THE SINKING OF THE GROSSER KURFUERST.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 71, 21 August 1878, Page 3

THE SINKING OF THE GROSSER KURFUERST.

The German ironclad turret-ship Grosser Kurfuorst was sunk off Folkestone by ; collision whh the Koenig Wilhelm, another ironcia ', on Friday, June 1. By this terrible disaster - splendid and cost y ship and 284 men were lost. The two j vessels were steaming past Folkestone in a smooth sea, parallel to and about two lengths apart from each other, the Grosser Kurfuerst being to the right. Two sailing vessels crossing their bows, they both put their helms aportto clear them. As soon as the vessel on the right had cleared the merchantmen, she resumed her orginal course. The vessel on the left course did not clear them so soon, and consequently was still going across the line of original direction after the other had resumed that direction. This early resumption of the original course by the vessel on the right seems to have been the cause of the collision. The Koeing Wilhelm struck her mate between the main and mizen masts, and as the unlucky vessel grated past her bow, sheared away her side quite to the stern, ripping off the armour plating like orange peel. The doomed ship first staggered over on the opposite side from the force of the blow, and then reeled back, when the sea rushed into the great hole in her side. Below water all must have been destroyed, for the ram of the Koenig Wilhelm gives deadly indication by the injuries it received of the work itklid underneath. There was little or no time for anything. The water poured in everywhere, and in six or eight minutes the vessel entirely disappeared, sucking down iu the vortex many of the crew who have |been saved, and many who wore lost. The Koenig Wilhelm and another ironclad—the Preussen —the third of the squadron—sent their boats to pick up the 216 that were saved, while the number lost was 284. The Koenig Wilhelm was greatly injured also. Her formidable ram bow was'; twisted aboutysix feet to one side, as a man’s nose might be. This twisting could only occur by a tearing of one sideband; through the immense rent thus made the water rushed in and filled the foremost water-tight compartment, causing her to go down by the head. She was immediately taken to Portsmouth and docked.