The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-07-07
Admiral Tryon's Error.
HAD HE SURVIVED THE DISASTER HE
WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN SHOT.

WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN SHOT.
The disastrous collision between the
Camperdown and the Victoria, two
war vessels of the British navy, re-
sulting in the sinking of the Victoria,
and the loss of several hundred lives,
seems to have been the. result Of a
blunder on the part of Admiral Tryon,
in command Of the fleet.
Sir Charles Dixie, one Of Englands
moot eminent lay authorities in naval
and military matters, was interviewed
concerning the reports that Admiral
Tryon was suffering from temporary
mental arrangement when he conduc-
ted the maneuvres off Tipoli. Sir
Charles said:
"While the Foreign Office has a
deal to say on this subject, l must
confess that Admiral Tryon never
gave me the idea that he had any
mental weakness whatever. One OF
the lords of the Admiralty said that a
better sailor than Tryon never trod a
ships deck. The blunder simply
passes comprehension, Had Tryon
lived, he must have been adjudged
guilty according to the present evil
dence and, unless the Crown used its
prerogative, have been shot,"
Major General Walter Goldsworthy
said: "Tryon served with me in
Abyssinia. He was clear-headed
worker. l never heard of any mental
deviation or want Of precision on his
part. His fatal error IN my judgment.
must have arisen from illness"
In the House Of Commons the
Right Hon. Kay-Shuttleworth, Secre-
tary to the Admiralty, stated in re-
sponse to inquiries on the subject, that
the Admiralty had decided to convene
Immediately a Court-mirtial in the
matter Of the loss of the battleship
Victoria. He added that the court.
martial would be held at Malta.
All the newspapers publish long
editorials on the subject Of the Victo.
ria disaster, and all of them warn the
public to suspend judgment on the
matter until the result of the court
martial to be held in the case shall
have been made known. The news
papers admit that Vice Admiral Tryon
blundered in giving the order he did
for the man9uvre that led to the
accident, and state that he further
blundered when he signaled to the
vessels of the squadron not to lower
their boats, which they were upon the
point Of doing for :he purpose Of
going to the rescue of those on the
Victoria.
The fund being raised by Lord May
or Stuart Knill for the benefit Of the
families of those who lost their lives
through the foundering of the Vicsor
ia now amounts to S3o,ooo
Numerous private letters concerning
the sinking of the Victoria have been
received from sailors of the Mediter.
ranean fleet. One sailor, who was on
one OF the smaller vessels, writes in
reference to Admiral Tryon's signal ::
"We all stood amazed at such signal,
knowing very we'll that there was not
room for the ships to turn, but the
orders had to be obeyed. Although
the vessel was sinking under him Try
on signaled refusing boats. May l
never see such a case of wholesale
murder again.
"We saw the men fall in at com.
mand, four deep, on the forecastle till
the water reached their feet. They
then received orders to fall in on the
quarter deck. All the time they never
attempted to 60 near the boats. This
will show you how naval discipline is
ground into people. The whole fleet
could see the poor fellows standing in
perfect order quietly drowning in their