Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-10-21

| ~
THERE Amt NO ANSWER, SIR"
preston created by it was intensified
when it became known what the syndi-
cate proposed to do the next day. Orders
and advices from tie British admiralty
and war Office sped across the ocean, and
that night few of the leaders in govern
ment circles in England or Canada closed
their eyes.
The opinions of the commandment of
the fort were received with but little IA
vor by the military and naval authori-
ties. Great preparations were already
ordered to repel and crush this most
audacious attack upon the port, but in
the meantime it was highly desirable
that the utmost caution and prudence
should be observed. Three men-of-war
had already been disabled by the novel
and destructive machines of the enemy,
and it had been ordered that for the
present no more vessels of the British
navy be allowed to approach the crabs
of the syndicate.
Whether it was a mine or bomb
which had been used in the destruction
of the unfinished works of Fort Pitcher,
it would be impossible to determine
until an official survey had been made of
the ruins; but, in any event, it would be
wise and humane not to expose the gar
rison of the fort on the south side of the
harbor to the danger which had over
taken the works on the opposite shore.
If, contrary to the opinion of the COM
mandant, the garrisoned fort were really
mined. the following day would proba-
bly, provo the fact. Until this point
should be determined it would be highly
judicious to temporarily evacuate tho
fort. This could not be followed by oc-
cupation of the works by the enemy, for
all approaches, either by troops in boats
or by bodies of confederates by land.
could be fully covered by the inland re-
doubts and Notifications.
When the orders for evacuation reached
the commandment of the fort, he protested
hotly, and urged that his protest be con-
sidered. 1t was not until the command
had been reiterated both from London
and Ottawa, that he accepted the situa-
ton, and with bowed head prepared to
leave his post. All night preparations
for evacuation went on, and during the
next morning the garrison left the fort,
and established itself far enough away
to preclude danger from th3 explosion Of
mine, but near enough to be available
in case of necessity.
nt,rf hi
the citing another syndicate vessel. This
had started from northern part of the
United States, before the repellers and
the crabs, and it had been engaged in
laying q private submarine cable, which
should put the office of the syndicate in
New York il direct communication with
its naval forces engaged with the enemy.
Geographic connection between the
cable boat and Repeller No. having
been establilhed, the syndicate soon re-
ceived from its director-in-chief full and
comprehensive accounts of what had
been done, and what it was proposed to
do. Great was the satisfaction among
the members Of the syndicate when
these direct and official reports came in
Up to this time they had been obliged to
depend upon very unsatisfactory intelli-
genco communicated from Europe,
which had been supplemented by wild
statements and rumors smuggled across
the Canadian border.
To counteract the effect of these full
| report was Immediately made by the
syndicate to the government of the
| United States, and bulletin distinctly
describing what had happened was is
sued to the people Of the country. These
reports, which received a world wide
circulation in the newspapers, created
| popular citation in the United States, and
| gave rise to serious apprehensions and
| concern in many other countries. But
under both citation and concern there
was certain doubtfulness. So far the
syndicate had been successful, but its
style of warfare was decidedly expert
mental, and its forces, in numerical
strength at least, were weak. What
would happen when the great naval
power of Great Britain should be
brought to bear upon the syndicate, was
question whose probable answer was
likely to cause apprehension and concern
| in the United States and citation in many
| other countries.
/ The commencement of active hostil-
tiles had been prccipitated by this syndi-
cate. In England preparations were
making by day and by night to send
upon the coast lines Of the United States,
fleet which, in numbers and power,
! would be greater than that OF any naval
expedition in the history of the world.
/ 1t is no wonder that many people OF
sober judgment in America looked upon
the affair OF the crabs and the repeilers
as but an incident in the beginning of 4
great and disastrous war.
On the morning of the destruction OF
Fort Pitcher the syndicate's vessels
moved toward the port, and the steel net
was taken up by the two crabs, and
moved nearer the mouth Of the harbor,
at point from, which the fort, now in
process of evacuation. was in full view.
| When this had been done. Repel,er No.
2 took up her position at moderate dis
lance behind the net, and the other YES
sells stationed themselves near by.
The protection of the net was consid-
cred necessary, for although there could
| be no reasonable doubt that all the tor
pedoes in the harbor and river had been
exploded, others might be sent out
against the syndicate's vessels, and a
torpedo under crab or repeiler. was
the enemy most feared 10y the syndicate
About 8 O'Clock the signals between
the repellers became very frequent, and
soon afterwards truce boat went out
from Repeller No. l. This was rowed
with great rapidity. but it was obliged TO
60 much farther up the harbor than ON
previous occasions. 10 order to deliver its
message to an officer Of the garrison.
This was to the effect that the evacua-
ton of the fort had been Observed from
the syndicate's vessels. and although II
had been apparently complete. one Of
the scientific corps. with powerful
glass, had discovered man in one Of the
outer redoubts, whose presence there
was probably unknown to the officers Of
the garrison. It was, therefore, earn.