The Bessemer indicator., 1893-07-01
THE vIcToRIA's VICTIMS.
HOW THEY WE'RE KILLED.
Terrible scsaes at the Time Of the Col
lision-Mangisd BY the screws.
burned by the stcan
or Drowned.

A special from Tripoii, Syria, to the New
sinking of the Victoria, after she was struck
by the Campcrdown:
1t seemed that Admiral Tryon did not re-
alize the extent OF the damage TO the Victoria.
As no accident OF exactly this kind has hap
pened before he could not know what the
effect of the hole In the compartment was tc
be He no doubt thought that as only one
compartment was damaged the Others would
keep his ship aiioat, 30 when the Campcrdown
and the other ships slgnalled offers of the
boats he replied that he did not need them.
The Victoria began TO forge straight fol
the shore under full steam. IL Is one of the
rules OF the British navy that II ship Is III
danger Of sinking, and the shore is not far
away, she must be got into shallow water, so
that II she goes down she may be raised again.
SO Admiral Tryon was making for the shore
and was widening the distance between the
Victoria and the other ships.
About ten minutes after the blow the Vic
toria, having got something like two miles
nearer shore from the scene of the collision,
all al once leaned away over to the starboard
and with great roll and plunge buried her
bow beneath the sea. 1t was almost In.
stantaneous. There was only chance for n
few wild cries and the Victoria was almost
submerged bow foremost, with her swiftly
revolving screws shirring clear OF the water
and high in the air. Those on deck were
plunged immediately into the water. The
men forward aud below had no time to rush
on deck but found themselves cropping for
doors of rooms filed with water and COM
pressed air.
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 Increasing suction.
moment later a new peril descended upon
them. The great engine, deep in the heart
OF the hull and enclosed In water-tight COM
partmcnt., was still throbblng at full speed,
and the great steel fanges OF the twin-screws
we're whirllng around In the air. AS the ves-
sci sunk the screws came nearer and nearer
to the water and descended into the midst Of
the struggling human beings.
The vessel sank slowly, and when the screws
were low enough to beglu 40 whirl in the
water again the suction had increased until
there was a decping vortex like maels,rom.
AT the bottom OF the maclstrom the screws
were revolving like circular knives The poor
creatures battled in vain against the suction.
They were drawn down and In against the
swiftly revolving blades.
Then came a scene which made the officers
On the decks of the other warship. OF the
feet turn away sick with horror. Screams
and shricks arose, and in the white foam ap-
pearcd reddencd arms and legs and wrenchcd
aud torn bodies. Hcadless trunks were tossed
out of the vortex to linger moment on the
surface and sink out of sight
One man who escaped says that he saw In
this vortex at least fifty of his fellows fight
Ing with each other aud with inevitable
death. Ia moment or the knives dIsnp-
pcarcd and the vortex began to close up, the
ship was beneath the surface.
just as the swirl was Swallowed almost to
the surface, there was a mufIled sound of
thunder, the waters were tossed up and the
steam burst from them. Again the shrieks OF
pain burst from the swimmers. The boilers
had cxpioded-,hc sea had rushed into the
furnace and the swimmers were beating WAVES
Of scalding water.
Thus In less than ten minutes death In three
awful forms attacked the officers and crew of
the V!ctorla-death by drowning, death by
knlfe-like screws, and death by scalding
water.
With the first uuderplunge OF the Victoria
all the boats pulled away from all the other
ships and came quickly over the calm sea to
save the strugglcrs. These boats were soon
picking up the fortunate ones who had got
out OF reach Of the terrible vortex. So long
as tho vortex was there the boats dared not
venture near, but they did lift from the scald-
ln, water several wretchei s1Ilors who were
horribly burned. 1t is thought that more
than half OF those drowned got out OF the
ship, but were caught In the vortex or scaldcd
to death.