The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1893-06-27
HOW 1T ALL HAPPENED
Details Of The Sinking Of the Vic-
toria In Tfipoli Harbor.
FATAL DELAY OF A MOMEN 7
A Misunderstanding OF Orders the
Cause OF the Accident-Horrors
That Battle Description-Eod-
les Mangied and Scaided.


Nrw YORK, June es.-A extra edition
Of the Erening World contains a special
cable from Tripoli, Syria. giving full de-
tails Of the sinking flagship Victoria.
About O'Clock last Thursday afternoon.
the English fleet was sighted making di-
rectly for the harbor Of Tripoli. Five big
ironclais, the Victoria. Campertlown, Ed
inburRh, Nile and Ssnpareii, were
drawn up in full front, the Victoria in the
center. the Camperiown on her left and
the Edinburgh on her right.
When within five miles of the shore.
Vice Admiral SIR George Tryon signalled
to turn and form in double line. When
the order was given. the distance between
the ships was less than two cable lengths
ANA the execution of the order was cx-
trcmeiy difficult for tho Victoria and
Camperdown. Admiral Markham, Of the
Camperdown, sienallcd that he did not
understand II. The other vessels had not
hesitatcd but AT once began to turn. Tho
brief delay, however, had been fatal. Tho
Victoria had nearly turned and the Camp
erdown. swinging around. bore down upon
her. Both admirals were quick 10 act and
swung their vessels so as to receive at tho
GERS saw was inevitable. and the Camper
down began reversing her screws.
THE COLLISION.
The ram Of the Camperdown struck the
Victoria Just in front of her armorcd bulk
head and plunged into tho thin plates on
her starboard side. The other vessels
were moving to get into double line and
were bearing down on the cntaug!cd ships
"A.
ciads seemed imminent. only the cool
ness aud prompt action Of the other COM
manders prevented general disaster.
" seems that Admiral Tryon did not re-
alize the extent of the damage TO the Vic
toria, for. when the other ships sig.
nailed offers of boats. lie re-
piled that he did not need them.
The Victoria began to forge straight for
the shore under full steam. The discip-
line was perfect. The admiral aud his Of
iicers remained steadfast upon the bridge
aud within five minutes after the blow a
diving suit was brought on deck and n
diver was getting into II TO obey an order
10 60 below aud find out tho extent of the
damage.
About 10 minutes after the blow, tho
Victoria having got something like two
miles nearer shore, all at once leaned
away over to starboard and with great
roll and plunge buried her how beneath
the calm surface OF tho sea. II was al
most instantaneous.
HURLED IHTo The SEA.
There WAS chance for few wild cries
and the Victoria Was almost half sub
merged. bow foremost. with her swiftly
revolving screws high in tho air. Those
on the deck were thrown Immediately into
the water. The men forward and below
had no time to rush to the deck and therc
was but little moro time for those in the
officers quarters. tho huge hull drawing
on water ms II went down and several
hundred men being hurled suddenly into
the water fully dressed. had TO battle
against the increasing suction.
A HORRIBLE DEATH.
moment more new peril, more hor.
rible. descended upon them. As the YES.
sci sank, her screws came nearer and
nearer tn the surface and descended into
| the midst OF the struggling human beings
| The poor creatures baitlcd in vain against
| the suction. They were drawn down and
thrown against tho swiftly revolving
blades. Then came a scene which made
the officers on tho decks Of the Other
warships of tho feet turn away sick with
|
horror.
Screams and shrieks arose. and in tbs
| white foam appeared Redeemed arms ant
legs and wrcncbcd and torn bolics. Al
within reach of the vortex lost their pres
encc of mind. Tho men who knew how
to swim ceased swimming and fought
One man who was saved says he saw ~
the vortex at least 80 Of his fellows fight
| ing with each Other and with incvitabl,
death. In a moment or so the knives dis
appeared and the vortex began te
close up.
~ SALDiNG wATrR.
| The ship sank beneath the surface JUS
| ms the whIrl Swallowed almost to the sur
face. Then there was mufiied sound %
thunder. tho waters were tossed up ant
steam burst from them. Again Shrek
and screams burst from the swimmers
The boilers had exploded and the swim
mers were beating waves of scaldini
water. With tho first underplunge of tn
Victoria all boats were called away frori
the other ships and came straining owe
the calm sea TO save the s,ru:giers. Tia
boats soon pirked up the fortunate one
who had go, ont Of reach Of the tcrribl
| vortex.
ACTS or pERoIsM.
| Admiral lryon STUCK To mo DrldSe am
refused 10 leave il. jus; before the Vic
toria made hcr uIdcrpiunge he saw uha
was about TO happen aud issued an ordc
for each nan to save himself. but tha
order never got beyond the bridge. Their
were many acts OF heroism, self-forgetful
ness and daring. The peril of those IL
the water was increa sed by the fact iha
the sea was infested with sharks. IL i
the duty of the marines when collision
occurs. to Immediately close all water
tight compartments. When the Camper
down struck the Victoria. the marines
went below for a duty and as a result. o
80 mariners on the Victoria, w were lost
| THE REAR ADMIRAL.
He win he Court MArtiaied for the Vie