The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-25
BRITAIN'S CATASTROPHE
SINKING OF THE VICTORIA CAUSES
UNIVERsAL GLOOM.
Throngs Of Women Gather Around the
Admiralty Once Eager for Tidings
of Their Loved Ones.

| NHtft III fillt klnSuDm III ItBafu 10
the calamity that has bcfallen the coun-
try through the loss Of the battleship
Victoria, off Tripoli. and the drowning
Of so many OF her officers and crew.
Sorrow for the dead and sympathy for
the relatives and friends Of those who
went down with the ship Is widespread.
In some quarters a certain amount OF
Indignation is expressed that such an
| accident should occur but so far as
| known. there is no foundation for this
| feeling. The lack of details, caused by
| the remoteness Of the scene Of the dis
| aster, allows Of no expression OF definite
opinion. and fun reports of the accident
! are eagerly awaited. II is not believed
that full story Of the sad affair can be
| obtained until the arrival at Malta of the
| CamperdOWn, which ran into the NictO-
| ria, or some other vessel belonging TO
the British Mediterranean squadron, con-
veyng survivors from the Victoria.
A special staff Of officials was kept On
| duty all night at the Admiralty Office,
| at White Hall. for the purpose of re-
| ceiviug any official dispatches that might
| arrive. The only information recei ed.
| however, was the names Of those who
/ had been saved. and that only came to
| hand at $3.50 o'clock this morning. In the
| meantime an immense crowd gathered
] about the Admiralty office eager TO grasp
any scrap of Information. In the crowd
| were many sad faced women and chill
| dren and young girls, whose husbands
| fathers or sweethearts were members OF
| the Inflated crew. Hundreds OF persons
| living i'm the provinces who had relatives
or friends on board the Victoria could
not wait az home for the receipt OF fur
| ther details of the disaster.
As soon as they heard Of the founder
| ing of the ship they took trains for Lon
| don. in the belief that al the Admiralty
| Office they would soon learn whether
their loved ones had escaped or gone
| down with the ship on which they served.
| Many Of these stood silently throughout
the night. their drawn faces and desp0n-
dent attitudes showing the great mental
strain they were undergoing. IL was
sad scene, and one that will not readily
| be forgotten by those who witnessed it
| in some eases persons composing the
crowd argued that their particular re-
latives or friends must have escaped
/ drowning, but their tones and language
We're such that II could readily be In
| ferred that they were hoping against nope
and steeling their hearts for the worst
news that could come TO them. Through
! the long hours Of the night the crowd
gained fresh accessions and when the
list Of the saved was posted this morn
ing there was terrible pushing towards
the bulletin board 20 learn who had es-
capped the fate that had so suddenly car
riad OF hundreds Of Englands defenders
Those who were I'm the rear of the crowd
or were TO-, far away 10 see the names
inscribed on the bulletin We're aided in
their search for information by stentorian
voiced men who read aloud the names
Of the saved. II was painful 10 see with
what eagernoss o0d int slfv % rey.f.
listened. When women found tnat the
names they were listening for We're not
on the list, they cried and turned and
walked bitterly and despondantly away.
while others tainted away and had %
be attended hy The police extra numbers
Of whom were on duty in the vicinity
The only touch Of gladness 10 this scene |
was when some one iu the crowd heard /
the name Of husband father or flower /
read. In an Instant the look of despair /
would vanish and be replaced with q I
smile and Frightening of eyes that |
brought forth reciprocal smiles from those |
who were only attracted TO the place |
through curiosity. Many OF the crowd !
sull linger about the admiralty office !
awaiting the possible receipt of further |
news
Funds are being started I'm different /
parts Of the country TO aid those who /
have lost their supporters. Gratifying /
subscriptions are being made % these /
funds. and It is believed that large sums /
Of money viii be raised. Among the /
prominent subscribers TO the fund started /
by the Lord Mayor of London is the /
Queen who has donated n00 to aid the
stricken families.
a dispatch TO the Exchange Telegraph /
Company from Malta states that the
Victoria was cut I'm two aft of the bar
bette. Most of those who lost
their lives were drowned by being drawn
under the water by the suction caused
by the sinking ship.
Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon was
picked up shortly after the laundering of
his eship. and carried on board the
battle-ship Edinburg. one Of the fleet
under his command. where he died shortly /
aftarWard. The dispatch vessel Surprise.
Commander j. T. Tilard. is expected 10
arrive at Malta tomorrow. She will
convey to Malta the body Of Rear Ad-
miral Tryon.
The remainder Of the feet IS due 10 ar
rive at Malta on Monday.
Rear Admiral Albert A. Markham. who.
since the death Of Nice-Admiral TryOn. is
in command Of the British Mediterranean |
squadron. has telegraphed 80 the Admi-
rally that the damage sustained by DE
Camperdown I'm accidentally ramming the
victoria proves upon examination, 70
have been less than was expected He
adds that though the vessel is seriously
damaged. he hopes that she will be ready
10 proceed for Malta in a few days. where
she will go in dock for repairs.
II is stated this morning that no at
tempt will be made 20 recover the bodies
Of those who went down in the Victoria
The vessel lies I'm $50 feet Of water and
It would be an almost impossible task TO
recover the dead. n is probable i'm the
course Of a very few days that number
Of bodies will float out from the hui
and an these will be watched for and
given burial on land.
The Presidents sorrow.
WASHINGTON. June 4.-Thls morn
Ing the following cablegram was sent 90
The United States Ambassador I'm London:
"Bayard, Ambassador. London: Con-
yey TO Her Majesty the expression Of
heartfelt sorrow of the President and
people of the United States by reason Of
he appalling catastrophe to the Victoria.
Signed Gresham"