Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-11-19

also electricity, obtained from I'M
proved Tesla storage batteries of
the latest type, giving the boat u
speed of 40 knots an hour.
Within two days Lieutenant Della
field had completed tho outfit of the
Bainbridgo and had stored on board
! four Of those torrIblo engines of de-
| struCtion, tho magnetic torpedoes,
which wcro of the ordinary Cigar
! shape, having tho energy for pro-
/ pulsiOn stored in n heavy hywheel
revolving in longitudinal, vertical
plane at rate of 10, 600 revolutions
n minute. This application of the
principle of the gyrosCope gaVo them
an almost unOrring diroCtnCSS of
path under wator, but, hrsidcs this,
within the secret chambers woro
concealed magnets of great strength
which drow tho tOrD"duCS straight
onward toward their p""v. No ma
neuvering, however sklltul, on the
part of tho commander OF ship at
| tackled could avail against tho re-
! lcntless power of these magnets, and
! onCo torpedo was launched fairly
in tho direction of an onomy S YES
sci her doom was only a matter of
seconds. When tho intended target
WAS struck. the explosion of $50
pounds of gun cotton would fulfill
the mission of the torpedo and cause
tho proud battloship, stricken in
some vital part, to rCCl back under
tho shock, then perhaps mako fee
bic effort 10 escape, but in vain. In
a moment only n soothing, bubbling
spot covered with wrcCkago in the
midst of the ocean would mark the
grave Of n Goliath of the deep, done
to death by this marine David.
Little wonder, then, that Dclafield
had every confidence in the Balm
bridge. But his spirits foil when he
read in the newspapers, q fow morn
ingS after. that a largo fleet of the
onomy had left its rendezvous and
was proceeding in the direction of
San Francisco. This fleet consisted
of first class hattlcshipS, 10 armor-
ed cruisers. together with 20 pro-
footed cruisers and smaller vessels.
Against this array the United States
could only bring the battloships
Oregon (hag), Iowa, Massachusetts,
Indiana and Texas; the armored
cruisers Idaho, New York, Maine
and Brooklyn. the protected cruisers
Olympia, Charleston, Columbia,
Newark Minneapolis, Philadelphia
and San Francisco, as we'll as sew
eral gunboats. This fleet was anchor
ed in the bay, cleared for action and
ready to proceed to sea as soon as
carrier pigeons from the scouts
should bring the news of the ap-
proach of the hostile vessels. Near
by were the coast defonse monitors
Monterey, Puritan, Terror, Amphi-
trite and Miantonomoh, and also Del
afeld s torpedo boat, the cambridge.
Jack had gone on board the flagship
Oregon as soon as he had anchored
aftor his run down from the navy
yard, in order to report to Admiral
Woodbridge and to receive his or
ders. The admiral told him that it
was his intention to go outside, meet
the enemy, and, if possible, cripple
him to such an extent as to prevent
the bombardment of tho city and that
the Bainbridge and coast defense YES.
sells We're to be held in readiness tC
guard tho entrance to the harbor and
cover the retreat of the feet in case
it might be compelled to withdraw.
When Jack left the admiral's cab.
in, he was confident he would have
an opportunity to add fame to his
own name and fresh laurels to the
long list Of daring naval achieve
ments accomplished by John Pau
Jones, Decatur, Preble, Balm bridge
(for whom his little vessel was
namely, Biddfe, Rodgers, Farragut
Gushing and host of others
Throughout the fleet that day there
was an eXpectant hush, as of glad
iator resting previous to some
mighty effort. All preparations were
completed, final letters written anC
farewells said, for, though each Off
Ger and man hoped for n favorable
outcome, every one, oven to the
meanest powder boy, knew that the
morrow would most probably bring
a struggle so terrible and deadly tina
many of them would never return.
During the early morning twilight
of the next day a pigeon flutteret
YEARLY down to the cote on the flag
ship, and in alighting set shril
electric boil to ringing. The fai thfu
little messenger had arrived with it,
momentous tidings in the shape o.
a tiny note in a quill secured firmly
under its wing. This was soon dc
tached and conveyed to the admiral
In less time than it takes to tell j.
the red and white signal lights were
flashing out the order to get under
way. Soon the rattle of chains wa:
heard as the anchors were hove up
and when daylight broke the fee
was seen steaming majestically ou'
through the Golden gate, the Oregon
leading. Everything was ready fo1
action except opening the maya
zines, getting out the ammunition
and loading the guns. All hand:
We're intently scanning the horizon
ahead and on each bow to catch tn,
first glimpse of the smoke of the
encmy'S tirot. Tho silence, punctu
ated Only by the rhythmic thrCb OF
the on:ineS, was at last broken by
Sail ho!' from the upper fighting
top