The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-24
BRITAIN IN MOURNING.
Fearful Scenes About the
Admiralty 0ffice-The
Victoria Calamity.
BIZ cable to the United Press.


LONDON, June "a, 1s93.-IE would be
hard to describe the feeling that prevails
everywhere in the KINGDOM in regard
to the terrible calamity that has bafallen
the country through the loss of the
battlesnip Victoria off Tripeli, Syria,
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 are wide
spread. In some quarters certain
amount OF indignation is expressed that
such an accident should occur, but
so far rs known there is no foupda-
tion for this feeling. The lack
of details. caused by the remoteness OF
the scene of the disaster. allows OF no
expression of definite opinion. and full
reports of the accident are eagerly
awaited. It is not believed that a full
story of the sad flair eau be obtained
until the arrival at Malta of the Cam
perdowu. which ran into the Victoria,
or some other vessel belonging to the
British Mediterranean Squadron convey
ing survivors from the Victoria.
THE AID MIRALTY BEsEIGED.
A special staff of officials was kept on
duty all night at the Admiralty Office at
Whitehall, for the purpose of receiving
any official dispatches that might arr
rive. The only information received,
however, was the names of those who
had been saved. and that only came to
hand at half past six O'Clock this morn
ing. In the meantime an immense
crowd gathered about the Admiralty
Office eager TO grasp any scrap OF infor-
nation In the crowd were many sad
faced women and children aud young
girls whose husbands, fathers or sweet
hearts were members Of the i'll fsted
crew.
Hundreds of persons living in the pro-
vinces who had relatives or friends on
board the Victoria could not wait at
home for the receipt OF further details OF
the disaster. AS soon as they heard or
the laundering of the ship they took
trains for London in the belief that at the
Admiralty Office they would soon learn
whether their loved ones had escaped or
gone to the bottom with the ship. Many
of these stood silently throughout the
night, their drawn faces and desponden5
attitudes showing Inc great mental strain
they were undergoing. l5 was sad
scene, and one that will not readily be
forgotten by those who witnessed It.
In some cases persons composing
the crowd argued that theic
particular relatives or friends must have
escaped drowning. but their tones and
language were such that it could readily
be inf erred that they were hoping against
hope, and steeling their hearts for The
A DREADFUL SC ENE.
Through the loIg hours of the night
the crowd gained fresh accesstons. and
when the list of the saved was posted
this morning there was terrible pushing
toward the bulletin board. Those VINO
were III the rear of the crowd or were TOO
far away to sea the names inscribed on
the bulletin were aidel iu their search
for tidiurs by steutorian voiced men VINO
read aloud the names of the saved. it
was Uaiuful TO see with what eaRernesS
and Intensity the people listened. Wneu
women found that the names they were
listening for were not on--tAe tlsS- taeg
cried bitterly and turning from the crowd
walked slowly and desponGeutsy away.
Others were more violent IN their dem-
onstrauious of sorrow. while stlil
others tainted away and had to be attend
ed by the police, extra members or whom
were on duty in the vicinity. Ihe only
touch of qladness to the scene was wnen
some one n the crowd heard the name OF
In an instant the look OF
despair would vanish and be replaced
with a smile, and Frightening or the
eyes that brought forth reciprocal smiles
from those who were only attracted To
the place through curiosity.
Many of the crowd still linger about
the Admiralty Office awaiting the pos
It is stated this morning that no at
tempt will be made to recover the bodies
of those who went down In the Victoria.
The vessel lies in 4S0 feet OF water ana l5
would be an almost Impossible task 10
attempt o recover the dead. 1t Is prob
able that in the course OF few Gays q
number of the bodies will float ont from
the hull, aud all these will be watched
for and given burial On land.
RELIEF FUND STARTED
Funds are being started in different
parts of the country to aid those who
have lost their supporters. Gratl'
made to these funds. aud
it is believed that large sums OF money
will be raised. Among the promineas
subscribers TO the fund started by the
Lord Mayor of London, il queen Nle-
toria, who has donated e1e0 10 aid the
stricken families.
TIsYoN PICKED up.
A despatch to the Exchange TelegraOh
COMPANY from Malta states tnae the VIC
toria was cut in two AFT of The Darbette.
Most of those who lost thslr lives wege
drowned by being drawn under the watef
Dv the suction caused bg tbs sinking
ship, Vice Admiral Sir George Tryon
was picked up shortly after The founders
lug OF his flagship and conveyed on
board the battle ship Edinburgh, one
of the fleet under his command, where
he died shortly afterward.
The despatch vessel Surprise, Conl-
mander B. f. Tillard, is expected TO ar
rive at Malta tomorrow. she Will con
vey 80 Ma lta ths body of Rear Admiral
Tryon. The remainder of the feet is due
arrive at Malta on Monday.
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