Connecticut western news., 1893-06-29

their bows would pass within few fathoms of each other, even if the movement was ex- ecuted with the greatest precision. This movement is rarely made, and is chiefly for the purpose of training the ship com manders to move expeditiously away from shoaling waters.
 A Fatal Delay.
 Whether because Admiral Markham of the Camperdown could not believe this movement was to be tried when the ships were so close together, or because he thought Admiral Tryon had miscalcu- lated the distance, he did not set about ex- ecuting Admiral Tryon's order, but sig naled that he did not understand it.
 The Victoria and the other vessels had not hesitated. The Victoria began to turn at once, as she still held to the signal
 The Camperdown no longer hesitated, but also began to turn. The brief delay, however, had been fatal. The Victoria had nearly turned, and the Camperdown swing ing around bore down upon her.
 Both admirals were quick to act. Admi- ral Tryon swung the Victoria so as to re- ceive at the smallest angle the blow which both officers saw was inevitable, and Ad- miral Markham did the same for the Cam perdown. besides reversing her screws.
 The 12-foot ram of the Camperdown struck the hull of the Victoria just in front of the armored bulkhead and plunged into the thin plates of her starboard side. The armor ends at the bulkhead and the forward part of the Victoria above the water line was mere cardboard to the great iron wedge so nightly propelled.
 There was a smashing of wood and iron plates. and the ram and eight feet of the bow of the Camperdown crashed 90 feet int ha ,f ho ha Ca, perdown was halted by the heavy armor of the Victoria, and as her screws were re- versed she at once began to back away
 As all the other vessels were moving to get back into double line behind the two leaders they were bearing down upon the entangled ships. and a catastrophe involv- ing all the irnnclads was imminent. Only the coolness and prompt action of the oth- CT commanders prevented e general disas- ter.
 The Victorias bow was now pointed to- ward the shore. It seems that Admiral Tryon did not realize the the extent of the damage to the Victoria As no accident of exactly this kind has happened before he could not know what the effect of the hole in the compartment was to be.
 He no doubt thought that as only one compartment was damaged the others would keep his ship sfoat, so when the Camperdown and the other ships signaled offers of boats he replied that he did not need them.
 Tried to Reach Shore.
 The Victoria began to forge straight for the shore under full steam. It is one of the rules of the British navy that if a ship is in danger of sinking and shore is not far away, she must be got into shallow water, SO that if she goes down she may be raised again. So Admiral Tryon was making for the shore and was widening distance be- tween the Victoria and other ships
 When the Camperdown's ram struck the Victoria Admiral Tryon, the navigating officer, two signal officers and the men at the wheel were all upon the bridge, either In full view or in the chart house. Most of the crew was on the forward deck, loung hg about. trying to keep cool under the blazing sun of the clear, calm day.
 With the crash they rushed into the bat tery and as far aft as possible, but when the two vessels separated all returned to their places.
 Discipline was perfect. The admiral and officers remained steadfast upon the bridge, setting an example. So good was the dis cipline that within five minutes after the blow 8 diving suit had been brought on dcCA anu d uiscI W hs kcbtii8 ihoo " " obcy an order to go below and find out the sx- tent of the damage.
 The untangling and the getting under full headway had taken some little time. About 10 minutes after the blow the Vic toria, having got something like two miles nearer shore from the scene of the collision, all at once leaned away over to starboard and with a great roll and plunge buried her bow beneath the calm surface of the sea. It was almost instantaneous.
 There was only chance for few wild cries and the Victoria was almost half sub merged bow foremost, with her swiftly re- volving screws whirring clear of the water and high in the air.
 Those on deck were plunged immediate ly into the water. The men forward and below had no time to rush to the deck, but found themselves groping for doors of rooms filled with water and compressed air. There was little more time for those in officers quarters. They heard the shouts and warning cries, and rushed to the al- most perpendicular decks.
 The huge hull was drawing in the water as 1t went down, and several hundred men hurled suddenly into the water, fully dressed, had to battle against the increas- ing suction.
 Like Great Whirling Knives.
 A moment more and new peril more horrible descended upon them. The great m 1fue deep in the heart of tha hull and in-