davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1893-07-29
OPINIONS UPON THE DISASTER.

The cause of the collision ia as yet uncer-
tain but the following o%piNions Of eminent
men upon the disaster will be read with
interest. Lord Charles BerssfDrd is reported
as saying.
He was confident that when they got to
the bottom Of the matter it would be found
that the collision between the two battleships
was not the result Of a mistake Of any Of the
officers concerned, but that something hap
pened TO the helm. 1t should be remembered
that when way was got on suoh enormous
ships it was not an easy ma ter to stop them.
If, as had been suggested, the feet WAS going
through what was know as the 'grldlron
man@uVre," a slight fault in the Stee ing
gear might bring two ships together. Such
manoeuvreS were necessary IN times OF peace
to fit ships for the Sterner duties of war. 1t
was necessary to accustom officers and men to
have command of their nerves. Accidents
could not be avoided so long as there were
ships at ssa, and people should understand
that suoh was the CASE. British vessels were
always prepared for war, and man@uvres OF
all kinds constituted part of their preparation,
The public should not suppose that because
two ironclads had come into collision with
Suoh terrible results some one must personally
be to blame. In executing the "gridiron'
movement the vessels would at times be very
clio e lo each otker, and that proximity was,
in fact, part of the training. Often during
that maneuvrs a captain might think it
quite impossible for him to avoid ramming
another ship, but that feeling was overcome
by the exercise of nerve and by carrying out
orders with absolute fidelity. He sincerely
trusted that no one would suppose that, be-
cause the Victoria foundered after being
rammed, her machinery was faulty. There
was not a vessel aHoat that would stand ram
ming like that. The Camperdown, like
other battleships, was actually designed to
ram another ship and to sink it. In his opin-
ion the ram was the most fatal weapon i~nInaval
warfare-more fatal even than the torpedo. II
a ship were rammed Iat almost any angle.
the vessel struck, whether she had a belt or
not, must go down supposing the rammer
had any speed on at all. As a matter OF fact
, 1893-07-29

over the grave Of the Victoria. The waters
We're still agitated when two mufaed
sounds from below and a heaving IF the
water showed that the boilers had exploded
beneath the surface, and then in q few
moments the sea became calm and there was
nothing but some floating debris to mark the
spot"
1t is said that out Of 100 marines on board
the Victoria nearly 100 lost their lives while
closing the waterlight bulkheadA below.
There is little doubt that those who were
saved were chiefly those whose duty had
called them on deck at the time of the
collision, while most of the officers and men
engaged below, including nearly the whole
OF the engine-room complement, were unable
to extricate themselves from the sinking vessel
before she turned turtle Those winners
who were unable to take refuge in the sea,
however, were exposed to fresh dangers.
Many are believed to have been killed by the
Whirllng blades of the screw and many more
were drawn under water by the suction of the
sinking vessel. Sir George Tryon refused to
leave the ship in which SO many of his
subOrdinatss were going down. When all
the rest on deck had thrown themselves into
the sea, be remained alone on the bridge.
The coxswain offered him a life buoy, but the
Admiral refused to avail himself of it saying
Save yourself" Sir George was last seen
in the water still grasping his telescope,
which, with his cap land dsspatch-bOx,
has since been recovered. The Admiral's
Flag-Lieutenant, Lord Clifford, Captain the
Hon. Maurice Bourke, and Commander
Jelliooe were among those saved. Com
mander Jellicoe was lying in his birth, i'll
with fever, but he ran up on deck, and
a lieutenant helped him to swim till rescue
came. Another narrow escape was that of
a diver, who had put on his costume and
would have been carried down by the weights
on his fleet but for a self-forgetting sailor,
who stayed behind TO cut the Divers dress
and lost his own life in consequence. Many
other acts of heroism took place, and the
behaviour of the Grew did credit to the SPLEEN
did traditions of our navy. The total loss of
life IL stated as follows =Vice-Admiral s.Sir
George Tryon, % officers, and 337 men. The
number of the saved is 255.
The Camperdown sustained some damage,
and made considerable water.
The Victoria lies in 70 fathoms of water, and
it is believed that it will be quite impossible
to raise her.
, 1893-07-29

