Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-28

TCGGED BACKWARD BY A CRAB BEFORE
THE WHOLE BRITISH FLEET.
Ter No :, and after that the cannonading
from the bow, the stern, the starboatd
and the port guns of the great battle ship
went on whenever there was a visible
object on the ocean which looked in She
least like an American coas!inS vessel or
m2n-ol-war.
For weei, Crab X to7-cd steadily 10
the south this blazing and laundering
marine citadel; and then the crab sig
nailed to the 8till accompanying rcpoller
that it must be relieved. 1t had not been
fitted out for so long & cruise, and sup
plies Were getting low.
The syndicate. which had been kept
informed of all the details of this affair.
had already perceived the necessity Of
relieving Crab K, and another crab well
provisioned and fitted out, was already
on the way to take its place. This was
Crab G, possessing powerful engines, bat
in point q roof armor the weakest of its
class Il could be better spared than any
other crab to tow the Adamant, and as
the British ship had not, and probably
could not, pat ont another suspended
cannon, it was considered quite suitabie
for the service required.
But when Crab G came within half q
mile Of the Adamant it stopped. It was
evident that Oh board the British ship
steady lookout had been maintained for
the approach OF fresh crabs, for several
enormous shell and shot from heavy
guns, which had been trained upward ct
o high angle now fell into the sea q
short distance from the crab.
Crab c would not have feared these
heavy shot had they been fired from an
ordinary elevation; and although 10
other vessel in the syndicate's service
would have hesitated to run the terrible
gauntlet, this one, by reason Of errors in
construction, being less abie than any
other crab 10 resist the fall from !. great
height Of ponderous shot and shell,
thought it prudent not venture into this
rain Of iron, end moving rapidly toycnd
the line CT danger, il attempte,! 10 ap-
fsproach the Adama1t from another
squarter. r it could get within the circle
Izof falling shot il would be SAFE. B-5 this
Bit could not Go. On al. SIDES OF Inc Al
Eamant guns had been trained to drop
shot and shells al 9 distance ot half .
mile from the ship.
Around and around the mighty IRON
clad steamed Grab c, bus wherever size
went her presence was betrayed to the
fac glasses on beard the AdamaIt by tho
bit Of her shining back and the ripple
about it. and ever between heg and the
ship came down that hail Of iron il
masses OF q quarter ton, h&!l ton, or
nearly q whole ton. Crab G could not
venture under these, and all day she &C
conlpanied the Adainant On her voyage
south, dashing to this side and that, and
looking for the chance that did not come,
for all dav the cannon OF the battle ship
roared at her wherever size might be-
che inmates OF Crab K were now very
re>tive and uneasy, for they were on
short r2.i0rs. both Of food and water.
They would have been glad enough 70
cast loose from the Adalnant. and leave
The spitetul ship to roll to her hearts
content, broalsiic to the sea. they
did not fear to run their vessel, with
us llllCh TOOL ilitc9 iiO1NN'NA - "l'- 20
armor, through the heaviest cannonade'
But signals from the rcpelier com
mandod them to stay by the Adamant as
long as they could hold out, and they
were obliged to content themselves with
hope that when night fell the other
crab would be able to get in under the
stern of the Adamant, and make the de-
sired exchange.
But TO the great discomforture of the
syndicate's forces darkness had scarcely
come on before four enormous electric
lights blazcd high up on the single ioIfy
most Of tl,c Adamant, lighting up the
OCEAN for mile on every SIDE OF the
ship. 1t WAS of 10 more use Tor crap
T. try to get in now than in broad day
light; and all night the great gums foafeo'
and the little crab maneuvered.
The next morning heavy log zen
upon the sea, and the battle snip ana
Grab G were completely shut out OF sight
OF each other. Now the cannon OF The
A.l2:na2t Va ailont for tl-c only result