The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-06-28


on deck and a diver was getting into it
TO obey an order to go below and find
out the extent Of the damage. The un-
tangling and getting under full headway
had taken some little time.
Careened and Sank.
About ten minutes after the blow the
Victoria having got something like two
miles nearer the shore from the scene Of
the collision all at once leaned away
over to the starboard and with good
roll and plunge buried her bow beneath
the calm surface of the sea. 1t was al
most instantaneous. There was only a
chance for a few wild cries and the Vic
toria was almost half submerged bow
foremost with her swiftly revolving
screws whirling clear out of the water
and high in the air. Those on deck were
plunged Immediately into the water.
The men forward and below had no time
to rush TO the deck, but found them
selves cropping for doors of rooms filled
with water and compressed air There
was little more time for those in OF
flcers quarters. They heard the shouts
and warning cries and rushed TO the
almost perpendicular deck.
Commander Jellico. lying in his berth
sick with fever, started up and dashed
to the deck in pannemas, to find himself
Immediately struggling in water. n
lieutenant swan to him, put his arm
around him and despite the handicap of
supporting a helpless man, was able to
get away from the side of the sinking
ship. 1t took a strong. skillful swimmer
in fun possession of his senses to do
this. The huge hull was drawing in the
water as it went down and several hun
dred men hurled suddenly into the water
fully dressed had TO battle against the
increasing suction. A moment and a
new peril, more horrible, descended upon
In f1a.a TT ffT
hull which enclosed in water-tight COM
partments was still thrObbing at tull
speed and the great steel hanEeS OF
the twin screws were whirltng around
up in the air. As the vessel sank these
screws came nearer and nearer to the
water and descended 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 they had the suction in
creased until there was deep vortex
like maelstrom.
In n Perfect Vortex
At the bottom Of this maelstrom they
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 Off
GERS on the decks of the other warships
Screams and shrieks arose and in the
white foam appeared Redeemed arms and
legs and wrenched and torn bodies.
Headless trunks were tossed out OF the
vortex to Hnger moment on the sur
face and sink out Of sight. All within
reach of that vortex lost their presence
of mind Men who knew how to swim
ceased swimming and fought with the
waters Men clutched each other in
frenzy and struck each other off. The
Rf XXhi
swift knives chOpping human bodies at
the bottom of it was a horror to daunt
the bravest. One man who escaped says
that he saw in this vortex at least fifty
Of his fellows fighting with each other
and with inevitable death.
The Boilers Explode.
In a moment or so the knives disap-
peared and the vortex began to close up.
The ship was beneath the surface just
as the whirl was Swallowed almost to
the surface. Then there was muffied
sound Of thunder the waters were
tossed up and steam burst from them.
Again the shrieks and screams burst
from the swimmers. The boilers had
exploded, the sea had rushed into the
furnaces and the swimmers were beating
waves Of scalding water.
Thus in less than ten minutes death in
three awful forms attacked the officers
and the crew of the Nictoria-death by
drowning. death by the knife-lil6e screws
and death by scalding water. With the
first plunge of the Victoria all the boats
were called away from all the other
ships and came straining over the calm
sea to save the strugglers. These boats
were soon picking up those fortunate
enough who had got out of reach of the
terrible vortex. So long as the vortex
lasted the boats dared not venture near,
but they did lift from the scalding water
Coz vh n hOr
ribly burned. 1t is thought that more
than half of those drowned got out of
the ship. but We're caught in the vortex
or scalded to death by the boiling wa
ter.
Admiral Tryon stuck on the bridge
and refused to leave it. Just before the
Victoria made her under-plunge he saw
what was about TO happen and issued an
order for each man to save himself. but
the order never got beyond the bridge
for ruin descended straightway. The
diver whom he had ordered below to
look into the damage was still on deck
and dressed for his descent except his
hammer. He would have been dragged
to the bottom by his heavy, lead-soled
shoes had il not been for a seaman who
stopped to cut him loose from his heavy
clothes. The diver was saved but the
man who cut him free was drowned.
There were many such acts Of heroism,
self-fOrgetfulnes and daring. The peril
VI III NiC NelNtA was iiAtIcdStu ny
the fact that the sea hereabouts is in
fected with sharks.
1t is the duty of marines when a col
lision occurs to Immediately go below
and close all the water tight compart-
ments. When the Camperdown struck
the Victoria the Nictoria's marines went
below for their duty,and, as a result, out
Of 120 marines on the Victoria ninety
nine were lost.
Markham to he COurtmartiaIed.
TONDON T1,pa t,o-