ECHO OF A GREAT DISASTER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 6

ECHO OF A GREAT DISASTER.

THE CAMPERDOWN ''SCRAPPED." One of tlio most tragic dvents in tlio annals of tlio British Navy is recalled b.v tlio announcement that tlio Lords of tlio Admiralty liavo decided to "scrap" the battleship'Camperdown, as well as tho cruisers Tribune,-Pique, arid Retribution. Nono of theso four sliips has flown tlio Union Jack for Some years. Tho Campcrdown lias been stationed at Harwich for duties in connection with tlio Third Subinarino Flotilla, the boats having moored alongside of ijer. • It was tho Camperdown which, seventeen years ago, was in collision with the Victoria, whilo manoeuvring off tho coast of Tripoli, when tho latter sank, and Admiral Tryon and .370 officers and men perished. The Victoria (first callcd tlio Renown when'launched at Elswick on April 9, 1887, tho .Tubilco Year) was the flagship of tlio Mediterranean Fleet, of 'which Admiral Sir Georgo Tryon was in com-mand,'-white tho Camperdown was flying tho flag of Rear-Admiral Markham. Through an error of judgment on tho part of Admiral Tryon tho two great vessels collided, and tho Victoria was rammed sa seriously that sho sunk in a very short time. .Tlio vessels, it was stated at thp subsequent inquiry, were only six instead of eight cables' lengths apart. Admiral Tryon recognised that his was tlio blamo, and turning a resolutely deaf car to all offers of rcscuo, ho went down with his shin, a little midshipman standing by his sido until tho last. Tho catastroplio took placo in tho afternoon of Juno 22, 1893.