Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-11-15
the ruader and screw propellers, CT
which the Adamant had two.

Cr00; DuJ as u lnelIlS OF OueDSS against
these almost submerged vessels q novel
conuivance had been adopted From a
great boom projecting over the stern, a
large ships cannon was suspended per-
pc1dicularly. r,uzzle down"-ard, Thu
gun could he swung around to the deck,
hoistel into horizontal position, loaded
with a heavy charge, Q wooden plug
keeping tine load il position when tho
gun hung parpendiCu.ary :.
If crab should come under the stern
this cannon could be fired directly down
ward upon her bac&, and it was not be-
lieved that any vessel Of the Kind could
stand many such tremendous shocks. 1t
was not known exactly how ventilation
was supplied to the submarine vessels Of
the syndicate, nor how the occupants
were enabled to make the necessary Oh
serv2tions during action. When under
way the crabs sailed somewhat elevated
above the water, but when engaged with
an enemy only a small portion of their
covering arnlOr could be seen.
It was surmi5ed that under and be-
tween some Of the scales of this armor
glasses, through which the necessary OBJ
seryation could be made; and it was be-
lievel that, even if tho heavy perpen-
dicul2r shots did not crush in the roof OF
a crab, these glasses would be shattered
By conclusion. Although this might ap-
pear u matter Of slight Importance. it
was thought among naval officers it
would necessitate the withdrawal Of a
crab from action.
In consequence Of the idea that the
crabs were vulnerable between their
overlapping plates, some OF the Ada
naEts boats were f:ttcd out with Cat
ling and machine guns, by which a
shower Of balls might b9 sent under the
scales, through the glasses and into the
body Of the crab. la addition to their
guns, these beats would be supplied with
other means Of attack upon tie cra6.
OF course it would be I'M, ,ossible to
destroy these submerged enemies By
means Ct dynamite Or torpedoes; for
with two vessels in close proximity, the
explosion Of { torpedo would be as dan
gerou9 to the hull Of one as to the other.
The Eri.5 i admiralty would not allow
even the -tdama2t to explode torDcLoes
or dynamite bombs under her own stern.
With regard 10 a rapeiIcr. OF spring
arnCred vessel, the AGam21t would rely
upon her exceptionally powerful urIla-
lnent and upon her great weight and
speed. 6Lo VS. fitted with twin screws
acd engines Of Che highest power, and
/. T-2s believed that she would he able 10
overhaul, ram and crush the largest
vessel. armored G. uli2rtnored, Which
the syndicate would lie able to bring
against her. Some Of Ter guns were Of
immense caliher, firing shot weighing
nearly 1900 pounds and requiring half
ton OF powder for each charge. Be
sides these she carried al unusually
large number Of large cannon and two
dynamite guns. She was SO heavily
lated and armored a8 to 10 proof
against any knova artillery in the
world.
She was floating fortress, with men
enough to make up the population Of
town, and with stores, ammunition and
coal sufficient to last for long term Of
active service. Such was the mighty
English battle ship which had come for
ward TO raise the siege Of the Canadian
port.
The officers or the syndicate were wei
aware Of the character Of the Aaamant,
her armament and her defense5, and had
been Informed by cable Of her time Of
sailing and probable destination. They
sent out RcpcIIcr No. :, with Crabs !
and K, to meet her oil the Banks Of
wEoundiand.
This repc!ier was the largest and
strongest vessel that the syndicate had
ready for service. In addition to the
spring armor with which these vessels
were supplied, this one Was furnished
with a second coat Of armor outside the
first, the elastic steel ribs of which ran
lOngitudinaIly and at right angles to
those of tho inner set. Both coats were
furnished with great number Of i'm
proved air buffers, and the arrangement
Of spring arrnor extended five or SIX feet
beyond the massive steel plates with
which the vessel WAS originally armorcd.
She carried one motor cannon of large
size
One Of the crabs was Of the ordinary
pattern, but Grab K was furnished with
spring armor above the heavy plates
Of her roof. This had been placed upon
her after the news had been received by
the syndicate that the Adamant would
carry perpendicular cannon over her
stern, but there had not been time
enough to fit out another crab in the
same way.
When the director in charge Of repellcr
No. Z first caught sight of the Adanant,
and scanned through his glass the vast
proportions Of the mighty ship which
was rapidly ateaming toward the coast,
he felt that responsibility rested rpon
him heavier Than any which Lad yct
been borne by an officer Of thesyndica.c.
but he did not hesitate in tie duty which
he had been sent to perform, and inae-
diately ordered the two crabs to advance
to meet the Adamant, and 10 proceed to
action according to the Instructions
which they had previously received
His own ship was kept, in pursuance Of
orders, several miles distant from the
British ship.
As soon as the repcIler had been
sighted from the Adamant q strict look
out had been kept for the approach Of
crabs and when The small exposed por-
tons of the backs of TWO OF these were
perceived glistening in the sunlight the
speed of the great ship was sIackened.
The ability of The syndicatc's submerged
vessels to move suddenly end quickly in
any direction Led hecn Clearly damon