The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-01-22
hose terrible engines Of destruction

the magnetic torpedoeS, which were Of
the ordinary cigar shape, having the en-
ergy for propulsion stored in heavy
1y-wheel revolving in a longitudinal,
| vertical plane at rate of ten thou
sand revolutions a minute. This appli-
cation Of the principle of the gyroscope
gave them an almost unerring direct
ness of path under water, but, besides
this, within the secret chambers were
concealed magnets of great strength.
which drew the torpedoes straight on
ward toward their prey. No manoeurv-
ering, however skillful, on the part of
the commander Of ship attacked could
avail against the relentless power OF
these magnets, and once 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 one
hundred and fifty pounds of gun cotton
would fulfill the mission of the torpedo,
and cause the proud battle ship, strick-
en- in some vital part, to reel back I'M
der the shock, then perhaps make n
feeble effort to escape, but in vain. In
a moment only seething, bubbling
spot covered with wreckage in the
midst of the ocean would mark the
grave of Goliath of the deep, done to
| death by this marine David.
Little wonder then that Delafield had
| every confidence in the Bainbridge. But
| his spirits fell when he read in the
newspapers, few mornings after, that
10, 40 of 4I4 Io1 Iaf4 ifc
rendezvous and was proceeding in the
direction of San Francisco. This fleet
consisted Of eight frst-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 (dag), Iowa, Massa-
chusetts, Indiana and Texas; the ar
mored cruisers Idaho, New York, Maine
and Brooklyn; the protected cruisers
Olympia, Charleston, Columbia, New
ark, Minneapolis, 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 were the coast defense monitors
Monterey, Puritan, Terror, Amphitrite
Miantonomoh, and also Delafeld's tor
pedo boat, the Bainbridge. 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 1t was his intention to go out
side, meet the enemy, and, if possible,
cripple him to such an extent as to pre-
vent the bombardment of the city, and
that the Bainbridge and coast defense
vessels were to be held in readiness -
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 admirars cabin
he was confident he would have an op-
portunity to add fame to his own name
and fresh laurels to the long list Of dar-
ing naval achievements accomplished
by John Paul Jones, Decatur, Preble,
Bainbridge (for whom his little vessel
was named), Biddle, Rodgers, Farra-
gut Gushing and a host of others.
Throughout the fleet that day there
was an expectant hush as of gladiator
resting previous to some mighty effort
All preparations were completed, final
letters written, and farewells said, for,
though each officer and man hoped for
a favorable outcome, every one, even
to the meanest powder by, knew that
the morrow would most probably bring
a struggle so terrible and deadly that
many of them would never return.
During the early morning twilight of
the next day pigeon f1uttered wearily
down to the cote on the. flagship, and
in alighting set a shrill electric bell to
ringing This faithful little messenger
had arrived with its momentous tidings
in the shape Of tiny note in a quill
secured firmly under it's wing This
was soon detached and conveyed to the
admiral. In less time than it takes to
tell it, the red and white signal lights
were flashing out the order to get under
way. Soon the rattle of chains was
when daylight broke the fleet was seen
steaming majestically out through the
Golden Gate, the Oregon leading. Ev-
erything was ready. for action except
opening the magazines, getting out the
ammunition, and loading the guns. All
hands were intently scanning the hori-
zon ahead and on each bow to catch the
first glimpse of the smoke of the enc
my's feet. The silence, punctuated only
by the rhythmic throb of the engines
was at last broken by ''Sail hov' from
the upper fighting top.
"Where away" replied the officer on
the deck.
"One point and a half on the. port
bow, sir-smoke!'
BEAT to general quarters is instant
ly ordered. The men spring to the guns,
which were at once loaded; the turrets
are trained from side to side and the
guns elevated and depressed to see that
everything Is working smoothly. The
alarm proves to be a false one, for the |
vessel Is made out to be the San Fran |
cisco, one of the scouts, steaming in at
full speed. She runs close to the flag
ship while the admiral questions her
commanding officer regarding the num-
bers and course of the enemy, for the
purpose Of verifying the pigeon mes
sage. The hostile fleet is not more than
twenty miles ahead! Again the watch
ing Is resumed, and within an hour the
smokes of large number of vessels are
made out. The fires are forced by pow
erful fans, and the increased speed of
the feet rapidly lessons the intervening
distance. The supreme struggle is at
hand. Our ships steam on in column,