THE WRECK OF THE VIPER.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 September 1901, Page 4

THE WRECK OF THE VIPER.

The thirty-five knot destroyer Viper, which was the first warship ever fitted with the Parson’s marine turbines, was wrecked off ho Charmc! Islands on August 3rd, during the British naval manoeuvres. She was being chased by a couple of enemies about 5 o’clock in the evening, and was going about twenty knots speed. Suddenly the combatants ran into a thick fog. The chasers lost ihe Viper, which cased speed to about five knots, but shortly after entering the fog struck the rocks with such force that she broke her back, and at once began to sink.

Splendid discipline prevailed, though the fog was so dense that the crow did not know where they wore, and every effort was made to save the ship by getting out anchors, etc. It soon became apparent

that sho was doomed. Still, ; nobody lost their heads, though the risk of being drowned grew momentarily greater. Under the directions of Mr Hill, tho engineer, steam wa Jet down, and Lieu-tenant-Commander Speke ordered all boats to bo lowered.

The officers and crew stood by the ship until the last possible moment, and then pushed off for shore. It was largely owing to the courage and presence of mind of Mr Hill in shutting of steam that a disastrous explosion was averted.

A very strong current runs where the Viper struck. This broke tbo hawser of the bow anchor, and smashed the ship s stern upon tho rocks. She parted right amidships, and broke into threo pieces. Tho crew had to pull against a four-teen-knot tide, and would hardly have got ashoro in their boats had not a French smack directed them, and a pilot boat eventually taken them in tow. It was afterwards stated by tbo men chat had there been much sea on hardly, any one would have escaped from the wreck. The sot of the tides is very complicated in the neighborhood ot the Casqucts, and tho whirling cauldron is known as “ the graveyard of Channel shipping. Local pilots give the place a wide berth and # tho consensus of opinion is that they should bo employed until tho British naval officers learn tho set of the tideway and the intricacies of the coastline.

Although built for a speed of thirty-five knots, the Viper could do considerably more. Constructed as an experimental boat at great expense, she had proved by far the fastest warship in the world. Her one great fault was that her engines could not bo reversed.