The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-03

"A. MARKHAM Rear Admiral"
p. S.-Although the ships have been
searching each day, the only bodies recovered
up to the present are those Of Fleet Paymas-
ter Rlckard, James Nttles. the ship steward;
Spiro Portfolio, the captains cook; Joseph
flerres, interpreter; Sergeant OF Marines
Morgan and Charles Tomkins, a seaman,
which have been inferred In the Christian
cemetery in TrlpoIi The Turkish authorities
have been communicated with relative to
any body that might be washed ashore, and
they nave rendered every assistance in their
power.
NoTE-The maneuvering consisted of two
lines turning In toward each other, exactly
reversing their course in parallel lines Owing
TO the lack of room, the figure that ensued
was IN the form Oi IN inverted w
CAPTAIN BoURKE's REPORT.
Hon. Maurice A Bourke, captain of
the Victoria, sends to the admiralty
dispatch dated H. S. Nile, June 28. At
ter a technical perfecto, detailing the
vessel course the writer continues:
Shortly after O'Clock p, m, the comman-
DER told me he wished TO see me and stan
commander Hawkins Smith with the charts,
We went to his cabin. The commander
said he should form the feet in two diyi-
cables apart, and when sufficiently past the
line bearing, namely, the tower OF lines
south by east, which was the line we were
going to turn up at and anchor upon, he
would invert the lines by turning the
columns inward sixteen points 80 that
on reaching the line Of bearing
for turning up for anchor, the feet should
alter its course together points to port,
bringing the fleet in columns of divisions in
line abreast to port, the columns disposed
astern steering south by east and anchoring
on these bearings, when Tars Island bore
west by north. The staff commander sug-
gested that cablcs would be a better dis
tance to form up in two divisions than six.
Inc ADMIRAL said II should be eight 5ables.
THE sIGNALGIyEN.
The stan commander went on deck and
about 2;lb the signal was made for the fleet
to form columns Of divisions in line ahead,
the columns disposed abeam to port the col
umns six cables apart, The STAFF commander
then sent to the admiral to say that six cables
were flying, and he had said eight cables,
was then in the admiral's cabin. The admt-
raj said it was to remain at six cables / then
then went on deck. Just before 2;45 o'clock
the stan commander sent me a sheet of paper
with new course, viz: east by north. This
l took down to tAe admiral, who told me TO
make IL and the fleet steered at 2;46, e. by n.
| On this course the flagship passed two and
a-half miles north OF Ramkine light house.
| At 3:2O o'clock the Lions tower bore by +.
AT this time the Admiral came toward TO the
| fore bridge and on top of tho chart, where |
| was with the STAFF commander. At 1928
| o'clock II was reported to him that II was
! time TO hoist the turning signal and again at
1927. when he ordered the signal TO be hoisted
! for the first division to alter its course six
! teen points 10 port and the second division to
/ tAllJl lbS COuASb 10 10 pOlQbl 10 inc blutDOdTu,
| the leaders together the rest in succession.
SAW THAT IT WAS TOO CLOSE.
The flagship's helm was put hard to star
| board and / directed midshpman TO observe
closely the distance of the Camperdown 1
reported to the commander that II would be
| too close and asked permission to reverse the
| port screw. This was done, and inst before
! the collision both engines were at full speed
| astern. The ship had turned twelve or thir-
| teen points when the Camperdown struck the
/ Victoria N hnr afarbpard al feet
| abaft the anchor.
From information given by Chief Petty ON
! Ger May, who was in HIS mess right forward
| learned that he saw the Camperdown's bow
come right through into the ship rs far as
into the chain lockers, and burst in the bulk
head between the fore mess deck and stokers
4 mess deck. When the collision was seen to
I be inevitable orders were given TO close the
water tight doors. This was done and
| preparations were made to use the collision
mat, but nothing could be done with the
! mat. as the Victorias bow had settled
| down steadily. AT this point left the deck
| by the commanders orders to see II all the
doors were closed, and up to what bulkhead the
| ship had hlled. l went in the starboard hats
| and saw that the doors were closed and that
| the scuttes had been shut. Icalled round and
! asked If everything was tight and was an
swered with yes, but by whom l could not
! say
ALL ORDERED ON DECK.
then heard the order for every man 10 go
! on deck on the starbOard side and all went up.
| / then got on the mess deck ana art, ana
| looked down into the starboard engine room.
| The engines were being worked and l heard
| the gongs OF the telegraph. ! spoke to the
! engineer q dead man, who was there and who
| told me there was no water in the engine
| room. He told me all his doors were closed
| Then / asked for the fleet engineer.
| He told me he did not know where
! he was I then ran along the
main deck, passed to see II the doors were
! properly closed and met tho feet engineer
! coming aft who said that all was tight as far as
| he could make out abaft the foremost boiler
room. l then won't on deck to report to the
! commander and got on the afterbridge,
| where all were at their stations TO get out.
! The ships crew were on the port side OF the
upper deck. l then went along the port fore
! and aft bridge to the admiral, the ship having
| a heavy list to starboard. Just as
| / reached the cutters foremast on the port
| side the ship gave q lureh TO starbOard and I
| clutched the rail J found myself sucked
| down. but / came up to the surface again
/ among the wreckage. l with many others
/ were picked up by boats. The conduct and
| steadiness OF all at their stations was beyond
| praise. There was no panic Of any sort or
| description. MAURICE A. BoURKE,
| Captain.
staff Commander Smith of the Victoria,
Lieut.. Heath, and Lord Clifford, flag
| lieutenant of the Victoria make
reports of their actions in carrying out
| the orders of Admiral Tryon just before
and Immediately after the collision.