The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-27

over to starbOard, and, with great
roll and plunge, buried her bow be-
meath tho calm surface OF the sea- 1t
was almost instantaneous, There was
only chance for few wild cries, and
the Victoria was almost hall sub
merged, bow foremost, with her swiftly
revolving screws whirlng clear ot the
water and high in the air
Those on the deck were plunged i'm
mediatoly into the sea, The men IoI-
ward and below had no time to rush to
tho deck, but found themselves crop
ing for doors OF rooms filled with
water and compressed air. There was
u little more time iOr these in the otIi-
GERS quarters. They heard.the shouts
and warning cries aud rushed to the
almost perpendicular deck,
Commander JoIlicos, lying in his
berth, sick with the fever, started up
and dashed to tho deck only to find
himself Immediately struggling in the
water, a lieutenant swan up to him,
put his arms around him and despite
the handicap OF supporting u helpless
man was able to get away from the side
OF the sinking vessel, 1t took strong,
akiIlful swimmer in fulI possession OF
his senses to do this.
Tho hugo hull was drawing in tho
water as it went down, and several
hundred men, hurled suddenly into the
water, fully dressed, had to battle
against the increasing suction, A mo-
ment more and q new peril moro horri-
BILE descended upon them. Tho great
engine deep in the heart Of tho hull
and inclOsed in water tight compart-
ments was still throbbing at full speed
and tho great steel phlanges Of the twin
screws were whirlng round up in the
air.
As the vessel sank these screws
camo nearer and nearer to tho water
and descended into the midst OF strug'
Cling human being'. The vessel sank
slowly and when tho screws were low
enough to begin to whirl in the water
again the suction had increased until
there was deepening vortex like q
maelstrom. At the bottom OF this
mRGlstrom tho screws were re-
volving liko circular knives.
Tho poor creatures battled in
vain against the suction. They wcrO
drawn down and thrown against the
swift blades. Then cNmo scene
which made tho officers on the decks OF
tho other war ships OF the fleet turn
away, sick with horror. Screams and
shrloks arose, and in tho white loan
appeared redeemed arms and legs and
wrenChed and torn bodies. Hoadless
trunks wcre tossed out Of tho vortex to
linger moment on the surface and
sink out Of sight.
THE HORROR OF IT.
All within reach OF that vortex lost
their presence Of mind. Men who
know how to swim ceased swimming
and fought with the water. Men
clutched zach other in frenzy aud struck
each other oil. Tho deep cone OF whirl.
ing water, with the swift knives chop.
ping human bodies at tho bottom OF it,
was horror to dnunt the bravest.
One man who escaped says that
he saw in this great vortex at least
fifty OF his fellows fighting
with each other and with inevitable
death. In Il moment or so tho knives
disappeared and tho vortex began to
close up. The ship was beneath the
surface Just as the whirl was swallowed
almost to the surface. Then there
was munIcd sound OF thunder,
tho waters were tossed. up and n
steam burst from them. Again the
shrioks and screams burst from
tho swimmers. The boilers had OK.
plodGd, the sea had rushed into the
FURNACES and tho swimmers were beat
ing waves OF scaIding water Thus in
less than ten 10 minutes death in three
awful forms attacked tho officers and
crew OF tho Victoria-doAth by drown.
ing, death by tho knife.like screws and
death by gcaldng water. With the first
underplunge OF tho Victoria all tho boats
were called away from all tho other
ghips and came straining over tho calm
sea to cave the strugglors.
These boats were soon picking up
those fortunate Onoa who had got out
OF reach OF tho terrible vortex. So long
rs the vortex was there the boats dared
not venture near, but they did lit from
tho BCalding water several wrGtChed
sailors, who wero horribly burned. 1t
is thought that more than half of those
drowned got out Of tho ship, but were
caught in tho vortex or scalded to
death in the boiling water
THE HEROIC ADMIRAL
Admiral Tryon stuck on the bridge
and refused to leave it. just before
the Victoria made her underplunge he
saw what. was about to happen and
issued an order for each man TO save
himself, but the order never got bU.
yond tho bridge, for ruin descended
straightwNy,
Tho diver whom he had ordered bo.
low to look into the damage was still
on dock and dressed for his descent OK.
cept his helmet. llc would have been
dragged 10 the bottom by his heavy
lead shoes had it not boon for u seaman
who stopped to cut him loose from his
heavy clothes. Tho diver was saved,
but tho mau who cut him free was
drowned.
1t 10 tho duty Of the marines when n
collision OCCURS TO Immediately 20 be:
low and close all tho water tight com.
pNrtmCnts. Whom tho Cnmpordown
struck the Victoria the Nictoria's ma.
rincs wont below for their duty, and as
result out OF l9O marines on tho Vic.
toria nincty.ninC wcrc lost.