Omaha daily bee., 1893-06-28
TERRIBLE DEATHs TO DIE.
Cut 10 Pieces by the Blades of tho steamers
Screws or Scnidcd

NEW YORK, June PA special cable
from Tripoli, Syria, gives the first full
account of the sinking of the flagship
Victoria. 1t is as follows:
About 3 o'clock last Thursday after
noon the English fleet came in sight OF
Elmina. 1t was coming from the north
east and making directly for the harbor.
The five big ironclads, Victoria, Cam
perdown, Edinburg, Nile and Sanspareil
were drawn up in full front. The Vic
toria was in the center, the Camperdown
on her left. When they were within
five miles of shore Vice Admiral
Sir George Tryon signaled to
turn and form in double line.
This meant that the Victoria
and Camperdown were to go ahead a lit
tie and describe turn-the Victoria
turning to the left and the Camperdown
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. When the order
was given the distance between the
ships was less than two cable lengths.
The execution of the order was easy
enough, but extremely difficult for the
Victoria and Camperdown. In turning
their brows were to pass within few
fathoms of each other, even If the move
ment was executed with the greatest
precision. This movement is rarely
made and is chiefly for the purpose of
training the ship commanders to move
expeditiously away from shoaling
waters.
Whether because Admiral Markham
of the Camperdown did not believe that
this movement was to be tried when the
ships were so close together, or because
he thought Admiral Tryon had mis-
calculated, he did not set about, but
signaled that he did not understand.
1t Was a Fatal Delay.
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 Comperdown,
swinging in around, bore down upon her.
The discipline was perfect, Admiral
Tryon and the officers setting the men
an example. AS all the other vessels
were moving to get in double line
behind the two leaders they were bear
ing down upon the entangled ship and
the catastrophe was unavoidable.
AS soon as she was struck the Victoria
began to forge straight for the shore
under full steam. About ten minutes
after the blow the Victoria, having got
something like two miles nearer shore
from the scene of the collision, all at
once leaned away over to the starboard
and with a great roll and plunge, buried
her bow beneath the calm surface of the
sea, 1t was almost instantaneous. There
was no chance of escape. Those on deck
were plunged Immediately into the
| water.
Cut and Scalded.
A moment more and new peril, more
horrible, descended upon them. The
great engines deep in the heart of the
hull and inclosed in water tight com
partments, were still throbbing at full
| speed and the great steel tlanges OF the
twin screws were whirling up in the air.
| AS the vessel sank the screws came
nearer and nearer to the surface and
| drifted into the midst of struggling
| human beings.
The vessel sank slowly, and when the
| screws were low enough to begin to
whirl in the water again, the suction had
increased until there was deepening
vortex like maelstrom. At the bot
tom of this maelstrom the screws We're
revolving like circular knives. The
poor creatures battled in vain against
the suction. In &. moment or so the
knives disappeared and the vortex
began to close up. The ship was be-
meath the surface just as the whirl was
Swallowed almost to the surface.
Then there was muf1led sound of
thunder, the waters were tossed up and
| steam burst from them. Again the
shrieks and screams burst from
swimmers. The boilers had exploded,
the sea had rushed into the
furnace and the swimmers were
beating waves of scalding water.
Thus, in less than ten minutes. death in
its most awful form attacked the officers
and crew of the Victoria-death by
drowning, death by the knife-like screws
and death by scalding water.
With the first under plunge of the
Victoria all the boats We're hauled away
from the other ships and came straining
over the calm sea to save the strugglers.
These boats were soon picking up those
fortunate ones who had got out of reach
of the terrible vortex. Admiral Tryon
stuck on the bridge and refused to leave
1T. Just before the Victoria made her
under lunge he saw what was to happen
and issued an order for every man tc
save himself, but the order never got
beyond the bridge.