the Victoria would have foundered through
the prodigious force of the ollision alone it
the Calnperdown I'd had no ram. All war
ships had their weak points and he did not
suppose that a PEI feet ironclad would ever
be constructed. He was a very strong advo-
cate of the belt and he was glad to see that
British vessels were now being belted; but IS
he had said he did not believe that a belt
would have saved the Victoria. He had
every confidence in the design of vessels
like the Victoria and would be delighted to
command anyone of them tomorrow and attempt
anything with it. AS to the watertight com.
partment argument he did not attach much
Importance to it. All the watertight bulk
heads in the world would not have saved the
Victoria after having been rammed in the
manner in which apparently she had been
by a vessel like the Camperdown. Watertight
doors were generally Left open. Their opening
or closing depended upon the order of the
Captain, with whom the discretion must ne
cessarIly rest. There WAS no reason why,
when ~manoeuvering in the open sea and IN
fine weather, the doors should be closed, aud
as he had said he had little doubt that at
the moment of the collision most Of them at
any rate were open. Az to the suggested
tsphsaviness of modern battle ships be did
not think they carried anything more than
was necessary for the purpose for which they
were built. After all, what V essSl could be
expected to survive after having her aide
smashed in perhaps 20ft. below the water
mark2 He had heard it said that British
officers did not sufficiently utilize the twin
screws of the vessels for steering pu' poses,
but that that was all nonsense. He himself,
when on the Undaunted, had frequently ex-
eroised the screw in place of tho helm, and
every captain was perfectly familiar with that
method TIL present disaster had no doubt
demonstrated the power Of the RAM, bat it
must not DO supposed that ramming would
be often attempted in modern warfare sx-
cept to finish an already disabled enemy.
The disadvantage ,sof ramming was that all
your calculations might be upset by the un-
expected action of your opponent, which
might result in your own vessel being ram
med instead Great responsibility must
always attach to the commander of a vessel OF
Var. In England that was fully recognized
and naval officers had always been treated
with Tho greatest consideration. He would
like to say in conclusion that accidents of this
kind must occasionally occur, and it was bet
ter that they should happen during manoeu-
vres than in war time. They did in peace
what they would wish to do III war, and that
was what they always endeavoured to teach
their men.
, 1893-07-29


Lord Brassey, in conversation with 8 cor
res ondent on the subject, said -
The fact that so terrible a disaster should
have resulted from a single touch with a ram
seems powerful argument in support Of the
v ews Of those who like himself are opposed
to the extreme dimensions OF modern war
vessels. Ships of enormOus tonnage, some
times as much rs 1900 tons, are constructed.
and we seek 10 protect them with armonr;bHi,
however effective armour plates may be
aaainst guns, they ale clearly no adequate
protection against the ram, which Is a far
more powerful weapon with ships at close
quartz 3. ! am sorry to see warships built OF
huge and excessive dimensions rs lung as
they remain SO extremely vulnerable to
the ram. The battle of LISA was an illustra-
ton OF the effectiveness of the lam, and
every such accident as the one we Now dee
plore 10 likely to make officers in naval action
mo1e lisposed to use that weapon against the
enemy. In spite of all the protection OF
watsrtight compartments, the unfortunate ves-
sci appears to have very quickly turned tur~
tie. Asked whether it was to be inferred 90
his opinion that smaller vessels would be
safer and more effective, Lord Brasssy ad-
ded. That is not my view, but one advantage
with vessels of moderate dimensions would Do
that the risk would be more distributed. l
do not like the idea of putting so many eggs
into one basket. 1t would of course be- pre-
mature to ~criticiss the handling Of the. Cam
perdewn without knowledge of all the cir.
cumstancss, which are not yet available but
speaking generally, and without any special
reference to the commander of that vessel, 1
fear that men are sometimes sent to sea- in respo l.
sible positions without much experience. The
least failure of judgment as to the relative
speed of either of the two vessels might be
fatal. Disputed questions of detail in con-
struction do net arise in connection with this
disaster, and / do not think it teaches us any,
thing in hat respect, except perhaps the
undssilablsness Of extreme dimensions.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-06

