The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-10-01

Within two days Lieut.. Delaiield mad
completed the outfit of the cambridge,
and had stored on board four of those
terrible engines of destruction, the
magnetic torpedoes, which were of the
ordinary cigar shape, having the en-
ergy for propulsion stored i'll heavy
fy-wheel revolving in a longitudinal,
vertical plane at rate of 10000 revolu-
tons a minute. This application of the
principle of the gyroscope gave them
an almost unerring directness of path
under water, but, besides this, within
the secret chamber were concealed mag
nets of great strength, which drew the
torpedoes straight onward toward their
prey. No maneuvering, however skill
full, on the part of the commander of
a ship attacked could avail against the
relentless power of these magnets, and
once a torpedo was launched fairly in
the direction of an enemy's vessel, her
doom was only a matter of seconds.
When the intended target was struck,
the explosion of $50 pounds of gun-cot-
ton would fulfill the mission of the tor
pedo, and cause the proud battle ship,
stricken in some vital part, to reel back
under the shock, then perhaps make a
feeble effort to escape, but in vain. In
a moment only a seething, bubbling
spot covered with wreckage in the midst
of the ocean would mark the grave of
a Goliath of the deep, done to death by
this marine David.
Little wonder then that Delafeld had
every confidence in the cambridge. But
his spirits fell when he read in the
newspapers, few mornings after, that
a large fleet of the enemy had left its
rendezvous and was proceeding in the
direction of San Francisco. This feet
consisted of eight first-class battle
Ships, ten armored cruisers, together
with twenty protected cruisers and
smaller vessels. Against this array the
United States could only bring the bat
tie ships Oregon ttiag), Iowa, Massachu-
sets, Indiana and Texas; the armored
cruisers Idaho, Maine and Brooklyn;
the protected cruisers Olympia,
Charleston, Columbia, Newark, Mime
apolis. Philadelphia and San Francisco,
as well as several gunboats. This fleet
was anchored 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 approach
of the hostile vessels. Near by We're the
coast defense monitors Monterey, Puri-
tan, Terror, Amphitrite and Miantono-
nah, and also Delafeld's torpedo boat
the cambridge. Jack had gone on
board the flagship Oregon as soon as he
had anchored after his run down from
the navy yard, in order to report to
Admiral Woodbridge and to receive his
orders. 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 bonn.
bardment of the city, and that the Balm
bridge and coast-defense vessels were
to be held in readiness to guard the
entrance to the harbor and cover the
retreat of the feet in case it might be
compelled to withdraw.
When Jack left the admirals cabin
portunity to add fame to his own name
and fresh laurels to the long list OF
| daring naval achievements accom-.
| plished by John Paul Jones, Decatur
Preble, cambridge (for whom his little
vessel was named), Biddle, Rodgers
Farragut, Gushing and host of others
Throughout the fleet that day there was
an eXpectant hush as of gladiator rest.
ing previous to some mighty effort
All preparations We're completed, tina
letters written, and farewells said. for
| though each officer and man hoped fol
favorable outcome, everyone. ever
to the meanest powder-boy, knew that
the morrow would most probably bring
struggle so terrible and deadly that
many of them would never return.
During the early morning twilight o.
the next day pigeon fiuttered wearil,
down to the cote on the flagship, and IL
| alighting set shrill electric bell to ring
| ing. The faithful little messenger ha
arrived with its momentous tidilgs il
the shape of a tiny note in a quill Sc
cured firmly under its wing. This wa,
soon detached and conveyed to the adj
miral. In less time than it takes to tel
it, the red and white signal-lights wer,
flashing out the order to get unde1
way. Soon the rattle of chains wa.
/ heard as the anchors were hove up; ant
when daylight broke the aeet was seer
steaming majestically out through the
Golden Gate, the Oregon leading
Everything was ready for action excep
opening the magazine, getting out tn,
ammunition, and loading the guns AL
hands were intently scanning the hori
ION ahead and on each bow to catch the
| first glimpse of the smoke of the
enemy's fleet. The silence, punctuatet
only by the rhythmic throb of the en-
gines, was at last broken by Sail lao!
from the upper fghting-top.
"Waere away?" replied the officer o
the deck.
Zone point and half on the port bow
! sir-smoke!'
Beat to general quarters" is instant
| ly ordered. The men spring to TIL. guns
which are at once loaded; the turret'
are trained from side to side and tn,
guns elevated and depressed to see tina
everything is working smoothly TIL
al rt1, r,rpvac 70 ha fol ono e., I,