, 1893-07-29

minutes with her gallant Admiral and more
than half her crew. Although the event is
now a week old, thu official report has not
yet reached England, and such accounts as
have already been published are fragmentary
and Incomplete
1t appears, however, that the accident hap.
pened about seven miles from Tripoli, at half
past 3 on Thursday afternoon, 22nd inst,
when the operation Of changing line was in
progress. An officer of the cruiser Barham,
which was a short distance from the Victoria,
and who says he was standing wellforward on
deck with a glass in his hand OF the moment,
says
The evolutions IF the feet had been
going on for some time, and had been up
to that instant successfully and brilliantly
conducted. The gridiron mancenvre had been
done, and was being repeated at the time that
my attention was centred on the double line
of vessels.
when the signal was given fo= the
vessels to change over into each others
former position the Camperdown swung
entirely round, and then it seemed to me that
either she lost control of her rudder, or that
the Victoria swerved slightly out of her proper
course, because an instant previous to their
coming together there was q noticeable dis
tance between them and a small patch Of
clear water.
II had just put the glass to my eye, being
desirous of witnessing again the graceful
movement of the feet in its transposition,
when the two vessels upon which my at
tention was naturally centred as holding
the head Of the respective lines came together
with a tremendous crash that for a second
caused each to remain m%otionless on the watef
and a shiver passed through both Of the
enormous ships, and they slowly backed
away from each other through the force of
the impact.
Il could not appreciate, even after what
l had just seen, the terrible significance
Of the situation until the Victoria swung
round so that her damaged broadside was
presented to our ship. Then / realized
the certainty of the fate that came five min
utes later.
ut seemed to me that the change in the
position Of tho Victoria after she was struck
resulted from the tremendous force of tue blow
she had received. The collision and the re-
suit up to this stage had not occupied more
than a single minute but to my mind. which
now grasped the frightful danger that threat
sned, it seemed an eternity.
Before the Victoria had fully exposed her
side to the point where | was standing, her
mon had commenced to spread the collision
mat over the gaping hole in her side, and
could clearly distinguish Vioe-Admiral Tryon
giving orders apparently as calmly as he had
done a quarter IF an hour before, and the
crew working with the same discipline that
would have prevailed in the quietest weather
and under the safest conditions.
"In another minute the Admiral apparently
realized the futility of the Efforts to keep the
water out of the vessel, and ! could tell by
the action of the men on deck that he had
ordered them to save themselves in any way
they could.
Signals had been run up on the doomed
vessel calling for aid from the rest of the
feet, and as quickly as possible boats were
lowered and the entire squadron seemed t"
realize at once lwhat was transporting before
their eyes. But events now happened with
awful rapidity, and men could be seen leaping
from the side of the Victoria into the ocean
and swimming away. In fact, it was only
those who sprang away from the vessel
almost at the first alarm, certainly at the very
hrst order of the Admiral to do so, that were
saved. The magnificent discipline and the
loyalty of the crew prompted many, for the
first time in their naval. life, to disobey the
order of the Admiral and remain with their
brave commander ON the deck. Unhapplly,
those who delayed in that way were sucked
Down by the terrible whirlpool made by the
vessel when she turned over.
THE sight as the vessel finally sank was
In