Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-29

| NEW YORK, June 2G.-Tho Evening
World published an extra this evening, in
which was the following special cable de-
spatch:
TRIpoLI, Syria, Juno &c.
About 3 o'clock last Thursday afternoon
the English fleet came in sight of Emina,
the port and town of Tripol The five big
ironclads-V Victoria Camperdown, Edin
burgh, Nile and Sans Pareil, were drawn up
in full front The Victoria was in the
tire, tho Campsrdown was on her left and
the Edinburgh on her right.
When they were within five miles o. the
shore Vice. Admiral Sir George Tryon sig
| nailed to turn and form in double line.
This meant that the Victoria and the Cam
perdown were to GO ahead a little and de-
scribe q turn-the Victoria turning to the
left and tho Camperdown turning to the
right-then they would advance side by
side in the direction from which they had
come the others would swing into double
column order and advance two and two be-
hind the leaders. When the order was
given the distance between the ships was
less than two cable lengths
Whether because Admiral Markham of
the Camperdown could not believe that
| this movement was to be tried when the
ships wero so close together, or because he
thought Admiral Tryon had niscaiculated
the distance, he did not set about executing
Admiral Tryons order, but signailed that
he did not understand 1t.
The Victoria and the other vessels had
not hestated The Victoria began to turn
at ones, as she still he'd to the signal. The
Camperdown no longer hesitated but also
| began to turn.
Tho Delay, However,. Had Fer Fatal.
The Victoria had nearly turned and the
Camperdown, swinging around, bore down
upon her. Both admiras were quick to
act. Admiral Tryon swung the Victoria
30 as to receive at the smallest anglo the
blow which DO, officers inevitable
and Admiral Markham did tue same for the
smperdown, beside reversing her screws.
The II foot ram OF the Canperdown
struck the hull OF the Victoria just In front
OF the armored bulkhead and plunged into
the thin plates of her stArbOarI side.
The armored ends OF the bulkhead, and the
forward part OF the Victoria above tina
water line was mere cardboard to the great
iron wedge 80 ghtiiy propelled.
There was smashing OF wood aud iron
plates and the ram AMI eight feat of the
bow of the Campsrdown crashed 20 feet
Into the Bowels of the Y.ctoria.
The Camperdown was halted by the heavy
armor of the Victoria, and her screws
were reversed she at once began to back
away. AS all the other vessels we're moving
to get into double line behind the two lead
ers they were bearing down upon the CT
tangled ships, anl catastrophe involving
all TIE irouclads was imminent.
Only the GOODNESS and prompt action of
the other commanders prevented general
disaster. Tho NIctora's bow was now
pointed toward the shore 1t seems that
Admiral Iryon did not realizs the extent of
the damage to the Victoria. lie no doubt
thought that as only one compartment was
damaged, the others would keep his ship
aloat, so when the Camperdown and the
other ships signaei offers of boats, he re
Piled that he did not need them. The Vic
toria began to forge straight for the shore
under full steam, 1t is one OF the rules Of
the British navy that il q 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.
Discipline Was Perfect.
Abont 10 minutes after the blow the
Victoria, having got something like two
miles nearer shore, al! at once leaned away
over to starboard and with a great roll aud
plunge buried her bow beneath the surface
of the seG. 1t was almost instantaneous.
There was only chance for few wild
merged bow foremost with her swiftly re-
voiving screws whirring of the water
and high In the cir.
Those on deck were plunged Immediately
into the water. The men forward aud be-
low had not time to rush to the deck, but
found themselves cropping 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 almost per
pendicuar deck.
Commander Jelllcoe, lying in his berth
sick with fever, started UP aud dashed to
the deck to find himself struggling in the
wster. A lieutenant swan up to him, put
his arm around him and was able to get
away from the side of the sinking ship. The
huge hull was drawing in tue water as it
! went down and several hundred men hurled
suddenly into the water, fully dressed, had
| to
Battle Against the Increasing suction
A moment more and nav peril more
horrible descended upon them. The great
| engine deep in tho heart of the hull and in
| closed in water tight compartments, was
still throbbing at full speed and the great
steal phlangss of the twin screws were
whirling up in the air. As tho vessel sank,
| these screws came nearer to the water aud
descended into tho midst of struggling
human beings The vessel sank slowly and
when tho screws were low enough to begin
to whirl in the water again thu suction h ad
increased until there was deepening vor-
tax like maelstrom.
At the bottom OF this maelStrom the
screws were revolving like circular knives.
The poor creatures battled in vain against
| the suction. They were drawn down and
thrown against the swift blades. Then came
a scene which made the officers on the decks
OF the other warships turn away sick with
horror. Screams and shrieks arose, and
in the white foam appeared red arms and
lsgs and wrsuched and torn bodies. Head
less trunks were tossed out of thu vortex to
| linger a moment on the surface aud sink
out Of sight All within reach OF that vor-
tex lost their presence Of mind, Men who
| knew how to swim ceased swimming and
! IL .I. -