Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-02

Tyoes Grave Error Caused the
Awful v,ctoaa Disaster.
MET DEATH uNfLIkcHINGLY
N.s Man Attempted az Save itim-
self Until the order Mas
tsfssp to Jump

NAIT17A. Malta. july L. <otwith
standing the eliofts that are icing uasde
ls the naval authorities here 10 prevent
the survivors, of the lieioria disaster
from giving any information copeeFniDg
'he loss ~ the vessel your correspon
dent has succeeded IN obtaining from re
liable sources fnh story 81 The cas
uaity, the tirst report covering ali the
details II the accislsot that has been
sent To the United Stairs. Most ~ the
men seen deciire. for Obvious reasons. 20
have their names published, bat the
reliability of the interviews follox ing
may Ice entirely depen,iei ufon.
A sub-otiicrr Who Wils attached 81 The
Victoria says: The fleet MAS nianeuver.
ing when Vice admiral r.on signaled
Ia the first division TO turn sixteen
points IL starbOard. The object of tilis
maneuver WAS 81 bring the ships in 20
sition for anchoring. Vice Admiral
fryon either forgot or mistook The dis
tance between the columns. which We're
six cable lengths $500 feetl apart. The
leading ships having turned toward each
other IN circle. the diameter OF which
was three cable lengths ll.so feet. a
collision was inevitable The Camper
down struck the Victoria on the star
board side. midway between her cat
heads and the turret
Tried to Close Bulk heads.
"Whtu Rear Admiral Markham saw
al. 4. a. H..
Victoria he signaled thc Camperdown :
engines 10 be reversed IL MAS too late
however. to check tine Catapcriowns :
headway, and she struck the Victoria a
fearful blow. Not only did the ram 81
the Caiaperdown penetrate the flagship.
but her foreeastle Was showed ten feet
under the forecasiie of the Victoria. \
bugle call was sounded on the flagship
calling all hands to their stations apd
the order given 'o cicse tine water tight
doors in the bulkheads minute before
the collision occurred.
The Campcrdown. however. was
swinging rapidly toward the Victoria.
and those on the flagship scarcely bad
time Ia reach the compartments before
the vessels came togc tner. Then the
water rushing into the ship from sey
erai forward doors prevented access 10
those compartments. The officers whu
were i'm the ward room felt the shock
which ~is irem endous. and heard the
ssound of tearing iron and the rushing of
he water ON board 4 bugler sounded
the collision alarm. but thoug every
body knew he was in imminent danger
there was not the slightest trace Of d
panic.
Discipline Was Perfect.
Perfect discipline vas maintained and
every order Was obeyed "a soon as il
was given. The pumps were cleared
and rugged for action. and Capt Maurice
BouTlxc. flag captain 81 the fleei. made
an inspection Ia ascertain what bulk
head doors were closed All hands were
then ordered io fall ia ON the port side
Il the ship. The collision mat and
boom were got out. An attempt was
made to place the mat over the hole ~
the forrcas'le. ilut il failed While this
Was being done Commander Jelico WAS
engaged in getting the boats out. The
rapid and increasing llst the ship was
making made this tasl. difficult.
The port side of the ship was crowded
With men. their anxiet. plainly showing
in their countcnances. bat pef feet order
was maintained. The men " ho had been
condemned to Imprisonment were
brought from the brig and the sick were
conveyed from the hospital One man
who had been below forward al the time
of the COLLISION had both lcgs broken by
being hit by the campcrdown's ram
Tho Victoria las with q list - from =
f. at.
She Was settling by the head - tho
time Suddenly the water rushed
through the main deck ports and IN les.
than ten minutes after the ship went
down
I.yon Gave Up Hope.
IN the last few minutes cue heeled
over with frirhifui rapldity. tiit clutch.
ing stanchions ard anything else that
would hnid them. the men hung on. ns
one attempting to leave the sbiT. Aicr
tdmirai fpon saw that al hppe was
gone aud gave The order
-Jump. save yourselves
Then. aua not ;iH then. did TIE mon
break ranks Thes climbed INTO the
weather netting. crying. "oae IL eoine
dnwn". and scrambled % gct bold a
.,n4ethlug on the upper side - the ship
The mfu Who were in tie stern aIA,fs
tie port pg0pclier. which was fcyolvine
rapidly. wefe. y hen Trey Igmped. forced
e. jump close % n. Semc tiid not clear
Tie blades and were irstaoily killed
Those still an the stern. @ee4ug theii
fate cried
Stop the engine fof Gods sake
This. - roufsr. couid not p. done. 81
il was impossible. even bad ans ons
aared "a enter the engine rsim. Ths
sight of meeting theif death bs tssue
hit bs the screw was hafrible une
Mann y Do junpcd weof luan tcBrath
Tho Nater Int rose afaln In tie nle eauiims
the Naturia had iuflsesi bottom up aus
sn few n.innira she planErsi deRu i-os
first. carving eita her many e ibs msE
who nffe ffii tinelnE a. ber. ihct hat
ing eihasia t,-d tsiesra her ke - 81.
turned slowly psef after ecisinE 5oe
on heg ssJs
k,iies, - tIfc IFs,teiisr.
Alfesi ifs 90 clear af the sh5p ts.fas,
ahe sank. hss aant 's sheal arfr sfgues
ip fesfne efel AZ Gsfes aat8s aaa =
lnicrsi thaf ihes sissfsl ahe ra
ibs' ~ sfs iesfn ths -tlg ~ shs see
abun teasi antffIns ftat easi fea'
g. rsae - ar surface eifh itnrsfu.is.fH
faree .sssi fhf .e.sr sffssss hs ins uraehs
iHH afii ifs aNfe ~ H4asN ifsetas.fs