The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-10
Continued from Third page, }

forward and below had no time to rush
to the deck, but found themselves
cropping for the doors of the rooms,
filled with water and compressed air.
There was little more time for those
in the officers 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 out to find himself imme-
dlately struggling in the water Al
lieutenant swan to him, put his arm
around him, and, despite the handicap
of supporting helpless man, was able
to get away from the sinking ship, 1t
took a strong, skllful swimmer, in full
possession Of his senses, to do this.
The huge hull was drawing in water
as it went down, and several hundred
men, hurled suddenly into the water
fully dressed had to battle against the
increasing suction.
A moment more and new peril,
more horrible, descended upon them
The great engines, deep in the heart of
the hull and enclosed in watcr-tight
compartments, were still throbbng at
full speed, and the great steel Hdnges
of the twin screws were whirling up in
the air. As the vessel sank these
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 begin to
whirl in the water, again the suction had
increased, untll there was a deepening
vortex, like maelstrum. AT the bot
tom of this maelstrom the screws 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
officers on the decks of the other war
ships of the fleet turn away, sick with
horror Screams and shreks arose,
and in the white foam appeared red
dened arms and legs and wrenched and
torn bodies Headless trunks were
tossed out of the vortex to linger q
moment on the surface and sink out o
sight.
All within reach of that vortex lost
their presence of mind. Men VIII,
knew how to swim ceased swimming
and fought with the waters. Men
ClutChed each other in frenzy and
struck each other off The deep cone
of whirling water, with the swift knive:
chopping human bodies at the bottom
of it, was horror to daunt the bravest
One man who escaped says that he saw
in this great vortex at least fifty OF his
fellows fighting with each other and
with inevitable death. In moment
or so the knives disappeared and the
vortex began to close up, the ship wa,
beneath the surface.
Then there was a muffied sound OF
thunder, the waters were tossed up anC
steam burst from them. Again shrek
and screams burst from the swimmers
The boilers had exploded, the sea rush
ed into the furnaces and the swimmer
were beating waves of scalding water
Thus, in less than three minutes, dealt
in three awful forms attacked the off
GERS and crew of the NiCtoria-death b,
drowning, death by the knfe-likt
screws and death by scaldng water
With the first under-plunge of thu
Victoria all the boats were called ava,
from the other ships and came srainin!
over the calm sea to save the strugglers
These boats were soon picking NJ
those fortunate ones who had got GU
of the terrible vortex. So long as tn,
vortex was there the boats dared no
venture near, but they did lift from the
scalding water several wretchcd sailors
who were seriously burned 1t /
thought that more than half of thOs
drowned got out of the ship, but wer,
drowned in the vortex or sCalded Il
death by boiling water.
Admiral Tryon stuck on the brldg
and refused to leave 1t. Just befor
the Victoria made her under plunge h
saw what was about to happen ant
issued an order for each man to say
himself, but the order never got beyont
the bridge, for ruin descended straight
way. The diver whom he had ordere,
below to look into the damage was sti
on deck and dressed for his descent
except for his helmet. He would hav
been dragged to the bottom by hi
heavy leadsoled shoes, had it not bee
for seaman who stopped to cut hin
loose from his heavy clothes. Ih
diver was saved, but the man who Gu
him free was drowned.
There were many acts OF herolsn
selfforgetfulness and daring. Ih
peril of those in the water was increased
by the fact that the sea hereabouts
infested with sharks. 1t is the dut
of marines, when collision occurs, t
Immediately go below and close all tn
water tight compartments. When tn
Camperdown struck, and as a result
out of 100 marines on the Victoria 9
were lost