Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-11-29

deaeor to grasp tnat great cynnaer WIN
its rounded ends: their forceps would
slip from any portion Of its smooth sur
face on which they should enGeavor to
lay hold, and no such attempt was made.
Keeping near the cylinder. one at each
end Of it, the two moved slowly after the
Llangaron, apparently discouraged.
II short time, however. it was per-
ceired by those on board the ship, that a
change had .aken Elcce in the appear
slfce Of t,2a crabs: tlsa visible portion OF
their backs was growing larger and
l2rGcT; tAe7 were rising in the water.
Their mailed roofs became visible from
end to end, and the crowd of Observers
looking down from the ship were amazed
to zee What large Tessels they were.
Higher and higher the crabs arose,
their powerful cir pumps working at
their greatest capacity, until their pen
dcrous pincers became visible above the
water. Then into the minds of the Off
GERS Of the Ll2ngaron flashed the true
object of this uprising, which to the
crew had seemed an intention on the
part of the sea devils to Chamber on
board
If the cylinder were left in its present
position the crab might seize the chains
by which it was suspended, while if it
were raised it would cease 10 be a de-
Tense. Notwithstanding this latter con-
tingency, the order was quickly given to
raise tie cylinder. but before the hoist
ing engins had been set in motion Grab
9 thrust forward her forceps over the
top Of the cylinder and held it down
Another thrust, and the iron jaws had
gTasped one Of the two poHderous chains
by which the cylinder was suspended.
The other end Of the cylinder began to
rise, bat ct this moment Crab +, arpar-
entity by single effort, lifted herself a
foot higher ou- Of the sea; her pinccrs
flashed forward, and the other chain was
graspcd.
The two crabs were now placed in the
most extraordinary position. The over
on their AulIs by Che Llangaron, but
their uHniaiIed huIls were 50 greatly ex-
posed that a few shot from another shin
could easily have destroyed them. But
as any ship firing at them would be very
likely to hit the LlanSaron, their direc-
tors felt safe on this point.
Three Of the foremost ironclads, le5a
then two mica away, were heading di-
rectly for them. and their rams might be
used with but little danger to tie Ian
garon but, on the other Land. three
swift crabs were heading directly Tor
these ironclads.
1t was impossible for Crabs @ and 2
to operate in the usual way. Their n IS
sivc fCrceps, lying Cat against the top Of
the cylinder, could not be twisted. Tho
enormous chains they held could no. 5a
severed by the greatest pressure, and If
both crabs backed at cree they would
probably do no more than tow tie Liam
g2ron stern foremost. There was, more
over, no time to waste il experiments,
for other rams would tx coming er, and
there were not crabs cnou1h to zttc1l 10
them all.
No time was wasted. Q siG1a'ed 70 r
aud r back &g&in, AMI Instantly he t1yD
crabs, each st:n srasping cha;Z of the
cylinder, began to sink. On board tie
LlangaTon an order was shouted TO let
cut the cylinder chains, bIit IS these
cfs~ig.s had es.ly been made Io.lg enough
to allow the top Of the cylinder to hang
at, or little below, the surface of the
water, foot OF two Of length vas al
that could Ike gained
The davits from which the cylinder
hung were thick and strong. and the
iron windlasses TO which the chains we're
attached were large and ponderous. but
these were not strong enough 10 with
stand the weight Of two crabs with steel
armCred roofs, enormous engines and
iron hull. In less than q minute one
davit snapped like pipe stem under the
tremendous strain, and Immediately
afterward the windlass to which the
chain was attached was torn from its
bolts and went crashing overheard. tear
ing away portion of the stern laiI in
its descent.
Crab Q instantly released the chain it
had held. and in a moment the great
cylinder hung almost perpcndicularly
from one chain. But only for a no
ment. The nippers of Crab r still firmly
held the chain, and the tremendous lev
erage exerted by the falling of one end 81
the cylinder wrenched ii from the rigiJir
held end of its chain; and in flash, the
enormous stern guard Of the Llangeroa
sunk, end foremost, to the bottom of the
channel
III ten minutes afterward the L!%nGa-
ron, rudderless, and with the blades Of
her proncllers shiyered and crushed, ass
slowly turning her starboard to the wind
and the sea and beginning to roll like a
log Of 5000 tons.
Besides the Llangaron three ironclale
were now drifting broadside to the sea.
But there was no time to succor disabled
vessels, for the rest of the feet was com
ing on and there was great work for the
crabs.
Against these enemies, swift Of motion
and sudden in action, the torpedo boats
found it almost impossible to operate. for
the British ships and the crabs were SO
rapidly nearing each other that torpedo
sent out against an enemy was more than
likely to run against the hull of friend.
Each crab sped at the topot it's speed for
a ship, not only to attack, but also to pro
tect itself.
Once only did the crabs give the tor
pedo boats a chance. A mile or two
north Of the scene of action large cruiser
was making her way rapidly toward the
repellcr, which was still lying, almost
motionless, four miles to the westward.