The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-02
The Fated Ship Was Struck So Hard that the
CamperdoWh's FOrcastle Vas Showed Ten
Feet Uader the FOrecastle of the Victoria
Many Who Cleared the Sinking Vessel
Struck by The Screws and Wreckage.
Extraordinary Discipline Maintained In the
Face of Death-Chamberlain's Plan for
0bstructing the Irish Home. Rule Bill.
RETOLD BY SURVIVORS.
Details or the Sinking of the Victoria b
Her Sister War ship Camperoovp.

hEIOLD Bf SURVIVORS.
Details or the Sinking of the Victoria by
Her Sister War ship Camperaown.
fALETTA, MALTA. July y1.-Notwlthstapd-
Ing the efforts that are being made by the
naval authorities here to prevent the sur.
Yivors of the Victoria disaster from giving
any information concerning the loss
OF the vessel. correspondent has suc-
ceeded in obtaining from reliable sources
a full story of the casualty, the first report
covering all the details of the accident
that has been sent to the United States.
Most of the men seen decline for obvious
reasons. TO have their names published.
but the reliability of the interviews fol-
lowing may be entirely depended upon.
a suoofficer. who was attached TO the
Victoria, says: The fleet was maneuyer.
ing, when Nlce Admiral Tryon signaled TO
the first division TO turn sixteen points TO
port and TO the second TO turn sixteen
points to starboard. The object of his
maneuver was 30 bring the ships in posi-
tion for anchoring. Woe Admiral Tryon
either forgot, or mistook the distance be-
tween the two columns, which were six CO.
BILE lengths. 5000 feet apart. The leading
ships having turned toward each other Ia
circle. the diameter of which was three ca
bic lengths Il. 800 feet, q collision was i'm
evitable. The Camperdown struck the
Victoria on the stsrboard side midway be-.
tween her cat heads and the turret. When
Rear Admiral Markham saw that his ship
was bound to strike the Victoria, he sig
nailed for the Camperdown's engines to be
LATE hau
check the Csmperdown's head way and abe
struck the Victoria q fearful blow. Not
only did the ram OF the CamDerdown pene.
trate the flagship, but her forecastle was
showed ten feet under the forecastle Of the
Victoria
"a bngle oall was sounded on the fla T.
ship calling all hands 10 their stations. and
the order given 10 close the watertighu
doors in the bulkheads "A minute before the
collision occurred The Camperdow q,
however, was swinging rapidly toward the
Victoria. and those on the flagship scarcely
had time TO reach the compartments before
| the vessels came together. Then the w ateF
rushed into the ship through several of the
forward doors. preventing access 10 those
compartments. The officers who were In
the ward room felt .he shock, which was
tremendous. and heard the sound of tear
| ing iron, and the rushing Of the water IN.
board.
NO SIGN OF PANIC.
"a bugler sounded the collision alarm
but though everybody aboard the ship
knew ne was in imminent danger, there
was not the slightest trace of panic. Per-
| feet discipline was maintained, and every
order was Obeyed as soon as il was given.
| The pumps were cleared and rigged for ao-
| tion, and Capt. Maurice Bourke. hsg captain
| of the fleet, made an inspection to ascertain
W
hands were then ordered TO fall In on the
| port side OF the ship. The collision mas
and hoom vers got out. An attempt was
made To place tho mat over the hole IN the
| fOrecastle, but it failed. While this was
| being done. C0mmander Jellicos
was engaged in getting the boats
| out Tho rapid and increasing
| list the ship was making made this tss x "a
| difficult one. The port side OF the ship ~ as
| crowded with men. their anxiety plainly
| showing In their countenances. but perfect
| order was maintained. The men who had
| been condemned 10 IMPRISONMENT were
| brought fIoD the brig. aud the sick were
conveyed from the hospital. One man. VINO
| had been below forward at tho time of the
| collision, had both legs broken by peing
| hit by the CaDpeIdo1ns ram.
| srhe Victoria lay with list of from
| twenty TO twenty-five degrees for aoout
| two minutes. She was settling by the
| head at the time. Suddenly the water
| rushed through the main deck ports and
| IN less than ten minutes alter the SHIP
| went down. In the last few minutes she
heeled over with irightiui rapioIy, out.
| clutching stanchions and anything
| else that would hold them, the men huns
| on no one attempting TO leave the
ship. Vice Admiral Tryon saw shat all
| hope was gone aud gave the order, JUMP
| Save yourseiyesn Then-aDd not tai then
| did the men break ranks. They climbed
| into the weather nettInas. crying, Shes
going DOWN. and scrambled 60 get hold OF
| something on the upper side OF the sbip.
| The men who were III the stern ABOVE tne
| propeller. which was revolving rapldiy.
| were. when they jumped, forced TO lumr
| close toit. Some did not clear the blafes.
| aud were instantly killed. Those SUI on
| the stern. seeing their late. crien' otop tho
] engine. for Gods sake! lhis. OF couIs',
/ oould not be done: it was Impossible. even
| had any one dared TO enter the engine
| room. The sight of men meetlng thelt
| death by being hit by the screw was
| horrible one. Many VINO Jumpeo "ehs
down beneath the water. batrose again.
| TURNED BOTTOM UPWARD AND sANh'
| I'm the meantime the Victoria had turned
bottom up, and in few minutes she
| plunQed down, bow first, carrying with her
many of the men who were stIli ciingins
| TO her. they having clsmbered toward hsf
keel as she turned slowly over. after get
ting on her side. About four hundred gos
oIear of the ship before che SANK Ous
many of them were struck By floating
| wrackage afterward and so injured thss
| they drowned The air that escaped from
| the shlp as she went down caused any thing
| that would float to come 10 tho surface
| With tremendous force. and the men struck
| hv the upcoming articles were In many ln-
| stanoes never seen afterward. FOR Two
| hundred Yards around the spot whsro the
| yesssl sank. the water was a seeming
mass the men in it being whiried aronnd
| hall choked and dashed against the "fecA'
| age for a minute or two. ,,n,
| "Among those who were killed py tho pIo-
mailer was Lient. Philip \. Munro: eohe
| of those who met their death In this way
| were terribly naied. and many legs anu
| srms were seen floating IN the water aitsr
| tha shin sank When last seen vice Al
| mIral Tryop was holding 10 the raii on Top
| of the chart house. He did not nave s,n- aii
| ola chance for his life. lie could hafoly
| lave got down the ladder leading 10 too
| deok before the ship went down. lie mhoe
| M attempt to leave his posi- Captain
| Rourke. who was saved. was on the iof-
ward bridge below Vice Admiral iiyon'
when the Victoria sank. Loru ulIISiu.
| the flag lieutenant. had wonueI-
mi escape from below smiusnips
| Nothinc TOO high IN praise OF ths
| hsbavior of the men can DO shius
When i'm the w ater their actions we're he-
| roic Men swan around helping others
anS many of them seemed tc think more or
..e., o." ,hefr comrades than OF saving