THE LOSS OF H.M.S. VANGUARD.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 426, 25 October 1875, Page 4

THE LOSS OF H.M.S. VANGUARD.

The Dublin correspondent of the Times, under date September 2nd, gave the following account of the disaster which befel the Vanguard :

Intelligence reached town to-day that as the Reserve Squadron, which left Kingstown at half-past 11 o’clock yesterday, were proceeding down Channel to Queenstown, the Iron Duke ran into the Vanguard in a fog off Wicklow Head, and sunk her. All hands were saved,. The following are the particulars so far as they have been yet ascertained. The Squadron kept north of the Kish Light in order to clear the bank, and steamed steadily on. About 1 o’clock the ships became enveloped in a dense fog, in which they could not see each other. Speed was slackened, and when distant about eight miles from Wicklow Head, the Vanguard, which was then going at about seven knots an hour, put the helm hard aport in order to avoid collision with a large sailing vessel. The Vanguard obeyed the helm, when the bowsprit of the Iron Duke, which was about a cable length astern, was faintly observed pointed right amidships. The alarm was immediately raised, and the order to reverse engines was given ; but almost at the same moment, before the engines could be got into effective play, the ram of the Iron Duke struck the Vanguard about 4ft below the water line, between the main and mizen masts, and made a great chasm in her side. Providentally the ship was built in watertight compartments, or the doom of the Vanguard with its living freight would have been instantaneous. The vessel was kept afloat for nearly an hour, and in that time the safety of every one on board was secured. When the terrible fact of the collision was known the Iron Duke put back and i mmediately lowered all her boats, and her officers and crew exerted themselves with the utmost energy and zeal to save the crew of the Vanguard. Captain Dawkins, when the accident occurred, was on the bridge, and remained at his post until the last moment superintending the arrangements for the transfer of his men, and manifesting the utmost self-possession and courage throughout the trying scene. The Vanguard sank in 59 minutes in 19 fathoms, and the topgallantmast alone is now above water. The other ships of the squadron continued their course to Queenstown, apparently unaware of the calamity which had happened. The Iron Duke returned to Dublin Bay at three o’clock this morning, and sent a boat ashore to communicate the unwelcome tidings. She brought with her all the officers and crew, numbering altogether 500 men. She sustained no injury beyond the loss of her bowsprit, jibboom, her figure head, and their gear. Three of the Vanguard’s crew sustained injuries ; all the property on board was lost except three boats. A favorite dog belonging to the captain also went down with her. Vice-Admiral Tarleton will return in his yacht, the Hawk, with workmen from flaulbowline, to see whether the wreck can be raised. Midnight. The strictest reserve is kept on board the Iron Duke, and access to reliable sources of information is closed with jealous vigilance. Persons seeking admission, unless in ar official capacity, are sternly warned off, and various devices have been resoited to in order to learn all the particulars of the occurrence. The public is manifesting an eager desire to get a full and authentic narrative. Facts, however, are of" necessity comparatively few, the accident being unattended with any of the calamitous consequences which have invested other colli-! sions on the deep with tragic interest. The disaster happened within a couple of hours after the Fleet had left Dublin Bay, The first account did not reach Kingstown until half-past two o’clock this morning, when, the Iron Duke having returned with the rescued crew, a boat with a special messenger was sent ashore to communicate the tidings to th'? commander of the Coastguard. The fog obscured the ships from the view of persons on shore, and although the squadron had been seen shortly before proceeding in stately pomp, their disappearance from view 1 inspired no apprehension. They had passed along the Irish coast in its most rugged parts without meeting with any reverse, and no fear was felt as to their continued safety. The news of the occurrence was spread with electric rapidity through the city this morning, and produced a profound impression. It was only a few hours previously that the appearance of the ships inspired a sense of pride and almost of awe at the tremendous power which they seemed to embody, and the last thought which was likely to strike the mind of an observer was that in an instant the strength which every means had been used to render irresistible should have received a fatal shock. Some surprise is expressed that they left the harbor in hazy weather, but the fog appears to have rather suddenly surrounded them after they had started. It was quite enough to detain the Holyhead boat, which is usually punctual, and the mails were not delivered last night in consequence. The ships were proceeding at the rate of twelve or fourteen knots an hour when it came on, being desirous of keeping their appointed time in Queenstown. The speed was reduced, however, when the fog came on, and they were running at not more than half the former rate. At 12.50 p.m. the Vanguard watch observed a large vessel coming down upon them, and the helm was put hard aport to clear it. The Iron Duke was then in the wake of the Vanguard at a short distance, and the sudden check in the course of the latter vessel had the effect of bringing them closer, and turning her broadside to the former, which, unaware of the obstruction, had made no corresponding motion, but continued on its tack. Before the engines of the Vanguard could be reversed, when the bow of the Iron Duke was dimly observed through the fog, the ram struck her amidships with resistless force and stove in her side. After the shock of the collision the ships recoiled and separated, but the effect was at once perceptible. The shattered ship began instantly to feel the sea rushing through a terrible gash in her side. The emergency was urgent, and every nerve was strained to save the lives of those on board. Had a heavy sea been running at the time, and had the Iron Duke lost sight of her colleague, the fate of every one on board— Over 300 men—would have been inevitably sealed. As it is, the nation is spared the grief which such a calamity would occasion. The Iron Duke got as near as was consistent with a sense of prudence, sharpened as it was by so terrible a warning, and, the launches and every available boat of both ships having been rapidly lowered, all hands were transferred to the Iron Duke. There was no thought of saving any of the property on board the Vanguard, Every

