Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-06-29

New York, June 26.-An extra edition
of this evenings World contains a spe-
eial cable from Tripoli, Syria, giving
the full details of the sinking of the
flagship Victoria.
About 3 O'Clock last Thursday after
noon the English fleet was sighted max
ing directly for the harbor of Tripoli
Five big ironclads, Victoria, Camper
down, Edinburg, Nile and Sanspareil,
were drawn up in full front, the Vic
toria in the center, the Camperdown on
the left and the Edinburg on the right.
When within five miles of shore Vice
Admiral Sir George Tryon signalled to
turn and form in a double line. When
the order was given the distance be-
tween the ships was less than two
cables length, and the execution of the
|~'ter was extremely difficult for the
Gloria and the Camperdown.
Admiral Markham, of the Camper
down, signalled he did not understand
once. The CamperdoWn no longer hes
itated but also began to turn. The
brief delay, however, was fatal. The
lctoria had already turned and the
CamperdoWn in swinging around, bore
down upon her. Both admirals were
quick to act and swung their vessels
so as to receive at the smallest angle
the blow which both officers saw was
inevitable, and the CamperdoWn began
reversing her screws. The ram of the
CamperdoWn struck the Victoria just
in front of the armored plate, plunging
into the tin plates of her starboard side.
The other vessels, moving to get into
double lime, were bearing down upon
the entangled ships and a catastrophe
involving all the ironclads was immi-
nent. Only GOODNESS and prompt ac-
iton of the other commanders prevented
a general disaster.
1t seems that Admiral Tryon did not
realize the extent of the damage to
the Victoria, for when the other ships
Signalled the officers of that boat he
replied he did not need them. The
Victoria began to go straight for shore
under full steam.
The discipline was perfect. The adj
miral and officers remained 'steadfast
upon the bridge and within a minute
after the blow diving suit was brought
on deck and diver went into it to
obey an order to go below and find out
the extent of the damage.
About ten minutes after the blow, the
Victoria having got something like two
miles nearer shore all at once leaned
way over to Starboard, and with q
great roll and plunge buried her bow
beneath the surface of the sea. 1t
was almost instantaneous. There was
only chance for a few wild cries and
the Victoria was almost submerged
bow foremost, with her swiftly revolv-
ing screws high in the air Those on
deck Were thrown Immediately into
the water.
The huge hull was drawing on water
as it went down, and several hundred
men were hurled suddenly into the
water, fully dressed and had to battle
against the increasing suction.
A moment more and new peril
more horrible, descended upon them
AS the vessel sank the screws came
nearer to the water and descended into
the midst of the struggling human
beings. The poor creatures battled il
vain against the suction. They were
drawn down and thrown against the
swift blades.
Then came a scene which made the
officers on deck the other warships of
the fleet turn away sick with horror
sin iNI-c
foam appeared Redeemed arms and legs
and wrecked and torn bodies. All with
i'm reach of each other lost their pres
ence of mind and men who knew how
to swim closed swimming and fought.
One man who was saved says hC
saw in the grew vortex at least fifty
of the fellows fighting with each Othel
and with an inevitable death. In ;
moment or so the knives disappeared
and the vortex began to close up. Jus
as the ship went beneath the surface
there was a mu ed sound of thunder
waters tossed up and steam burst from
them. Again the shrieks and screams
burst forth from the swimmers. TIL,
boilers had exploded and the swim
mers were beating waves of scaIdin;
water.
With the first under plunge of th
Victoria all boats were called ava,
from the other ships and came strain
ing over the calm sea to save the shug
glers. The boats soon picked up tn
fortunate ones who got out of reac'
of the terrible vortex
Admiral trvon stuck on the bridg
just before the Victoria made he
under plunge he saw what was abou
to happen and issued an order for eac
man to save himself but the orde
never got beyond the bridge.
There was many acts of heroisn
self forgetfulness and daring.
The peril of those in the water wa
increased by the fact that the sea We
infested with sharks. 1t is the dut
Of marines when a collision occurs
Immediately close water-tight the con
partments When the Camperdow
struck the Victoria the marines we1
below for duty and as a result, Of II
100 marines on the Victoria ninety-n mir
were lost.
BADGER BRIEFS.