LAKEWOOD, N, j., Feb. 5,-Congress-
man W. L. Wilson, OF West Virginia,
who came from washington, Saturday,
10 consult with Mr.. Cleveland, pre-
sumabIy on the prospect OF the repeal
Of tho Sherman silver purchase act at
this session OF Congress, spent last cyen-
ing with Mr.. Cleveland and Don NJ.
Dickinson at tho Cleveland cottage,
and he had another long talk with the
Prcsident.oleCt to-day.
Mr.. Wilson when asked this evening
what were the prospects OF the silver
bill passing both houses OF Congress be-
ioro the end OF tho Present session, said {:
"The chance OF bill passing tho
house depends largely upon tho com
mitlee on rules. They are to report q
resolution upon Thursday. II the reso-
luton merely calls up the silver bill for
discussion nothing will be accomplish
3D. as but twenty-tour working days
remain and the appropriation BILLS will
take considerable OF tho time, so that
the discussion on silver can be prolong-
ed until the end Of the session. Ii the
committee reports rule requiring a
final voto on the silver bill OH certain
day aud the house decides to vote on
tho measure, | am satisfied that the
bill will pass tho house.
an the senate, however, there ia
sufficient minority against tho repeal
OF the Sherman law to absolutely pro.
vent the passage Of bill at this
sessIon,"
"You do not consider tho outlook
very encouraging for a bill reaching the
President, before March A, thenH"
mo, the time is too short, in my
opinion, tor the repeal OF the silver law
ut the present session"
"Do You believe tho law would be
repealed ii it were broughtto vote in
both houses"
"Yes, ii straight vote could be
obtained the law would be repealed at
once, but with the determined minor
ity there is little hope Of a straight
vote, and therefore little hope OF u
change in tho silver legislation nj
present"
Mr.. Wilson declined to discuss cabi-
net possibilities. lie will leave here on
the morning express and will reach
Washington about p. IN. tomorrow.
Mr. Cleveland remained quietly at his
cottage all day. Mr.. Dickinson was his
guest over Sunday. Aside from Con-
gresham Wilson his only caller was
Mr. Nathan straus, who is the. princi-
nal owner Of Lakewood hotel. Mr..
Cleveland announced this evening that
he would remain here the coming week
in order to dispose OF several matters OF
importance which have been awaiting
his attention for some time, Ho desires
that his ordinary mail should be direct
cd to his office in Now York as it will re-
COiye more prompt attention there.
Tho sudden death this morning oi
Dr. W. G. Stone, tho physician and
friend of the Cleveland family, and Mrs.
Whitney were shocks to bothsMr, and
Mrs. Cleveland.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-06
COLOMBIA RELIES on US
To Take up the Panama Canal ConcessIo
and Finish the dob.

ulu Alllhh NAo bbu'
PANAMA, Feb. 5,-Tho people OF Co.
iombia appear to imagine that the
United States is very anxious to got
hold of the Panama canal, and they ex-
press an earnest desire to know the
nature OF the propositions the United
States will make,
Tho newspaper III Croaisia, of this
city, says in an editorial to-day that the
propositions from the United States
cannot be confined to prohibiting Co.
iombia from granting an extension OF
time to the French Company TO COM
plete the Panama canal. The United
States, says El CrOnista, has no right to
make such proposition, Us i. would be
likely to breed trouble with other
powers, 1t may be expected that the
United States will, at least, assure the
opening ot the canal.
The very great interest Americans
have to-day in building the canal by
American capital has its explanation in
the loss OF the possession OF the rail
road across the isthmus. While the
transfer OF the railroad has been great
loss to the United States, on the other
hand 1t is grand and significant acqui-
istiou for the French, and il they have
not built the canal they are fully COM
pensated by acquiring possession OF the
Panama railroad with contingent con-
troll OF transfer traffic across the isthmus.
Americans, therefore, must build tho
canal or lose all.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-06
MRS. WHI7NEY'S DEATH
Does Not Come Like an Unexpeo-
ted Blow to the Family,
HEART FAILURE WAS The CAUSE
ofHer Taking oG-The Family We're
Called to Her Bedside ut an EARLY
Hour Yesterday NIorning-Her Fa.
vorlte Brother Was Near Her When
tho Death Throes Came on.

