TERRIBLE NAVAL CALAMITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4454, 26 June 1893, Page 2

TERRIBLE NAVAL CALAMITY.

Foundering of HMS. Victoria',

Four Hundred Lives Lost,

Admiral Tryon Amongst the Number.

London, June 23. News has juat been received here of a feariul calamity in the 'Mediterranean Sea.

H.M.S.* Victoria, of 10,470 tons and 15 guns, the flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron, foundered, with the loss of four hundred lives,

Amongst those drowned iaAdmiral Sir George Tryon, formerly Australian station. Whilst the vessels of the Me'flp ranean Squadron were raanceuvnng off Tripoli yesterday afternoon, the ironclad Camperdown, a ship of 10,600 tons, ramiued the Victoria just forward of the starboard turret. The latter went down with appalliug rapidity in eighty fathoms of water.

She appeared to sink bottom upwards, and in fifteen minutes was out of sight.

The (Jamperdown herself was N seriously injured. There were 660 men on board tho flagship, of whom 256 were saved. The survivors were sent to Malta. The following were among those drowned:-Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon, K.Q.8., and his clerk, Mr Allen ; Lieutenant Munro, the ohaplain (the Kev. 8. 8. 0. Morris), the fleet engineer (Felix Foreman), Engineers Harding, Deadmau, SeaWL and Hatherlev, Gunner Howell,^Wsfr-i<^; swain Barnard, Carpenter Benll, " ' Midshipmen Leslie, Henley, Inglis, Grieve, Ayscongb, Fawkos, Lanyon, Gambier, and Sosrlett, NaY«l Cadet Stooks, Assistant Clerk Savage, Fleet • Paymaster Valentine D, J. Riokcord.

The names of tlio?o saved are not yet known. Owing to this lamentable oatastropha Her Majesty postponed the State ball. The Premier reforrrd to the calamity in the House of Commons to* day. He wis deeply moved, and his ■ words were listened to in a death-. like Biillnoss as he described the disaster. He felt certain the deepest sympathy would be excited for the unhappy late of this baud of brave men who had gone to an early grave amid citoumstanees of peace from which the pomp and splendour of war were absent. He added that there were 718 aboard, of whom Oil were officers and seamen, and 107 marines. Pour hundred and thirty were believed to be drowned. The Premier paid a high tribute to the capacity and services of Admiral Tryon, When the news of the disaster became known, relatives of. those serving on the Victoria beseiged tho Admiralty, and many heartrending scenes oocured.

The captain and commander were saved. Admiral leave his shipland wont her. •

[H.M.S. Victoria, flagship of the Mediterranean squadron, 10,470 tons, was built in 1889, at a total coat 0f£824r,905. Her side armour is from 16 to 18 inches thiok, and hot Bpeed 16J knots. The boat that van her down is a sister Bbip, and the. s.s Howe, which recently went ashore on the coast of Spain, is another sister, the only other ship belonging to the same class being the Benbow.]