A NAVAL DISASTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2521, 27 June 1893, Page 3

A NAVAL DISASTER.

423 MEN DROWNED, INCLUDING VICE-ADMIRA.L TRYON. London, June 23. While the vessels of the Squadron were manoeuvres q$ '' r-inoli yesterday afternoon the. ironclad Oamporalship of 10,600 tons, rammed the flagship Victoria, 10,470 tons, 15 guns, just forward of the starboard turret. The latter went down with appalling rapidity in 80 fathoms of water. She appeared to sink bottom upwards, and i\\ fifteen minutes was ouj of The Oamperdo\yn h myself was seriously injured, Thero were'¥lß men an board the flapbji* -* were seiit t 9 Mali*, survivors Tha Vj**~' ■ t *J. ■ lurched when struck, for a time, then sank bow first. The accident took place in broad daylight, and there was no time to close the watertight bulkheads. Nobody was hurt on the Camperdowa. The collision occurred at 5 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, seven tnjloa off

Tripoli. Tt is stated that the Victoria's steering gear was weak. Experts believe that the Campordown ripped the whole starboard side out of the Victoria, aud thus prevented the closing of the bulkheads, causing her to capsize. The precise origin of the disaster is unknown. The Admiralty officers beliove that the fleet while manoeuvring wbs divided into two columns, the Admiral and Vice-Admiral leading on their respective vessels, and further that during a change of position the steering gear of one of the ships failed, and led to the collision. Another theory is that the accident was due to the proximity of the vessels in pursuance of Admiral Tyron's system of signalling. The Victoria was virtually cut in two, aft of the barbette, and most of the crew were sucked down.

The following were among those drowned : —Vice- A dmiral Sir G eorge Tyron, K.C.B. (late on the Australian station) and his clerk Mr Allen, Lieut. Munro, Chaplain the Rev. S. S. 0. Morris, Fleet Engineer Felix, Foreman Engineers Harding, Deadman, Seaton, and Heatherley, gunner Howell, boatswain Barnard, carpenter Beall, midshipmen Leslie, Inglis, Grieve, Ascough, Fawkes, Lanyon, Healey, Gambier and Scarlett, naval cadet Stoakes, assistant clerk Savage, fleet paymaster Valentine D. J. Rickcord. Thirty-eight officers of the Victoria were drowned, and 18 saved. All the engine-room staff perished; only the men on deck were saved.

The Queen has expressed profound grief at the catastrophe. June 24. Mr C. R. Markham reports that 262 men and 34 officers have been saved, and 422 drowned.

Captain the Hon. Maurice A. Bourke, Commander Charles L. Ottley, Lieutenant EL. L. Heath, and Lord Gillford were among those saved. Admiral Tryon refused to leave his ship and went down with her. Intense public grief is expressed at the loss of the Victoria. Lady Tryon held a reception on Thursday night. The Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and the Duke of Edinburgh, called and condoled with her. Lord Carrington conveyed the Queen's deep regret. The Queen has sent a letter of condolence to the families of those drowned. In her letter she. states that her heart bleeds for the many homes plunged iuto mourning by the deep affliction and dreadful catastrophe. The Premier referred to the calamity in the House of Commons to-day. He was deeply moved, and his words were listened to in deathlike stillness as ho described the disaster. He felt certain that the deepest sympathy would be excited for the unhappy fate of this band of brave men, who had gone to an early grave amid circumstances of peace, from which the pomp and splendour of war were absent. He added that there were 718 men aboard, cf whom 611 were officers and seamen, and 107 marines. Four hundred and thirty were believed to be drowned. The Premier paid a high tribute to the capacity and services of Vice-Admiral Tryon.

Lord George Hamilton ex-?-■ , Q j Admiralty said that >^ jniral T was possessed Of rp- capadt y 5 and the C]W oi tap unfortunate warship Victoria were *ne pick and flower of the British Navy. In the House of Lords to-day Earl Spencer, First Lord of the Admiralty, in referring to the Mediterranean disaster, eulogised the conduct of Admiral Tryon. Lord Brassey, stated that the disaster • to the Victoria indicated the value of rams in warfare. At the request of the Duke of Cambridge, the Lord Mayor has opened a relief fund. . The few bodies recovered have been buried with impressive honours in Tripoli. The Earl of Dudley has endowed a hospital bed with £IOOO in gratitude for his brother's escape. When the news of the disaster became known the relatives of those serving on the Victoria besieged the Admiralty, and many heartrending scenes occurred. Owing to the lamentable catastrophe Her Majesty has postponed a State ball. The Emperor of Germany wired that words could not express his grief at the loss of so noble an admiral and so fine a ship, He had ordered all German warships to fly the British and German flags at half-mast. The Italian Government wired sympathy with Great Britain. The disaster created immense sensation in America, and the Union Jack was lowered half-mast at Chicago Exhibition. A list of the saved is not yet complete. Auckland, June 24. The Orlando and Katoomba hoisted their flags half-mast on receipt of the loss of the flag-ship Victoria. Admiral Bowden Smith wa3 greatly shocked on receipt of the sad news.

[The flagship of the Mediterranean fleet, the Victoria, was built of steel, aud was launched iu 1887. Her side armour was 18 inches in thickness, her displacement was 10,400 tons, and her indicated horsepower 12,000. The Camperdown, formerly flagship of the Channel Squadron, was launched in 1885, and she also was built of steel, with 18in. side armour. Her displacement was 10,000 tons, so that the collision was between two of the lavgest vessels in the British Navy, there being only four much larger. The Victoria carried two 111-ton guns, one 29-ton, and twelve 5-ton guns ]