The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-07-06
SOMEBODY BLUNDERED
AND CAUSED THE WRECK OF THE GUN
BOAT VICTORIA.
But That Person Nobly Stood at HIS fos'
Of Duty and Went Down With HIS
hip-Complste Story OF the
Deplorable Accident.

the SURVIVORS OF tno NiOuoii"
giving any information concerning
the loss of the vessel, a correspondent
succeeded in obtaining from reliable
sources the full story of the casualty,
the first report covering all the de-
tails of the accident sent TO the United
States. Most of the men seen to decline
for obvious reasons to have their
names published, but the reliability
of the interview following may be en-
tirely depended upon. A sub -officer
attached to the Victoria says:
"The fiset was maneuvering when
Vice Admiral Tryon signaled to the
first division to turn 16 points to pore
and to the second to turn 16 points to
starboard. The object of the maneu'
YER was to bring the ships in position
for anchoring."
Vice Admiral Tryon either forgot or
mistouk the distance between the
columns, which was six cable lengths
$4,000 feet) apart. The leading 9
ships having turnod towards each
other in circle, the diameter OF
which was three cable lengths (loOO
feet) collision was inevitable.
The Camperdown struck the Victoria
on he starboard side, midway BE-
tween the catheads and turrets
When Rear Admiral Markham saw
the ship was bound to strike the Vic
toria he signaled for the Camperoowh
engines to be reversed. liz was 700
late, however, to check her heaoWay
and she struck the Victoria fearful
blow. Not only did the ram OF the
Camperdown penetrate the hagshlp,
but her forecastle was showed lO !eet
under the forecastle OF the
Victoria. A bugle call was sounded
on the flagship calling all hapds to
stations and an order given to close
the water tight doors In the bulk
heads a minute before the collision oc-
curred. The Camperdown, however,
was swinging rapidly towards tne
Victoria and those on the flagship
scarcely had time to rea( n the COM
nartments before the vessele came to-
gether. 49, 49, oh;,,
through several of the forward doors
preventing access to those compart-
ments. Officers who were In
the wardroom felt the shock,
which was tremendous, and heard
the sound of tearing iron an ano
rushing of water on bosld. Inc
buoler sounded the collision alarm,
INIT though everybody knew he was
in imipent danger, there was not the
SLIGHTEST trace of panic. Perfect
,discipliue was maintained and every
order obeyed as soon as given. The
nnn,ns were cleared and rugged for ac-
tion and Captain Maurice BourKe, nag
Attain of the fleet, made Inspection 10
Certain what bulkhead doors were
esed. All hands were then oroered
ffall in on the port side OF the snip:
he collision mat and boom were got
III. An attempt was made to place
tie mat over the hole in the forcastle
.but it failed. While this was being
Ione the commander was engaged in
cetting the boats out. The rapid and
Increasing list the ship was making
made the task difficult.
The port side of the ship
was crowded with men, their
anxiety plainly shown in their
countenances, but perfect or
der was maintained. Men who had
heen condemned to imprisonment were
brought from the "brig" and the SICK
were conveyed from the hospital.
One man who had been below forward
at the time of the collision had both
legs broken by Icing hit by the
Camperdown,s ram. The Victoria lay
with list of from 20 to 25 degrees for
about two minutes. She was settling
nv head at the time. Suddenly the
water rushed through the main deck
ports and in less than ten minutes
after the ship went down. In the last
few minutes she turned over with
frightful rapidity, but clutch!ng
stanchions and anything else that
would hold them, the men hung on,
no one attempting to leave the ship.
Vice Admiral Tryon saw all
hone was gone and gave the order,
HJ1mr and save yourselves!W Then and
moi till then did the men break ranks.
Thev climbed into the weather not
tings and cried: "She's going down."
and scrambled to get hold of some.
thing in the upper side OF the snip
THE man were in the stern above the
port propeller, which was revolving
rapidly when they were forced to
lump close to it. Some did not clear
the blades and were instantly killed.
Those on the stern seeing their fate
cried: "Stop the engines for Coos
sake.u This, of course, could not be
done as it was impossible, even If any
one had dared enter the engine room.
The sight of mer meeting death by
being bit by the screw was a hard
one. Many who jumped went down
beneath the water but rose again,
In the meantime, the Victoria had
turned bottom up and in few mo-
ments plunged dowd bow first, carry,
ing many Of the men who were still
clinging to her, they having CHAMBER,
ed towards her keel as she turned
slowly over after getting down on her
side. About 400 people got clear OF
the ship before she sank hut many
were struck by floating wreckage al
forwards and go injured thoy drown
ed. The air that escaped from tne
ship as she went down caused any