NEW YoRE, Jan. 6,-Mrs. W. O,
Whitney, wife OF the ex-secretary OF
the navy, died at her home in this city
at o'clock this morning,
The death OF Mrs, Whitney was not
unexpected. Her attending physicians
pronounced her condition criticaiin the
extreme last night, but they said there
was a chance for her recovery. They
did not, however, leave the family much
to hope for. Her illness was due to
heart troubles, fatal change OF which
might be said to come at any
moment.
About midnight the family retired,
but towards 2 o'clock the suffering
woman began to show alarming symp'
toms and the family was called, In the
house were her husband, her sister,
Mrs. Bingham, OF Cleveland, her
brother, Oliver II. Payne, who had
made his home with Mrs. Whitney, her
daughter, Pauline, her elder son,
Henry Payne, and her youngest son,
William O.
The physicians were hastily sum
moned, but the patient was beyond
medical aid, and at 8 o'clock the end
came.
Mrs. Whitney was born and reared in
Cleveland, Ohio, where have lived for
many years her aged father, ex.SenQtor
Henry B. Payne, brother and her sis
ter, Mrs. William Bingham, who lives
next door to the homo OF the ex-senator
in famous Euclid avenue.
Oliver II. Payne, her brother, has, OF
recent years, made his home with the
Whitneys. He it was who gave Mrs.
Whitney the house in which they live,
and he always has been her favorite in
the family.
The death of Mrs. Whitney awakened
widespread sympathy throughout the
country, and all day kilograms and
messages OF coincidence were received
by the family. Although those mes
sages Of coincidence were kept strictly
private, it is said by friends Of the fam
lily that the first kilograms to arrive
were those from President-elect and
Mrs. Cleveland, Sir Julian Pauncefote,
the British minister at Washington, and
others OF the foreign legation.
Telegrams were also received from
number OF senators and congressman ;
from Mr.. Whtney's colleagues in Mr..
Cleveland's cabinet and from the mem
bers of President Harrison's cabinet.
Many OF the immediate friends Of the
family called during the day. DR.. Nc
Burnie said tonight that Mrs. Whit
ney's death was due to affection Of the
heart OF long standing, and which be-
came pronounced about month ago.
For the past ten days she has been con-
fined to her bed, but it was only dur
ing the last five days of that time that
her condition was alarming.
The funeral will take place at 10
o'clock Tuesday morning from st. Bar
tholomew's church, Madison avenue.
The services will be conducted by Rev.
DR.. David II. Greer. The pail bearers
and other details OF the funeral will not
be decided upon until tomorrow. The
intermcnt will be at Woodlawn.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-06
IRISH AEFAIRs.
The Amnesty for Political Prisoners Re.
ccntIon to Dynnmiter Egnn.

The Amnesty for Political Prisonors-Be.
ccpbon to Dynnmiter EEan.
LONDON, Feb. 5.-John Dillon, anti
Parncllite for East Mayo, in speech
at Burnley to-day deprecated tho at
tempt to force the amnesty question
upon tho government at tho present
critical iuncturc. Tho prospects that
amnesty would be granted to all Irish
political prisoners, he said, had calmod
tho agitation considerably in Ireland,
and the Irish people were in mood to
wait with this question until the more
important matter Of homo rule was
disposed Of.
Many leading 1rlshmon had tried 10
impress upon Mr.. Redmond this correct
Wow OF tho situation, but ho had re.
fused to listen to thom. Tho only wiso
course for Irishmen, Just now, was to
subordinate other issues 10 homo rule,
james Egan, tho released irish dyna-
inter, was entertained at public din-
ner, In Limerick. last evening. The
mayor OF Limerick presided. In ro-
sponse TO q toast Egan said he did not
caro- for tho ugly names certain Conser-
vativo journals wero calling him as ho
was conscious Of his innocence
A dispatch from Bournomouth says
that Cornelius Herr has grown worse
gradually since last evening" His ioyor
has risen gradually and tho action Of
his heart has grown woakoE Ho 10
greatly depressed.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-06
this investigation. The change, no
thought, was regarding tho rebate and
voucher systam Mr., Veazey will be
further examined Monday.
swlNDlEns ABROAD,
But They nro Caught Up in Chicago Their
Novel Methods,

