“Seams of the vessel began to open, and probably through open torpedo tubes and seams water entered the vessel and a condition of positive buoyancy was never attained. “There followed actual disaster. The vessel began filling with water. The personnel abandoned stations and many sought refuge in the engine room, closing the door. Under great pressure the engine room bulkhead failed suddenly, leaving the vessel on the bottom, completely flooded.” All the boats of the “F” class had already been withdrawn from the service, by order of Secretary Daniels. Their place at Honolulu was taken by four boats of the “K” class, which made the 2100 mile voyage out from San Francisco under their own power. CHAPTER XI MINES THE MINE SWEEPERS “‘Ware mine!” “Starboard your helm.”... “Full speed ahead!” The squat craft duly swings-- A hand’s breadth off, a thing of dread The sullen breaker flings. Carefully, slowly, patiently, The men of Grimsby Town Grope their way on the rolling sea-- The storm-swept, treacherous, gray North Sea-- Keeping the death-rate down. --H. INGAMELLS, in the “London Spectator.” A mine is a torpedo that has no motive-power of its own but is either anchored or set adrift in the supposed path of an enemy’s ship. We have already seen how Bushnell used drifting mines at Philadelphia in 1777. Anchored mines are among the many inventions of Robert Fulton. The following description of the original type, illustrated by an engraving made by himself, is taken from Fulton’s “Torpedo War and Submarine Explosions.” [Illustration: Fulton’s Anchored Torpedoes.]