The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-09-20
The Lost Vanguard.
A BRITISH 1NON-CLAD SUNK OFF TIE fR1BH
CoAsraAtk on BoAR6 FsAeED = BHTT d

NAVAL D1sCiPLiNE'a Z ~ 20. sT..Gt = I'll
The following particulars Of the dreadful
collision off Bray, Head, Ireland, which, re-
suited in. the sinking Of the British iron clad
Vanguard, are taken from the Dublin papers
of September Sd: &-EtEEs
On Wednesday. shortly before midday, six
of the seven iron.clads, which all through
the week attracted such hosts Of visitors,
weighed anchor In the Kingstown Roads and
steamed In the direction Of their new destl-
nation- Queenstown harbor. Two hours
afterwards, the Vanguard, one of the finest
Of these leviathians, was run into and sent to
the bottom by her consort, the Iron Duke.
The details Of this great naval catastro-
pie, which will create intense excitement
throughout the entire empire, are few aud
sparse. the officers and men Of both vessels
preserving u reticent silence which battles
the most eager inquirer. AS if to make con-
fusion worse coutounded, while all accounts
concur in representing the accident as bay
ing taken place at ten minutes to1 in the az
ternoon of Wednesday, the official telegram
of the Admiralty fixes the event at twelve
hours later. However, after col'sting ac-
counts obtained from the best authorities, the
following appears to be the most probable
account of the occurrence: The chips left
their anchorage at about halt-past IL and
steamed towards Queenstown. Scarcely had
they left when they were envelored ina very
dense fog. At q quarter to l O'Clock in the
day, about an hour and half after leaving
the roads, the feet were of Bray Head. The
lookout Of the Vanguard, which was then
going only five or six knots an hour, sud-
denly SAW through the fog large merchant
ship right ahead. ..a
TO avoid a collision with this vessel the
Vanguard ported her helm. The result Of
this mareuyre was to present the broads de
Of the ship to the bow OF the Iron Duke, then
about a cable's length behind. The Van.
guards offl'cr must have thought there was
time to get out of the Iron Dukes way, but
be was mistaken, for suddenly the Yan-
guards people saw through the fog the Jib'
boom of tue Iron Duke not fifty yards OFT.
Both captains gave the word TO reverse en-
eines, and back, but it was too late, and the
| Iron Duke ran into her consort with ire.
mendous force, striking her amidsbipS with
her pillow or ram, and dashing in her side
almost from keel to buwarks. The bows
| of these vessels are, we need scarcely say,
provided With iron " rams" for the express
purpose Of sinking al opposing vessel
| by a single blow, and the event showed
that the Iron Duke was oHly 100 well fitted
| for her deadly task. Her iron bcak ground
to powder the armored broadSide Of tue Van
| guard, and in a second the water poured
through the orifce, the engine-tires were eN'
| tiuguished and the vessel began rapidly to
| fill. There were some $50 human beings on
board the Vanguard, and as the waters
rushed into the hold their situation waSa ter
riblc one. There was no time to even think
Of saving property, and it is understood that
not single article, valuable or otherwise,
belonging to the ship, was rescued from the
| wreck; in fact, officers and men arrived upon
the deck Of the Iron Duke possessed only OF
the clothes in which they stood, and what
ever jewery or valuables they may
bave had about their persons before
the occurrence. There was no time to
run down to remove clothing or other
property. and nobody thought Of doing so,
all being intent upon self-preServution. The
utmost discipline and GOODNESS prevailed,
although hope is said to nave deserted tue
crew: but they looked what seemed an in
cvita de fate sternly in the face, and the
stronger men cndeavored TO support and
cheer their weaker shpmates. Both vessels
we're powerful GRAMS" but the Iron Duke
was bv far tue more powerful OF the Two,
and the fearful fleet Of her crushing weight
upon the broad,ide Of her consort may be
imagined. The fr.t-named vessel stuff red
Insignificant damages. her boWsprit and fore
gear, or shead gear" rs it is called, having
only teen carried away, While the Vanguard
Succumbcd, with guns, ammunition, &C
coutrements, large stands Of small arms
and iu fact with all the appointment
of q frst.cass man-of war, whose construc.
ton cost nearly 100000. The suuken yes.
sci has been occupied for several years as the
guard ship ut KlDg>town. No lives have
been lost, and the crew escaped uDhurt, With
the exception Of three men who received
some contuSionS during their transit TO the
Duke. The walls of favorte dog, who
aloue met watery grave, were beard above
The general din.
At the time of the collision it appeared
that owing 10 the density Of the fog, the
Iron Duke and Vanguard, at all events,
were not proceeding at speed OF more than
i've or six krots an hour. On leaving the
man.of- var roads in Dublin Bay. the squad
ron sleered north Of tue Kirk Light in order
10 get into the deep sea track, and aferWard
The ships headed southwark. On nearing
Wicklog Head the lookout on hoard The
Vanguard perceived a large merchant vessel
looming a short distance ahead, and in order
to avoid running into her, toe order was
given to put the helm bard port. Captain
DawkinS, of the Vanguard, Was on the bridge
au!dsuips when the catastrophe occurred, and
being in a state of much anxiety, was care.
fully coursng" the ship. AT first sight
of the extent of the damage done, it was
believed impossible that the vessel could
long remain afloat. The water rushed in
through the aperture, and with Kissing,
Seething sound, forced its way through the
ship in all directions. Captain Diwkins,
like an experienced sailor, instantly had
every man at his post, with peremptory ln-
structions TO remain standing by their duty
to the last. The result was the maintenance
of the most excellent order. With calmneSs
and regularity the boats were lowered, and
proper preparations we're made for transfer
ring the crew on beard according to senlorl-
Is of station. In the mean time the Iron
Duke. which had become hidden in the fog
after the collision, again appeared in sight,
and also lowered her. boats, aud, OF course,
her officers and men assisted TO the utmost
extent.
The first batch OF men ordered to descend
to the boats was composed Of the lower
rank: the last to leave the ill.fated ship were
CAPTAIN Dawkns and Commander Landy.
Naturally enough, the interval OF time De-
tween the coIliding of the vessels and The
sinking of the Vanguard was nearly all occu'
pied in transferring the crew by the boats
TO the Iron Duke. No time was lett to any
one for saving property. Vauables, clothes,
all bad to be abandoned, in some cases, oil
course, with great reluctance. Many OF the
unfortunate men bad considerable sums oil
money in their lockers.
Nothing could be seen yesterday but the
topmast heads over the water, the roya
masts being housed. The Vanguard went
down In eighteen fathoms of water, The
kish light bearing west by northwest. elgb,
miles from the place where she at presen,