Morgan Robertson

“ No cruiser may withstand the fire of a battle-ship.
In the integrity of that oncoming torpedo-boat now lay the palm of victory, and the Russian battle-ships profited by the lesson, turning their guns to the Japanese cruisers; but by this time they had demolished the last of the Argyll's small rifles, leaving nothing but the heavy eight- and thirteen-inch guns in the turrets—terrible weapons when they could touch a target, but useless for quick work. ”

“ Soon she was within the range of torpedo action, and a little later within the circle of gun depression; but still she came on, slower and slower as she settled, her remnant of crew, with sure death before them, waiting for close quarters before striking the last blow permitted them by fate.
"All hands on deck!" said the captain. "Every man for himself now! Hammocks, Mr. Ryerson!"
A man-of-war-man's hammock, if the mattress be half filled with cork, is an efficient life-preserver. ”

“ Each man for himself, but—I shall go down with my ship. I thought too much of Finnegan's importance."
The supreme moment had arrived. The Argyll was steaming at eighteen knots, the torpedo-boat at about fifteen—a total rate of approach equal to thirty-three knots an hour. At this railroad speed the little craft, with her nose nearly buried and the tube trained athwartship, swung up alongside of the giant battle-ship, so close that the whites of the Russians' eyes were plainly visible. ”

“ Ryerson rising above the horror of the situation to inspire the remark between tightly drawn lips: "Bunglers—they handle it like a piece of beef—not torpedo-men."
The murderous craft disappeared behind the other Japanese cruiser, and again was the death-blow delivered. The Hondo rolled, smoked, and settled, like her sister, and out from behind her again emerged the torpedo-boat, turning slowly in a wide circle, her crew again wheeling a torpedo forward. ”

“ No one cares to enter a conning-tower in action until driven in by gun-fire, and the captain and his officers remained without, where, though there was greater danger, there was more air and a clearer view. Leaving out the tale-bearing torpedo-boat, now far to the rear of the Russians, the two fleets were evenly matched in numbers, each consisting of two battle-ships and two cruisers; but the advantage in weight of armor and armament lay with the Russians ”

“ The cry went through the depths, and seven hundred men swarmed up, black and grimy, more or less naked, each bearing his hammock and breathing deeply of the sweet, fresh air. They crowded to the side and looked at the coming death with more of relief in their faces than anxiety ”

“ He looked toward the Russian fleet. "Do you make them out, Mr. Clarkson?"
"Yes, sir," answered Mr. Clarkson, his glass to his eyes. "There are the two new battle-ships, if I'm not mistaken—the Ladoga and Onega; and there are the Königsherg and Dünaburg, armored cruisers, about the weight, I think, captain, of the Hondo and Yesso. The torpedo-boat is making tracks."
"And that is what we must do," rejoined the captain. "They're going to fight, and we are in the way—tnat is, unless war is on; and if that is the case we'll know very soon. ”

“ While the fleets were approaching she received the full fire of the Ladoga and the Onega, the two leading Russian ships, and armor-piercing shells, designed for heavier work, entered her citadel, exploded within, disabled her engines, and set her afire. She reeled drunkenly out of line and came to a stop. Smoke poured from hatches, ventilators, and gun-ports, but her heavy guns were speaking and sending their messengers while her crew could breathe in the turrets. ”

“ Ryerson. "The torpedo-boat has told them."
"What of it?" demanded the executive officer, excitedly. "It's war—that's what it is. War must be declared, captain. They aimed that shot. They wouldn't dare to without authority from St. Petersburg. They have fired on her Majesty's ship."
"Yes—yes," rejoined the captain, pale of face and calm of speech. "But we must make no more mistakes"—he looked significantly at the unhappy Mr. Ryerson—"we have made enough. We will try to get the despatch-boat off Weihaiwei. There may be news for us." ”

“ Whitehead torpedoes, be it known, are mechanical fish about sixteen feet long, carrying two hundred and twenty pounds of gun-cotton in their heads, which travel under water of their own volition to explode upon impact, but which are aimed and merely propelled from long, eighteen-inch tubes by the explosion of a small charge of powder which, compressing the air behind the torpedo, exerts a pressure just sufficient to overcome its inertia. ”

“ And from the heavier of these guns came thirteen- and eight-inch shot and shell.
Loosely speaking, a battle-ship's gun-positions are protected by armor equal in thickness to the caliber of the guns within, and it is accepted that pointed projectiles from these guns will, at short range, pierce such armor on an enemy's ship, but will shatter to pieces on the outer surface of armor that is slightly thicker. ”