Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-07-04
NOT R00n 10 TURN.
Rear Admiral Markham Makes Official Rsperi
OF Victoria Disaster.

the Victoria arrived at Calais yesterday,
with Rear Admiral Msrkham's dispatches
concerning the collision off Tripoii, lie
WAS brought by spscial steamer TO Dover
and WAS conveyed thence by special train
TO London He drove directly TO the al
miralty Office, where the admiralty board,
notified in advance OF his coming, re
ceived and read the dispatches at once.
The board decided 10 publish the dis
patches in full forthwith. The first dis
patch was dated from the warship Cam
perdowu, on une - 1t says;
"It Is with the most profound regret
that have to report the total loss of her
majesty's ship Victoria, involving the loss
of the comnanderin-chief, Vice Admiral
Sir George I 'yon. - officers and Ss' men.
under the following circumstances: The
squadron, consisting OF her maiesty's shi ps
Victoria. tatnperiown, Nile, Dr'at-
naught, infiexible, Collingwood, PhsetoIi,
Edinburgh, Ssnspareii, Edgar, Amphron,
Fearless and Barham, left Beyruut about
10 O'Clock this forenoon for Tripoli.
Shortly after, the squadron formed single
column line abreast and proceeded at the
Rate of Eight Knots Fer Hour.
"When five miles from the anchorage on
Tripoli the signal was made at 2:5l in tn"
afternoon 10 form columns of divisions in
line ahead, disposed beam to port--the
columns to be
columns To be six cable lengths apart.
We proce ded in this formation until 3:..s.
when the signal was given from the Vic
toria to the first division tn turn l8 points
to port and to the second division to turn
l6 points to starboard
"As the columns were only six cable
lengths apart 1t was not thought In my
opinion within the maneuvring distance
to execute such an evolution. i directed
the flag lieutenants to keep the signal,
which we were repeating at dip as AN in
dication that the signal from the Victoria
was not understood. ithen directed them
To signal with the semaphore, DO under
stand it IA wish for the columns to turn as
indicated by the signal now fiyingY But
before my order could be carried out the
coiumander-iD-chief scmaphored to me
to know what was waiting for.
at then struck me that he wished me to
turn ID points. rs indicated by the signal,
and it was hia intention to circle round
beyond division, leaving them On the port
hand Having the fullest confidence in
the great ability of the commander to
~ a"I,;.;',u Iar,arad ,ha s;anai hni.tod as
,.'.-.,
men the sighAi was hanieu Gown e'',
heim oil the oaihperuowh was put hafa
apoi'. As 'he wv" ships l",neo 'p""'u
each o'her' anu, see,hg 'no "ein' y, ',e
victoria was sun ha''-starooaru, ! ni'
rected the captain OF tne oa,hpei"owh TO
go iuii speed asterh WIN the starpoaru
screw, In order 10 decrease our circ'e Oh
turning. seeing 'ha' coiilsioii was ~,
eviabie' then ordered MN 10 go i"h
speed asterh WIN o"th engines out pe'ore
the speed c"nid ~ n,a'eria'iy co'hi''uh,-
cated the stem oi the '"ti'pe'aown str"cN
lhe victoria "n the star"o"ru "ow' auo".
~ feet before the turref, ana crushed ihto
the snip almost 10 the center iihe
Seeing the critical cond'''oh oi 'he VIC
toria' whlch seehed 10 ~ se,tiihe now"
towards the mead, boats were iihhed'ateiy
prepared ior 'ne r' "u W. op.n
pehha''' WIS Hoi''e. ny Va. "."
'ne as'.'' We" - ~, - So. 80
r,..ha..ra -
''"' ooa'" "''
A"r""s ""' '", .P"""'
non. Maurice ~ Dou,he, .he c,p.'', Vi
the victoria, s.nds 70 ,he aahira'y aet-
ter dated H. NJ. D Me, June ~ Aitcr
technical preface detai''hg the 'essei
conrse' the writer continues; .
shortly after p M the COMMANDER
sait he should FORM tine heet INTO TWO
DIVISIONS uisposei 10 port. columns -.
cables apart ana when sui'iclehIiy pas.
the line OF bearing ne wouia 'nver' lines
by turning columns inward 10 points
orihsiha the columns Vi u,s'siohs IN ,ne