The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-27

no time 20 rush 20 tno decks out iounu
filled with water and compressed air.
There was little more time fot
They heard the shouts and warn
ing ores and rushed to the iA,1io aimoss
lying IN his berth sick with fever. started
up and dashed to the deck in Panamas 60
find himself immediately struggling in the
water lieutenant swan to HIM. put MS
of supporting o helpless man, was able TO
get away from the side of the sinking ship;
Ii took strong. skilIful swimmer In full
possession of his senses to do this
as 1t went down, and several hundred men
hurled suddenly into the water fully
dressed had TO battle against the tncreaa-
ing suction. A moment, and new peril,
more horrible. descended upon them. Inc
great engines. deep in the heart of the
hull and inclosed in water-ught
compartments, were still throbbing ct full
speed. and the great steel blade: OF the
twin screws were whirllng around up In
the air. As the vessel sank these screws
came nearer and nearer to the water. and
descended into the midst OF the struggling
human beings. The vessel sank slowly,
and when the screws were low enough TO
begin to wbirl IN the water again they had
the suction increased until there was
deep vortex like q meeIstrom. At the bot
tom OF this maelstrOm they we're revolving
like circular knives. The poor creatures
battled in vain against the suction. They
were drawn down and thrown against the
swift blades
FRIGHTFUL SCENE.
'Then came q scene which made the off,
GERS on the decks Of the other war ships OF
the feet turn sick with horror. Screams
and shrIeks arose. and in the white foam
appeared redeemed arms and legs and
wrenched and torn bodiea Headless trunks
were tossed out of the vortex to iinger
moment on the surface and sink out OF
sight All within reach of that vortex lost
their presence of mind. Men who knew
how to swim ceased swimming and fought
with the waters. Men Ciutched each other
in frenzy and struck each other of. The
deep como of whirling water with the swift
knives ch opping human bodies at the bot
tom of 1t was horror to daunt the bravest
Ono man who escaped says that he saw in
this great vortex at least fifty Of his fell
lows fighting with each other and with in
evitable death.
"In moment or so tho knives disappeared
and the vortex began to close up. The
ship was beneath the surface just as the
whirl was Swallowed almost to tho surface.
Then there was o muffied sound of thun.
der. the waters were tossed up and steam
burst from them. Again the shrieks and
screams burst from the swimmers. The
boilers had exploded. the sea had rushed
into the furnacee and the swimmers were
less than ten minutes death in three awful
forms attacked the officers and Grew Of
the Victoria-death by drowning. death by
she knife-like screws. and death by scald-
ing water.
with the first plunge of the Victoria all
the boats were called away from all the other
ships and came stralnIng over the calm sea
TO save the strug2iers. These boats were
soon picking up those fortunate enough
who had got out of reach of the terrible
vortex. So Iona as the vortex lasted the
boats dare not draw near. but they did lift
from the scalding water several wretched
sailors who were horribly burned. Ii IL
thought thas more than half of those
drowned got ont of the ship, but were
caught in the vortex or scalded to death
by the boiling water.
Admiral Tryon remained on the bridge
and refused to leave it. Just before the
Victoria made her under plunge he saw
what was about to happen and issued an
order for each man To cave himself. but
the order never got beyond the bridge,
for ruin descended streightway.
hns bsew diver ,Na hom ntn ne hss
was still on deck and dressed for his
descent He would have been dragged TO
the bottom by his heavy lead-soled shoes bad
It not been for seaman who atop Bed to cut
him loose from his heavy clothes. The diver
was saved. but the man who cut him free
was drowned. There were many such acts
of heroism, ,self-forgetfulness and daring.
The peril of those in the water was in
creased by the fact that the sea hereabouts
is infested with sharks.
1T is the duty of marines when n collision
occurs to Immediately go below and close
all the water-tight compartments. When
the CamperdOwn struck the Victoria. the
Victoria's marines went below for their
duty. and. as a result out OF l20 marines on
the Victoria DIuety-Dlne were lost