THE NAVAL DISASTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2523, 1 July 1893, Page 1

THE NAVAL DISASTER.

London, June 27. After the collision Admiral Tryou endeavored to run the Victoria ashore, and ordered all men on deck. When the vessel began to settle ho called out “Sauce:: tjui pceut.” All those on deck jumped overboard except. Admiral Tryou, who remained alone on the bridge. The Victoria’s stern was for a few minutes in a perpendicular position, but the hull then turned over. There were tremendous explosions as she sank. The Camperdown was kept afloat by closing her watertight chambers and the use of her pumps. The Camperdown immediately after the accident dropped her collision mat and had to go full speed to avoid the wreckage. Some witnesses state that the Victoria disappeared in six minutes. The Standard’s special correspondent wires that the forecastle of the warship Victoria was instantly submerged when she was struck. Admiral Tryou ordered mats to cover the injuries, and signalled the whole fleet for assistance. Boats were sent with the utmost despatch, but the Victoria turned turtle before they arrived. The propeller of the illfated ship could be seen revolving in the air. A number of the crew crept up the sides of the ship to the keel, and boats were kept busy in the rescue work, but many of those who gained a position on the bottom of the vessel were sueked in in the vortex. H.M.S, .Nile narrowly escaped ramming the Victoria on the port side after her collision with the Camperdown, The Victoria’s grew observed perfect djsgipUne. N obody moved from his post until ordered, albeit death was apparent. Admiral Tryou maintained cool to the last, and refused the offer of a buoy, telling the coxswain to save himself. One account says he was last seen on the bridge waving a telescope, and another jhaf he wenf flown with folded arms. Ejs pap, telescope, and despatch box have been recovered. It is believed at the Admiralty that the collision was not due to any defect in tl\£ machinery, and it is feared that «**use will bo found to be faulty execution of order?.

r |'ho vessel capsized owing to the upper chamber flooding; the lower one was intact. Among those drowned in the Victoria wove pjugty men who were ordered to dope the bulkheads. They could easily have escaped by disobeying orders ai'.fl seeking their own safety. An officer who the catastrophe says that tl\q lost control of her ana at the same time the Victoria swerved slightly, so that both ships were nearing each other. It is proposed to erect a moflWPaenx In St. Paul’s to the memory- or those who were dro^iiefl. 4 fflCmov-ioS service, out of respect to Admiral Tryou, was held at Elm Square, The Duke? of Cambridge and Edinburgh, Lady Tryon, and many leaders of society were present, Telegram ß have been received from the Governors of Tasmania, Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and bow Zealand, and a joint letter from Messrs Id- Heaton, Hogan, T. Onit{\v n i! -. Curran, W. A. MacArthnr,and P. o’l>r:se. 11 (as Austrdian members of the House of Commons), expressing regret and sympathy, and highly lauding Admiral Tryou’s personal merits.

June 29. Horrible accounts are received of the mutilation of the bodies of some of the crew of the Victoria by her propellors. The sea was rod with blood for a considerable distance and the place is infested with sharia Captain liourke will be tried by Court Martial at Malta, for the loss of H.M.S, Victoria. The Australian cricketers subscribed £25 towards the Victoria fund. The Lord Mayor’s fund has reached £15,000, inoluding £SOO from the Duke of Edinburgh, and £SOO from the -Rothschilds.