The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-11-13
ALL BUT THREE ARE DEAD
The English War Ship Serpent Founders
OF Cape Pinisterft.
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
More Than Two Hundred and Forty
Lives Lost-tiow the Awful News
was Received by the Tory
Lord Of the Admiralty,

LoNDoy, Nov. l2.-Ths British war ship
Serpent has foundered at sea. The Ser
pent was lost - miles north of Cape Fin
isterre. Out Of total Of $50 souls on
board only three were saved. The Ser
pent went on the rocks during storm on
Monday night. Owing 10 the storm II was
impossible 10 send assistance from the
shore. Tremendous seas swept the decks
Of the doomed vessel, carrying away
group after group of unfortunate men on
board. The Serpenrs compliment was
l70 officers and men. The others were
going TO relieve the men now on the Afri-
can station.
Later dispatches say the three survivors
are OF the opinion that none Of the others
got ashore. -Four bodies have come up on
the beach, three Of them women.
Lord George Hamilton, first lord Of
the admiralty, on rising to speak at a con-
servative banquet this evening in London,
announced the loss of her majesty's ship
Serpent. The announcement caused a
sensation but there was no action To post
pone the banquet. Lord George Hamil-
ton led in the toasts with an unusually
jolly speech.
The news % this affair reached the
London clubs and excited much adverse
criticism. II is considered that Hamil-
tons conduct may cause a 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 at once informed and left the con-
cert hall. After reading all the dispatches
that had been received concerning the
disaster he went directly home without
returning 10 the concert hall. He ex-
pressed the utmost sorrow.
The newspaper offices at Plymouth
were besieged by crowds Of people, anx-
ious TO hear further news Of the disaster.
Among these were the sobbing wives and
daughters Of many Of the lost seamen.
The Serpent was built after the ideas OF
Admiral Cooper Key. who insisted upon
the immense horse power which, accord
ing to previous notions, was out Of all
proportion 10 her displacement. She
could maintain a speed OF II knots an
hour.
Lord Brassey, in the naval annual, ad-
versely criticised the vessel. He said the
economy Of weight bad been carried to
excess in her construction, that is, the
plating was TOO thin and the armament
oyerdone. In the sea her heavy top
weight would he detriment 10 her speed
and would unduly strain her hull. The
vessel was 22s feet long, while she had a
depth Of only az feet.
The relatives Of the crew Of the Serpent
at Plymouth and the dockyard people are
full Of gossip about the lost cruiser. Ii is
claimed she was unseaworthy and broke
down. The Serpent has bad record.
She broke down more than once in the
manoeuvers OF 1sss. Several admirals
condemned the vessel in her class.
Lloyd's agent at Corunna telegraphs: /:
alt appears the Serpent was running for
shelter in one OF the bays north Of Pinis-
terre. II she foundered nobody need be
surprised but the admiralty. II she
grounded on the reefs she could not stand
minutes battering in heavy sea-"