Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-13
SWEPT TO DEATH.
BRITISH WAR SHIP SERPENT FOUNDERS OFF
TEE SPANISH COAST.
Out Of Two Hundred and Fifty on Board 0uly Three
are Saysd-TrmsndOus Seas Garry Away
Group After Group Of The Unfortunate
Ssamsn-NO help from the Shore.

LONDON, November le.-The British
torpedo cruiser Serpent has fOnndered
of the coast of Spain. The fate OF her
crew Is unknown. The Serpent was
twin screw vessel Of !, 40 tons and I, 800
horse power. She carried six guns.
The Serpent was lost at point 20
miles north of Cape Finnistere. Out OF
a total of 250 people on board only three
were saved. The Serpent went on the
rocksduring a storm on Monday night.
\ heavy mist prevailed at the time Of the
disaster. Owing to the violence OF the
storm it was impossible To send assist
ance 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 COruna, q
distance Of 60 miles. over mountain
roads. The Scrpent's complement was
l7O officers and men. The others on
board were going out To relieve men now
on ships Oh the African coast stations
The Serpent was swift light cruiser
one OF eight commenced during the adj
ministration OF Lord NorthbroOk. She
was launched in 1857.
The Duke OF Edinburgh was attend
ing Patti concert at Plymouth when
the news Of the disaster reached
that town. He was Immediately
Informed OF the calamity and
at once left the concert hall and hast
ened to the various newspaper offices
in search of further details. After
reading all the dispatches that had
been received concerning the disaster
he went straight home without return
ing to the concert hall. He expressed
the utmost sorrow at the fate that had
oyertaken So many brave men.
The newspaper officers at Plymouth
We're besieged by crowds of people. anX-
ious to hear further news OF the disas-
ter. Among those who were sobbing
were wives and daughters Of many Of
the lost seamen.
1t Is stated that many Of the crew OF
the Serpent, before the vessel started
on what proved to be her last voyage.
expressed the fear that some misfortune
would result to the ship. The the Rear
Admiral has tclcgraphed TO the British
Consul at Corruna asking for details OF
the disaster. The Queen has sent
similar message to the Duke OF Edin-
burgh.
The Serpent was built after the ideas
of Admiral Gooperkcy. who insisted
upon an immense horse power. which
according To previous views was ont Of
all proportion TO her displacement. She
could maintain speed Of II knots an
hour. Lord BraSSey, in his naval am
nual, adversely criticised the vessel.
lie said that economy OF weight had
been carried to excess in the construc-
ton OF the ship, that her plating wa
too thin and that her armament was
oyerdone. In sea way, he said. her
heavy top-weight would be- dciriment
to her speed and would undnly strain
the hull. The vessel was 99j feet long.
while she had draught Of only ~.
feet. The relatives OF the crew Of the
Serpent at Plymouth and the dock yard
people there are full OF gossip
about the lost cruiser. II is
claimed that She was unseaworthy and
trips. Commander Ross is said To have
been in the habit Of treating his men
with undue severity.
The Serpent started last Saturday on
her maiden voyage. She was commis-
stoned for service in Africa last June,
but was detained by several mishaps Ia
her machinery. She and her consort,
were cordially disliked by the service.
The Serpent has bad record She
broke down more than once in the
man~vrcs of lsss. Several Admirals
condemned the whole class as crank.
MADEID. November l2.-An official
telegram from Corunna says that the
Serpent was wrecked Of Cape Bucy,
near the village Of Camarinas. There
were 21G persons aboard. Of whom only
three were saved. The bodies Of three
ladies have been washed ashore. The
Governor has ordered the authorities at
Camarinas TO render every assistance IN
their power.
The three persons saved from the Ser
pent are sailors, who swan ashore az
Camarinas. They express the belief
that all the others on board were
drowned, but only four bodies have been
washed ashore as yet. There isno trle-
graph station at Camarinas.