Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-13
LOST ON HER FIRST TRIP.
The British Torpedo Cruiser Serpen
Sunk With All Her Crew.

The British Torpedo Cruiser Serpent
Sunk With All Her Crew.
During = storm Monday night the British
torpedo cruiser Serpent foundered of the
coast OF Spain, and out OF total of $50 souls on
board only three were saved The Serpent
was lost at point twenty miles north Of Cape
Finisterre by going on the rocks. heavy
mist prevailed At the time Of the disaster
Owing to the violence of the storm it was i'm
possible to send assistance from the shore.
Tremendous seas swept the decks Of the
doomed vessel, carrying away group after
group OF the unfortunate men on board The
news Of the wreck was conveyed to Corunna q
distance Of sixty miles, over mountain roads.
The Serpents complement was IT'S Off GERS and
men The others on board were going out to
relieve men now on ships on the African sta
ton. The Serpent was a twin-screw vessel of
Ito tons and 4, 500 horse power. She carried
six guns.
RUNNING FOR SHELTER.
Lloyd's agent at Corunna telegraphs: It ap-
pears that the Serpent was running for shelter
in one Of the bays north of Finisterre. It is
not known whether she foundered or grounded
on the fearful reefs that are a continuation Of
the Galician mountains. II she foundered no.
she grounded on the reefs she could not stand
minutes battering in a heavy sea
AN oFF-HASp ANNOUNCEMENT.
Lord George Hamilton, first lord of the ad-
miralty, made q speech last night at con-
sevative banquet at Acton. He began by an
nouncing the loss Of the British war ship
serpent He said: Il am sorry to say that Just
before came here / received a telegram say
ing that the torpedo cruiser Serpent had been
been great loss of life. The Serpent was one
Of our best cruisers and was valuable vessel.
She had excellent officers and fine crew. I
cannot tell the cause Of the disaster"
This announcement caused q momentary
sensation among the guests, but apparently
the startling news was quickly forgotten. Lord
Hamilton made an unusually rollicking speech,
provoking frequent outbursts Of laughter.
The incident was q topic of conversation in the
clubs late last night, and was generally de-
nounced as scandalous.
QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
The Duke Of Edinburgh was attending a
Patti concert at Plymouth when the news Of
the disaster reached that town. He was i'm
mediately informed Of the calamity and at
once left the concert hall and fastened to the
various newspaper Offices in search Of further
details. After reading all the dispatches that
had been received concerning the disaster he
went directly home without returning to the
concert hall He expressed the utmost sor-
row at the fate that had overtaken 80 many
brave men
The newspaper ofhces at Plymouth we're be-
sieged by crowds OF people anxious to hear
further news Of the disaster. Among these
were the sobbing wives and daughters Of many
Of the lost seamen.
1t 10 stated that many Of the crew Of the Ser
pent before the vessel started on what proved
to be her last voyage expressed the fear that
some misfortune would befall the ship
The relatives Of the crew Of the Serpent at
Plymouth and the dock-yard people there are
full Of gossip about the lost cruiser. 1t is
claimed that she Vas unseaworthy and that she
broke down on all her trial trips. Commander
Ross is said to have been in the habit Of treat
ing his men with undue severity.
HEB MAIDEN VOYAGE.
The Serpent started last Saturday on her
maiden voyage. She was commissioned for
several mishaps to her machinery. She and
her consorts we're cordially disliked by the
service. The serpent has bad record. She
broke down more than once in the maneuvers
Of 1854 Several admirals condemned the
whole claSs a. crank.
The Serpent was q swift, light cruiser, one
OF eight commenced during the administration
OF Lord Northbrook. She was launched in
lSoI. She was built after the ideas Of Admiral
Cooper Key, who insisted upon an immense
morse power, which according to previous no
mons vas out Of all proportinu to her displace-
ment She could maintain . speed Of seven
teen knots An hour. Lord BrAssev, in his M al
annual, adversely criticised the vessel He
said that economy Of weight had been carried
70 excess In the construction Of the ship, that
her plating was too thin and that her arma-
heavy topveight would be deiriment TO her
speed and would unduly strain the hull The
vessel was rs feet long, while she had q
draaght Of only Az feet