Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-13
A British Cruiser Sinks With Over Two
Hundred souls on Board

A British Cruiser Sinks With Over Two
+ Hundred Souls on Board.
| LONDON, November l2th.-The British
| torpedo cruiser Serpent has foundered of
the coast of Spain. The fate of tie crew is
unknown. The Serpent was twin scre W
vessel OF l, 40 tons, and carrying twenty
! guns.
| The Serpent was lost twenty miles north
of Cape Finisterre. Out of q total of go
souls on board only three were saved. The
Serpent went on the rocks during storm
| Monday night. Owing to the violence of
the storm it was impossible to send assist
anoe from shore. Tremendous seas swept
| the decks of the doomed vessel, carrying
away group after group OF unfortunate
men on board. Tie Serpents com mplement
was 1l0 officers and men. The others
were going to relieve the men now on the
African station.
Later dispatches say that three survivors
are of the opinion that none of the others
got ashore. Four bodies have come up on
the beach. Three Of them are women.
LORD HAMILTON CRITICISED.
+ LONDON, November 12th.-Lord George
Hamilton, First Lord OF the Admiralty, on
rising to speak at a Conservative banquet
this evening announced the loss of her
Majesty's ship Serpent. The announce
ment caused sensation, but no action was
taken to postpone the banquet. Lord
George Hamilton led off in the toass
with an unusually jolly speech. The news
of this affair resched the London clubs and
excited much adverse criticism. 1t is con-
sidered that Hamilton's conduct may
! cause a scandal against himself and the
Tories.
COMMENTS ON THE DISASTER.
| The Duke of Edinburgh was attending
| the Patti concert at Plymouth when news
of the disaster reached the town. He was
Immediately informed, and at once left the
concert hall. After reading all the
dispatches that had been received con-
corning the disaster, he went directly
home without returning to the concert hall.
He expressed the utmost sorrow.
The newspaper offices at Plymouth were
besiesed by crowds of people anxious to
hear news of the disaster. Among these
were many wives and daughters of the lost
seamen.
The Serpent was built after the ideas of
Admiral Cooperkey, who insisted upon her
immense horsepower, which, according to
previous notions, was out of all proportion
to her displacement. She could maintain
a speed of seventeen knots an hour.
Lord Brassey, in the Naval Aan,tdl, ad
versely criticised the vessel. He said the
economy of weight had been carried to ex-
cess in her constructions; that her plating
was too thin, and her armament overdone.
In seaway her heavy top weight would be
detriment to her speed, and wonld un-
duly strain the hull. The vessel was 225
feet long while she had draught of only
fourteen and half feet.
The relatives of the crew at Plymouth
and the dock yard people are full of gossip
about the lost cruiser. 1t is claimed that
she was unseaworthy and broke down on
all her trial trips.
The Serpent hes bad record She broke
down more than once in the maneuvers
of 1888. Several Admirals condemned ves-
sells of her class.
Lloyd's agent at Corunna has tele-
graphed at appears that the Serpent was
running fer shelter in one of the bays
north of Finisterre. If she foundered, no.
body need be surprised but the Admiralty.
If She grounded on reefs, she could not
stand minutes battery in heavy sea-
MAINMAsT SPRUNG.
LONDON, November 12th.-The German
ship C. H. Watjen, from Shields for San
Francisco, is off The Lizard, returning to
| Plymouth, with her mainmast sprung.