Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/88

76 battleships collided owing to a steering apparatus having failed. There was a blinding flash of light as one vessel ripped up the side of the other with its ram. Then the magazines blew up from the heat developed by the collision. A huge cloud of smoke was suddenly generated where the two vessels had collided, and out of it were hurled with prodigious force vast masses of torn metal-work, pieces of machinery, huge cannon, and the torn fragments of human bodies. Some of these were hurled right out into space, others struck the surrounding ships and did a little damage; but the worst danger was caused by the shells and projectiles which were let loose in all directions. Pieces of human bodies and showers of blood were scattered all over the place, the latter even falling like rain against the windows of some of the vessels. A shudder passed through the whole of the fleet when the horrible results of the accident were seen, but it was impossible to render any