Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-27

strucuon OF the crabs provided. by
means Of upright beams, against injury
from attacks of this kind, and the great
masses of iron slid off into the sea with
out dong any damage.
Finding it impossible to make anv I'M
preston upon the mailed monster at his
stern, the commander of the Lenox
nailed the director of the repeller, and
swore to him through his trumpet that
II he did not Immediately order the
Lenox to be set free, her heaviest guns
should be brought to bear upon his float
ing counting house, and that it should be
sunk if it took all day to do it.
1t would have been grim satisfaction
to the commander of the Lenox to sink
Repeller No 6, for he knew the vessel
when she had belonged to the United
States navy. Before she had been
bought by the syndicate, and fitted out
with spring armor, he had made two
long cruises in her, and he bitterly hated
her, from her keel up.
The director of the repeller agreed to
release the LenoX the instant her COM
mander would consent to return to port
NO answer was made to this proposition
but dynamite gun on the Lenox was
brought to bear upon the syndicate's YES
sci. Desiring to avoid any complications
which might ensue from actions of this
sort, the repeller steamed ahead, while
the director signaled Crab II to move the
stern of the Lenox to the windward,
which, being quickly done, the gun CT
the latter bore upon the distant coast.
1t was now very plain to the syndicate
director that his words could have no
effect upon the commander of the
LenoX, and he therefore signaled Crab
II to tow the United States vessel into
port. When the commander of the
Lenox saw that his vessel was beginning
to move backward he gave instant
orders to put on all steam. But this
was found to be useless, for when the
dynamite gun was about to be fired the
engines had been ordered stopped, and
the moment that the propeller blades
ceased moving the nippers of the crab
had been released from their hold upon
the stern post, and the propeller blades
of the Lenox were gently but firmly
seized in a grasp which included the
rudder. 1t was therefore impossible for
the engines of the vessel to reyplve the
propeller, and, INCREASINGLY, the Lenox
was towed, stern foremost, to the break
water
The news Of this incident created the
widest indignation in the United States
navy, and throughout the country the
condemnation of what was considered
the insulting action Of the syndicate was
general. In foreign countries the affair
was the subject Of Il good deal of COM
ment, but it was also the occasion of
much serious consideration. for it proved
that one OF the syndicate's submerged
vessels could, without firing gun, and
without fear Of injury to itself, capture
man-of-war and tow it whittier it
pleased.
The authorities at Washington took
instant action on the affair. and as it was
quite evident that the contract between
the United States and the syndicate had
been violated by the Lenox, the COM
mandcr Of that vessel was reprimanded
y
idincI that there should be no repetitions
Of his offence But as the commander of
the Lenox knew that the secretary Of the
navy was as angry as he was at what
had happened, he did not feel his repri-
mand to be In any way q disgrace.
| 1t may be stated that the Stockbridge,
which had steamed for the open sea as
! fl, b,,ri,,occ, hiaI, hol i N,
her was completed, did not go outside
the cape. When her officers perceived
with their glasses that the Lenox was
returning to port stern foremost they
opined what had happened, and desiring
that their ship should do all her sailing
in the natural way, the Stockbrilge was
put about and steamed. bow foremost,
| to her anchorage behind the breakwater,
| the commander thanking his stars that
for once the Lenox had got ahead of
| him.
The members Of the syndicate were
very anxious to remove the unfavorable
impression regarding what was called in
many quarters their attack upon a
| United States vessel, and a circular to
the public was issued, in which they OK
pressed their deep regret at being Obliged
to interfere with SO many brave officers
ard men in a moment of patriotic en-
thusiasm, and explaining how absolutely
necessary it was that the Lenox should
be removed from position where con-
flict with English line of battle ships
would be probable. There were many
thinking persons who saw the weight of
the svndicate's statements, but the effect
of the circular upon the popular mind
was not great.
The syndicate was now hard at work
making preparations for the grand stroke
which had been determined upon. In
the whole country, there was scarcely a
man whose ability could be made avail
able in their work, who was not engaged
in their service: and everywhere, i'll
foundries, workshops and ship yards, the
construction of their engines OF war was
being carried on by day and by night.
No contracts were made for the delivery
of work at certain times; everything was
done under the direct supervision of the
A,.Ii hIl