' ''s
No'el Methods
CHICAGO, Feb. 5,-SeveraI Chicago
banks have had a close shave from be.
ina sw;pdlod ont of omounts ranuinp
,Ns '"."N,os w. oOo '"s rc ooo m ~. - boId
from so'ouo 10 So'uoo py '!o " D''N
schemers from New York, Two sharp
ers from New York approached Mr..
soot, ~ tbo m,no,e po,h wrh Com.
0eo'' " s'o -"'No, - ~. t..ns .
pany' ana proposed tnat Ihey 'oFll .
gigantic company and enlarge tho pres
ent ones capacity.
Tho trio visited w. II. HolIon, of the
firm Of Holton & o., plumbers sup
niles Boston. and after dilating upon
tho future Of the company, offered him
the exclusive eastern control of the
bath tub ii he would take $40, 1000 worth
oi stock. Holton was to give ninety
dav notes for $40 GOA. The men inter
ested in the Manhattan Plumbers sup
nIv company. of New York. were SINH
inyly induced To sign notes for $4,000.
r il. Mills. the big plumber and supply
man Of Pbiladelphia. was next visited.
md no ia said To- have signed papers to
the extent OF S6O, ,0OO. Then the trio
sang Inc same tale OF riches to plumb
inc supnlv men of Utica. Rochester,
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-06
WHISKY TRUST INQUIRY
Begins at Washington, but Nothing Start
ling Is Yet Developed.

Begins at Washington, but Nothing Start
ling Is Yet Developed.
WASHINGTON, D. O., Fob. 5.-The in.
yestigation into the whisky trust was
begun yesterday by thesub-committeoo Of
the house judiciary committee with the
examination OF James N. VoOzey, OF
Hamilton county, Ohio. Mr.. Veazoy
has heon travelling salesman since
1873, and is acquainted with tho details
OF the liquor business. He explained
the difference between whiskios, spirits
and highwines. Tho Dlstilling and Cat
Ito Feeding Company had headquarters
at Peoria, III. He did not know
tho exact number Of establishments 1t
embraced, but whom formed, in 1882, 1t
included eighty.one firms It pro-
duced alcohol, spirits and high wines.
Tho company had q system OF rebate
certificates by which II sold Its goods.
Persons holding these certificate arc al.
lowed rebate Of about 7 cents gallon
on on spirits and from l2 TO III cents q
gallon on alcohol. Tho rebate Is paid
only In caso firms deal entirely with
tho company. These certificates nro
distributed by agents, and arc payable
In PEORIA
Tho company's goodu arc sold genor.
ally throughout tho country, and la
output represented ono.halt Of this bus.
inoss In this country. The price Of
whisky had increased 20 cents u gallon
when n great quantity Of these certiil'
catos woro out. There was no occasion
for this incroase--it Eas grab. There
had boen no increase bi cost OF produc.
ton or wages, aud corn, from which
their product 10 made, was cheaper than
IL had been for yoars. There was no
scarcity In tho stock nor incroasp In
consumption. lio undgrslood thOfC
had boon change IN tho company't
method Of doing business In the lnsl
thirty days, probably in anticipation oil
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-06
ANEwspApEn ARTICLE
Causes An Uprising OF tho People
Iiugota-,A Terrible RiOt.

Causes An Uprising OF the People In
Iiogotn-,A Terrible Riot.
PANAMA, Feb. "a terrible riot at
Bogota lasted two days. 1t is said that
100 men were killed and 500 wounded.
The trouble grew out of a publication,
in La Christina, OF an article by ]. Igna-
clio Gutierrez, a professor in local
Jesuit college, alleging widespread
ignorance among tho laboring classes.
Tho artisans arose en- masse, and mob
OF about 400 gathered about the house
Of Gutierrez, stoned the building and
broke the windows and doors.
Tho police demonstrated with the ri
oters, but they were driven away. They
returned with reinforcemepts and col
lision occurred, in which shots were ex-
changed. The police were victorious.
Another fight occurred later in the day,
but the rioters were dispersed. Every
thing was quiet the next morning, but
at 8 o'clock in the evening the working
men gathered by thousands in San Vic.
toriano Square, Las Cruces ward, and
in the public market. They overpow-
cred the police and for time were in
full possession OF the city.
Newspaper Offices were sacked and q
general assault was commenced on the
police barracks, The government called
out tho military and after sharp fight
the mob was dispersed. Tho capital is
still in a state OF siege, although 1t is
officially announced that quiet has been
restored.