Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1893-06-30
An Awful whirlpool.

lion OF the Evening World contains
special cable from Tripoli, Syria, giving
full details OF the sinking of the flag
ship Victoria.
About 4 o'clock last Thursday after
noon the English feet was sighted max
ing directly for the harbor OF Iripoh'
Five big ironclads, the Victoria, Camp
erdown, Edinburgh, Nile and Sansparell'
we've 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 the shore
Vice Admiral Sir George Tryon sig
nailed to turn and form in double line.
When the order was given the distance
between the ships was less than two
cables lengths and execution OF the or
der was exceedingly 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 alsc
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 adj
mirals were quick to act and swung the
vessels SO as to receive at the smallest
angle the blow which both officers saw
was inevitable, and the Camperdown be-
gan reversing her screws. The ram of
the Camperdown struck the Victoria
lust in front nf the armored bulkhead
and plunged into the thin plates of her
starboard side. The other vessels, NOV
ing to get into double line, were bearing
down upon the entangled ships and a
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 signaled offers
of boats he replied that he did not need
them.
The Victoria began to forge straight
for shore under full steam. The disci-
pline was perfect The admiral and Off
GERS remained steadfast upon the bridge
and within five minutes after the blow a
diving suit was brought on deck and a
diver was getting into it to obey an or
der to go below and find out the extent
of the damage,
About 10 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 a
great roll and plunge buried her bow
beneath the calm surface of the sea. II
was instantaneous. There was only a
chance for a few wild cries and the Vic
toria was almost half submerged, bow
| foremost, with swiftly revolving screws
high in the air. Those on deck were
thrown Immediately into the water
The men forward and below had no time
to rush to the deck, and there was but
little more time for those in the officers
quarters The hugh hull was drawing
in wafer 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. As the
vessel sank the screws came nearer and
nearer to the water and descended into
the midst of struggling human beings,
| The poor creatures battled in vain
against the suction, They were drawn
down and thrown against the swiftly re-
volving blades. Then came scene
which made the officers on the decks of
the other warships of the fleet turn
away sick with horror. Screams and
shrieks arose and in the white foam ap-
peared Redeemed arms and legs and
wrenched 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
vortex at least so 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 over the ship beneath the sur
face.
Just as the whirlpool Swallowed al
most to the surface there was a muffled
sound of thunder, the waters were tossed
up and steam burst from them. Again
shrieks and screams burst from the
swimmers. The boilers had exploded
and the swimmers were dealing with