moment was precious, and the energies of all on board both ships were concerntrated upon the one object—the preservation of the lives of the survivors, who retained the clothes they wore and nothing more. All else that they valued has gone into the depths of the sea, but is not, it is hoped, irrecoverably lost, as efforts will, it is understood, be made as soon as possible to raise the sunken ship. Hardly had the anxious task of rescuing the crew been accomplished, and the last man of the Vanguard been received on board the Iron Duke, than the disabled vessel whirled round two or three times and then suddenly sank in nineteen fathoms of water, and only the end of her topgallant mast now appears above the water to mark the scene of the disaster. The spirit of both crews was severely tested in that trying hour, when the hearts of many who would not quail at the sight of an enemy might have sunk within them at the prospect of such a doom as seemed almost inevitable. The discipline and courage of the service were never more admirably proved. The engine-room of the Vanguard first began to fill, and the engines were stopped. Captain Dawkins was earnest in impressing upon his men the necessity of preserving order and self-command, and in pointing out the fatal consequence of any confusion, and his expostulations were effectually seconded by his officers, The accident occurred between the Kish and the Codlin lightships, about 15 miles from the Man-of-War Roads in Dublin Bay, where the squadron had been anchored. The Iron Duke remained at anchor near the spot for some time, and returned to Dublin between two and three o’clock this morning. The Vanguard was known in Kingstown, where she was for years stationed as the guardship, and much sympathy is felt for Captain Dawkins, who won the respect and esteem of all who came in contact with him by his frank and genial manner. Latest Particulars. The Iron Duke is a double-screw armourplated ship, 3787 tons burden, and 800-horse power, armed with fourteen guns. The Vanguard had also fourteen guns, and was of the same class in strength and power as her consort. She was only thirteen tons less in tonnage. The Squadron, after leaving their moorings, rounded the Kish Light at 11, and shortly afterwards the fog enveloped them. Signal guss were fired, reports of which were heard in Kingstown. The Vanguard was then in the track of the Warrior, under easy way, the Iron Duke coming next in the line after her, but owing to the thickness of the fog the ships could not see each other. Shortly after 1 o’clock a schooner was seen on the starboard bow of the Vanguard, and to avoid her the latter steered to the port side. She had just effected the movement when, with a terrific crash, the ram of the Iron Duke ran into the Vanguard on the port side amidships,,abaft the main deck battery. The Vanguard reeled under the force of the blow, but then righted herseif, and the Iron Duke receded and the water rushed in through the rent as through an open sluice. The sea was particularly calm, and the wind light at the time. The other vessels pursued their course, the fog still covering them, and knew nothing of the accident until the news was telegraphed to Queenstown to-day and to the Admiralty. The Vanguard settled down rapidly, and about 2.15 p.m, sank stern first with a deep plunge. Care has been taken to keep clear of the sinking ship. The total number of her officers and men was about 360. She was built in Birkenhead by Messrs Laird, and cost £252,900, but with all her fine fittings and property on board her value is estimated at £550,000. She is a sister ship to the Defence and Iron Duke. She was to have been stationed again in Kingstown for the winter. The place was visited to-day by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, and a bell buoy and light ship will be placed near her as soon as possible. The ram of the Iron Duke struck the joint bulkhead of two water-tight compartments, causing the sea to enter in through the windows of the captain’s cabin, thus depressing the stern of the Vanguard. Captain Hickley, the navigating lieutenant, is an officer of great experience. So prompt and active were the efforts to rescue that the hands were all transferred on board the Iron Duke in little more than half an Lour,