Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-07-03
NOT ROOM TO TURN.
Markham's Official Report
of the Disaster.
COULDN'T EXECUTE ORDER.
Boats Were Offered to the Fated Ad-
miral but Were Refused.

LONDON, July IA mIusnipman rom
the Victoria arrived at Calais yesterday,
with Rear Admiral Markham's dispatches
concerning the collision Oft Tripoli He
was brought by special 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 bis coming, re-
cslved aud read the dispatches ut once.
The board decided TO publish the dis
patches In full forthwith The frat dis
patch was dated from the warship Cam
perdown, on June "a II saya
1T Is with the most profound regret
that have TO report tbs total loss OF her
majesty's ship Victoria, involving the loss
OF the commander-ip- chief, Vice Admiral
Sir George Tryon. % officers aud 1886 men,
under the following circumstances: The
squadron, consisting Of her majesty's ships
Victoria. Camperdown, Nile, Dread
naught. Inflexlble, Collingwood, Phaeton,
Edinburgh, Sanspareil, Edgar, Amphrion,
Fearless and Barham, left Beyrout 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 Per Hour.
when five miles from the anchorage of
Tripoli the signal was made at 220 In the
afternoon to form columns OF divisions In
line ahead. disposed beam 20 port-the
columns To be
columns 70 be six cable lengths apart
We proceeded In this formation ultil 3:2S.
when the signal was given from the Vic
toria to the FIRST division 70 turn 10 points
to port and TO the second division to turn
10 points To starboard
"As the columns were only six cable
lengths apart it was not thought In my
opinion within the maneuvring distance
TO execute such an evolution ! directed
the tag lieutenants 10 keep the signal,
which we were repeating at dip as an in
dication that the signal from the Victoria
was not understood Ithep directed them
to signal with the semaphore, DO under
stand II wish for the columns to turn as
indicated by the signal now 1yingr But
before my order could be carried out the
cornmander-in-c chief semaphored TO me
to know what I was waiting for.
1T then struck me that he wished rue TO
turn l6 points, az Indicated by the signal,
and IL was his intention 70 circle round
beyond division, leaving them on the port
hand Having the fullest confidence In
the great ability Of the commander To
mapeuver the squadron without even risk
Of collision, ordered the signal hoisted as
An indication That ] Understood.
"Wheu the signal was hauled down the
helm Of the Camperdown was put hard
sport AS the two ships turned toward
each other, and. seeing the helm Of the
Victoris was still half-starboard, ! d.
Al tha nfair ~ ha no a~.l.< -,
go full speed astern With the starboard
screw. In order TO decrease our circle Of
turning. Seeing that u collision was In
speed astern with both engines, but before
the speed could be materially commune
Gated the stem of the Campetdown struck
The Victoria on the starboard bow, about
20 feet before the turret, and crushed into
the ship almost to the center line.
Seeing the critical condition OF the Vic
toria, which seemed to be settling down
towards the head, boats were Immediately
pennant was hoisted by the Victoria and
the signal was made not TO serd boats.
A few minutes later she keeled over to
starboard and,
Turning Bottom Upward, Disappeared.
Hon. Maurice A. Bourke, the captain of
the Victoria, sends to the admiralty let
ter dated II. NJ. s. Nile. June Is. After
a technical preface detailing the vessels
course, the writer continues:
shortly after Q p no., the commander
said he should form the feet into two
divisions disposed to port. columns six
cables apart, and when sufficiently past
the line OF bearing he would invert lines
by turning columns inward is points
bringing the columns Of divisions in the
abreast to port The staff commander
suggested eight cables would be better
distance to form up in two divisions thar
six. The admiral said: Yes, It should
be eight cables
''The chief commander went on deck
and about 2:l5 his signal was made for tn,
feet TO form column Of division In lin,