The Naval Disaster

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 2, 3 July 1893, Page 2

The Naval Disaster

FURTHER -DETAILS. (PKH PKRSB ASSOCIATION.) London, July 1. TJjie bt earner ß conveying the survivors of t>e warship Victoria from Tripoli to» Malta stor»uied into the latter port amidst a silent bush -roswtnbliug a funeral. Nobody ha* been allowed to communicate with the survivors or the crews of the vessels which conveyed them. The Titiies correspondent wires that when the two lines of warships were 1200 yards apart Admiral Tryon signalled to the fleet to reverse the previous positions and course, which Rear-Admiral BJarkbaru, on the Camperdown, obeyed. It is reported that Commander . Hawkins Smith remarked to Admiral Tryon that there was no room to turn, and that the Admiral replied ' Let her go.' The Camperdown cut in more than 6ft, leaving her figure-head on the Victoria's mess deck. All the ships, seeing the danger, began sending boats, but Admiral Tryon stopped them, thinking the Victoria would float. The Camperdown, however, continued to send her boats. The watertight compartments of the Victoria were not closed. Her propellers deatroyea many who were scrambling to get|on to the bottom of the ship. The Camperdown nearly sank, and reached Tripoli . sft down by her bows. Other ships ran a great risk of collision. The sight is described as most appalling. Another account states that the cause of the disaster is beyond controversy. When the ships were six cables apart the Victoria signalled the Bquadrom to turn inwards 10 points. The Campertown attempted to obey, but found it impossible, and if the signal had been fulJy obeyed every pair of ships must have collided The other ships noticed this in time to prevent disaster to the whole fleet. Af other account states that thecojumns ought to have been eight , ««.bles apart. Admiral Tryon ordered this distance before turning, but afterwards counter, manded it. July 2. After the collision Admiral Tryon ordered the Camperdown to go astern, and the immediate effect of this command was to flood the Victoria. The Camper* down's bow entered the Victoria a distance of 6 feet without taking mto account tho length of tho ra». Tiie mass of sailors collected above tbe port propeller and those in front were compelled by the pressure of the crowd behind to jump into the sea where the screw mangled scores of them.