Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-01
Admiral Albert II. Markham, in which /. ID

Admiral Albert Il. Markham, in which IL 10
said he places the blame for the dis
aster which befell the battle ship Victoria
where, in his opinion, II belongs The
admiralty officials refuse to divulge the con-
tents OF these kilograms to the press until after
the court-martial shall have been held at Ports
mouth to ascertain every fact connected with
the loss Of the battle ship.
Every effort is being made at Malta TO keep
in seclusion the survivors Of the disaster who
arrived there yesterday and 10 prevent them
from talking about the collision. The govern
ment VIII be questioned in the house of COM
mons on Monday ms TO the reasons for this at
tempt to maintain secrecy
During the terrible half hour from the time
OF the collision until all had been saved whom
II was possible to rescue many acts Of heroism
and kindness were done and offered
Another officer said: AT the moment
OF the crashing shock there was a rush
for stations, then followed three minutes OF
suspense, the officers and crew waiting for
orders on the upper deck. At the last
the Victoria gave a swift lurch to starboard
as the ship rolled over. and then followed Q
terrible struggle to get hold OF something to
windward- Those struggles, however, were in
many cases futile, owing to the rush Of water,
and the men were swept into the sea or car
ried down with the ship, which sank gradu-
ally BY the bows. Then, with long, sickenine
roll, she turned clear over, and took her last
downward plunge. The men who fell from the
perpendicular deck 10 the leewsrd were buried
in the water when the ship rolled over"
ADMIRAL MARKHAM HEsITArED TO OBEY.
This officer stated that Rear Admiral Mark
ham saw that by following the order signsled
from the flagship q collision was bound to
occur and made preparations accordingly. The
signal for the formation desired by the vice
admiral was sent twice, but the rear admiral
disregarded it each time. The vice admiral
then signaled: why are my orders not
obeyedY'
Rear Admiral Markham was then obliged TO
obey the order and the collision resulted
The officer further said: 1.-The engines of
both vessels were reversed when the collision
occurred. The ram OF the Camperdown ran
more than half way through the Victoria.
After the collision the other ships Of the feet
wanted TO lower boats, and had started to do so,
when Vice Admiral Tryon signaled them TO
stop.
THE vice admiral had come Oh the sick list
the morning OF the day OF the disaster The
midshipmen webe with the vice admiral on the
bridge for the purpose Of seeing the evolutions
OF the feet, and il because Of this fact that
many OF them we're drowned.
Continuing. the officer said: The question
is, could Rear Admiral MARKHAM have carried
out the evolution when Vice Admiral Tryou
first signaled, was the danger caused
by the rear admiral waiting for the third
signal? All those acquainted with
the circumstances say the evolution
could not have been performed without coli
lision when the first two signals were given,
and that no extra danger incurred through
the rear admirals delay IN obeying the order
signaled to him.
Sixteen men suffering with fractured arms
or legs or other injuries are in the naval hos
pital