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torpedoes and submarine batteries。 With these in position and ready for
action； as they now were； it was impossible for an enemy's vessel； floating
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on the water or under it； to enter the harbour without certain destruction。
Bulletins to this effect were posted in the city； and somewhat allayed the
popular anxiety； although many people； who were fearful of what might
happen next； left by the evening trains for the interior。 That night the news
of this extraordinary affair was cabled to Europe； and thence back to the
United States； and all over the world。 In many quarters the account was
disbelieved； and in no quarter was it thoroughly understood； for it must be
borne in mind that the methods of operation employed by the crabs were
not evident to those on board the disabled vessels。 But everywhere there
was the greatest desire to know what would be done next。 It was the
general opinion that the two armoured vessels were merely tenders to the
submerged machines which had done the mischief。 Having fired no guns；
nor taken any active part in the combat； there was every reason to believe
that they were intended merely as bomb…proof store…ships for their
formidable consorts。 As these submerged vessels could not attack a town；
nor reduce fortifications； but could exercise their power only against
vessels afloat； it was plain enough to see that the object of the American
Syndicate was to blockade the port。 That they would be able to maintain
the blockade when the full power of the British navy should be brought to
bear upon them was generally doubted； though it was conceded in the
most wrathful circles that； until the situation should be altered； it would be
unwise to risk valuable war vessels in encounters with the diabolical sea…
monsters now lying off the port。 In the New York office of the Syndicate
there was great satisfaction。 The news received was incorrect and
imperfect； but it was evident that； so far； everything had gone well。 About
nine o'clock the next morning； Repeller No。 1； with her consort half a mile
astern； and preceded by the two crabs； one on either bow； approached to
within two miles of the harbour mouth。 The crabs； a quarter of a mile
ahead of the repeller； moved slowly； for between them they bore an
immense net； three or four hundred feet long； and thirty feet deep；
composed of jointed steel rods。 Along the upper edge of this net was a
series of air…floats； which were so graduated that they were sunk by the
weight of the net a few feet below the surface of the water； from which
position they held the net suspended vertically。
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This net； which was intended to protect the repeller against the
approach of submarine torpedoes； which might be directed from the shore；
was anchored at each end； two very small buoys indicating its position。
The crabs then falling astern； Repeller No。 1 lay to； with the sunken net
between her and the shore； and prepared to project the first instantaneous
motor…bomb ever used in warfare。
The great gun in the bow of the vessel was loaded with one of the
largest and most powerful motor…bombs； and the spot to be aimed at was
selected。 This was a point in the water just inside of the mouth of the
harbour； and nearly a mile from the land on either side。 The distance of
this point from the vessel being calculated； the cannon was adjusted at the
angle called for by the scale of distances and levels； and the instrument
indicating rise； fall； and direction was then put in connection with it。 Now
the Director…in…chief stepped forward to the button； by pressing which the
power of the motor was developed。 The chief of the scientific corps then
showed him the exact point upon the scale which would be indicated when
the gun was in its proper position； and the piece was then moved upon its
bearings so as to approximate as nearly as possible this direction。 The bow
of the vessel now rose upon the swell of the sea； and the instant that the
index upon the scale reached the desired point； the Director…in…chief
touched the button。 There was no report； no smoke； no visible sign that the
motor had left the cannon； but at that instant there appeared； to those who
were on the lookout； from a fort about a mile away； a vast aperture in the
waters of the bay； which was variously described as from one hundred
yards to five hundred yards in diameter。 At that same instant； in the
neighbouring headlands and islands far up the shores of the bay； and in
every street and building of the city； there was felt a sharp shock； as if the
underlying rocks had been struck by a gigantic trip…hammer。 At the same
instant the sky above the spot where the motor had descended was
darkened by a wide… spreading cloud。 This was formed of that portion of
the water of the bay which had been instantaneously raised to the height of
about a thousand feet。 The sudden appearance of this cloud was even more
terrible than the yawning chasm in the waters of the bay or the startling
shock； but it did not remain long in view。 It had no sooner reached its
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highest elevation than it began to descend。 There was a strong sea… breeze
blowing； and in its descent this vast mass of water was impelled toward
the land。 It came down； not as rain； but as the waters of a vast cataract； as
though a mountain lake； by an earthquake shock； had been precipitated in
a body upon a valley。 Only one edge of it reached the land； and here the
seething flood tore away earth； trees； and rocks； leaving behind it great
chasms and gullies as it descended to the sea。 The bay itself； into which
the vast body of the water fell； became a scene of surging madness。 The
towering walls of water which had stood up all around the suddenly
created aperture hurled themselves back into the abyss； and down into the
great chasm at the bottom of the bay； which had been made when the
motor sent its shock along the great rock beds。 Down upon； and into； this