The record-union., 1893-06-27
Special to the REcoRD-UNIoN.


New YORK, June 2O.-An extra edi-
ton of the E0e1sing World contains a spe-
cial cable from Tripoli, Syria, giving full
details Of the sinking of the flagship Vic
toria. About 3 o'clock last Thursday
afternoon the English fleet was sighted
making directly for the harbor of Trip
oil. Five big ironclads, the Victoria,
Camperdown, Edinburgh, Nile and Sans
pariel, were drawn up in full front, the
Victoria in the center, the Camperdown
on the left and the Edinburgh on the
right.
When within five miles of shore Vice
Admiral Sir George Tryon signaled to
turn and form in double line. When the
order was given the distance between the
ships was less than two cable lengths,
and the execution of the order was ex-
tremely difficult for the Victoria and the
Camperdown. Admiral Markham of the
Camperdown signaled that he did not
understand it. The other vessels had not
hesitated, but all began to turn. The
brief delay, however, had been fatal. The
Victoria had nearly turned, and the
Camperdown, 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 in
evitable, and the Camperdown began re-
versing her screws.
The ram of the Camperdown struck the
Victoria just in front of the armored
bulkhead, and plunged into the plates of
her starboard side. The other vessels
moving to get into double line were bear
ing down upon the entangled ships, and
catastrophe involving all the ironclads
was imminent. Only the GOODNESS and
prompt action Of the other commanders
prevented general disaster.
1t seems that Admiral Tryon did not
realize the extent of the damage to the
Victoria, for when the other ships sig
nailed an offer of boats he replied that he
did not need them. The Victoria began
to force straight for the shore under full
steam. The discipline was perfect. The
Admiral and officers remained steadfast
upon tho bridge, and within i've minutes
after the blow a diving suit was brought
on deck and the diver was getting into it
to obey the 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 the shore, all at once leaned
way over to the starboard, and, with q
great roll and plunge, buried her bow
beneath the calm surface of the sea. 1t
was almost instantaneous. There was
only a chance for a few wild cries, and
the Victoria was half submerged, bow
foremost, with her swiftly revolving
,f.,IN 4l,, ,,T,-
were thrown Immediately into the water
The men forward and below had no time
to rush to the deck, and there was but
little moro time for those in the officers
quarters. The huge hull was drawing
in 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.
moment more a peril more horrible
descended upon them. As the vessel
sank the screws came nearer and nearer
to the water, and descended into the
midst of the struggling human beings.
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 deck of the other warships
Of the fleet turn away, sick with horror
Screams and shrieks arose, and in the
white foam appeared reddened arms and
legs and torn bodies. All within reach of
the vortex lost their presence of mind.
Men who knew how to swim ceased
swimming and fought. One man, who
was saved, says he saw in the great vor-
tex at least fifty OF the fellows fighting
with each other, and with inevitable
death. In a moment or so the blades
disappeared, and the vortex began to
close upon the ship beneath the surface
just rs the whirl Swallowed almost to the
surface.
Then there was a mutied sound of
thunder. The waters tossed up and
steam burst from them. Again shrieks
and screams burst from the swimmers.
The boilers exploded, and the swimmers
were beating in the waves of scaldiug
water.
With the first underplunge of the Vic
toria all the boats were called away from
the other ships and came straining over
the calm sea to save strugglers. The
boats soon picked up the fortunate ones
VINO Scl Out u I6dcu OF the terflDle NOr-
tex.
Admiral Tryou stuck on the bridge
and refused to leave it. Just before the
Victoria made the underplunge 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.
There were many acts OF heroisn, self
torgetfulneSs and daring. The peril of
those in the water was increased by the
fact that the sea was infested with sharks.
It is the duty of the marines when collis-
ion occurs TO Immediately close all water
tiobt commitments. When the Camper
down struck the Victoria the marines
went below for duty, and as result Of
the 100 marines on the Victoria ninety
nine were lost.
MARKHAM To BE CoURT-MARrIALED.
LONDON, June 26.-It transpires that
Rear Admiral Markham was on board
the Camperdown and in charge of the
maneuvers at the time that vessel sank
the Victoria. He. therefore, is held re-
sponsble for the disaster, and II has been
decided to try him by court-martial.
The cruiser Barham, with Rear-Admiral