New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-13
"A BRITISH WARSHIP LOST.
TERRIBLE DISASTER ON THE SPANISH
COAST.
bSrY THREE SAILORS SAVED OUT OF c7e PER
SONS ON BoARD-rHE CRUISER SERPENT
DRIVEN ON THE ROCKS IN STORM
MEAGRE DETAILS OF THE WRECK.

SONS On bOAhD-THE Gnu VlSrh Sn>f f>'A
DRIVEN ON THE ROCKS IN A STORM
MEAGRE DETAILS OF THE WRECK.
Loudsn, Nov. 1.-THE British torpedo cruiser
Serpent has foundcred of the coast Of Spain
The Serpent went on the rocks during STORM
on Monday night A heavy mist prevaieu "'
the time Of the disaster. Owing to the violence
Of the storm it was impossible to send assstancc
fyom the shore Tremendous seas swept the oecKs
Of the doomed vessel carrying away group alter
group Of tho unfortunate men on board
The news of the wreck was conveyed TO Corunha'
= distance Of sixty miles, over mountain ro"us'
The Serpent's complement was 40 Officers anu
men. The others on board were going out 10 re-
: lieve men now on ships on the African Station
She was twin-screw vessel OF i'"o 'o''' anu
l.Oeo horsepower, and carried SIX guns 'ne was
: swift. ieht cruiser, one Of eight begun during
the administration Of Lord Northorooh' '"e ""o
3ounched in 1887.
The Duke Of Edinburgh was attending Patti
concert at Plymouth when the news OF the dis
sster reached that town. lie was immediately
Informed of the calamity and at once left the con-
cert hall and FASTENED to the various newspaper
offices in search of further details. After reading
all the dispatches that had been received concern
ing the disaster, he went directly home without
returning to the concert-hall. He expressed the
utmost sorrow at the fate that had overtakcn so
many brave men.
The newspaper offices at Plymouth were be-
seced 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.
Il is stated that mary 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 Admiralty has tcleeraphed to the British
Consul at Corunna asking for details Of the dis
aster The Queen has sent similar message TO
the Duke of Edinburgh
The Serpent started last Saturday on her maiden
voyase. She was commissioned for service in
Africa last June, but was detained by several mis-
hans to her machinery. She and her conSorts
were cordially disliked by the service. The
SERPENT has bad record. She broke down more
than once in the manoeuvres of 1888 Several
admirals condemned the whole class as cranky
Lloyd's agent at Corunna telegraphs p" II ap-
pears that the Serpent was running for shelter
in one of the bays north of Finisterre 1t is not
known whether she foundered or grounded on the
fearful reefs that are continuation of the Ga
lician Mountains If she foundered, nobody need
be surprised but the Admiralty. II she grounded
on the reefs she could not stand minutes bat
tering in heavy sea-"
The Serpent was built after the ideas of Ad-
lniral Cooper Key, who insisted upon an immense
horsepower, which, according TO previous no
tions, was out Of all proportion to her displace
rnent. She could maintain a speed of seventeen
knots an hour Lord Brassey, in his Naval
manual, adversely criticised the vessel. He said
that economy of weight had been carried to ex-
cess in the construction of the ship, that her
platn8 was too thin, and that Der armament was
overdone. In seaway, he said, her heavy top
weight would be detriment to her speed, and
would unduly strain the hull The vessel was
.e25 feet long, while she had draught Of only
IA 1-2 feet
The relatives of the crew Of the Serpent at
Plymouth and the dockyard people there are full
of gossip about the lost cruiser 1t is claimed that
she was unseaworthy, and that she broke down
on all her trial trips. Commander Ross is said to
have been in the habit of treating his men with
undue severity.
dispatch from Madrid says: An Of
fetal telegram from Corunna says that
the Serpent was wrecked off Cape Buoy,
twenty miles north of Cape Finisterre
rear the village of Camarinas. There were 27G
persons aboard of whom only three were saved
The bodies OF three women 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 Serpent are
Sailors. who swan ashore at Camarinas. They
express the belief that all the Others on board
were drowned but only four bodies have been
washed ashore as yet There is no telegraph
station at Camarinas..