The morning call., 1890-11-13
THREE LIVES
All That Were Saved Of a
Total Of 200 Persons.
Loss Of the English Torpedo Cruiser Ser
pent of the Spanish Coast
Blown Upon the Rocks During Terrific
StGrm-ImpoSSible to Obtain Assist
ance From Shore.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

LONDON, Nov. 12.-The British torpedo
cruiser Serpent has foundered off the coast
of Spain. The Serpent was twin-screw
vessel of ITO tons, and carried six guns.
The cruiser was lost twenty miles north Of
Cape Finisterre Out of total OF 250 souls
on board only three were saved. The Ser
pent went on the rocks during storm Mon
day night Owing to the violence of the
storm it was impossible 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 Serpent's complement
was 10 officers and men. The others were
going to relieve men now on the African Sta
ton.
Later dispatches say the three survivors are
of the opinion that none OF the others got
ashore Four DOGieS have come up on the
beach. three Of them being women.
MAY CAUSE A SCANDAL
Lord George Hamilton. First Lord of the
Admiralty, on rising to speak at the Con-
servative banquet this evening, announced
the loss of II. NJ. S. Serpent. The announce
ment caused a sensation, but no action was
taken to postpone the banquet. Lord George
unusually jolly speech The news OF this
affair reached the London clubs and exited
much adverse criticism. 1t is considered that
Hamiton's conduct may cause scandal
against himself and the Tories.
The Duke OF Edinburgh was attending the
Patti CONCERT at Plymouth when the news of
the disaster reached town. He was imme-
diately Informed, and at once left the con-
cert hall. Alter reading all the dispatches
that had been received concerning the dis
aster, he went directly home without re,
turning to the concert hall. He expressed
the utmost sorrow. The newspaper offices
at Ply mouth were beSieged by crowds of
people anxious TO hear the news OF the
disaster. Among these were many wives
and daughters of the lost Seamen.
The Serpent was built after the ideas of
Admiral Ccoperkey, who insisted upon i'm
mense horsepower. which, according to pre-
vious notions, was out Of all proportion TO
her displacement. She could maintain
speed OF seventeen knots an hour.
Lord Brassey, in the Naval Annual ad
versely criticized the vessel He said the
economy OF weight had been carried to ex-
cess in her construction; that her plating
was too thin and her armament overdOne.
In sea-way her heavy top weight would
be detriment to her speed aud would un-
duly strain the hull. The vessel was 225
feet long, while she had draft OF only four
teen and a half feet.
Relatives of the crew at Plymouth and
the dock-yard people are full of gossip
about the lost cruiser. 1t is claimed she was
unseaw0rthy and broke down on all her
trial trips. The Serpent has bad record.
She broke down more than once in the
maneuyers OF 1888. Several admiralS con-
demned the vessels of her class.
Lloyd's agent at Corunna telegraphed:
1t appears the Serpent was running for
shelter in one of the bays north Of Finis-
terre. If she foundered nobody need be
surprised but the Admiralty. If she
grounded on the reefs she could not stand a
minutes battering in heavy sea-"