The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-06-29
FOUR HUNDRED DROWNED
A BRITISH wARsHIP GOES Down IN
THE MEDITERRANEAN.
The Monster Battleship Camperdown Crashes
Into the Flagship Victoria, Carrying
Six Hundred People, With De-
plorable Consequences.

calalnlty mas befallen the British bat
tleship, Victoria, the flagship of the
Mediterranean squadron, and hun
dreds of lives have been lost. The Vic
toria, which flew the flag Of Vice
Admiral Sir George Tyron, X.
G. B., was run into off Trip.
oil, seaport town ON the
eastern Mediterranean, 90 miles north
east of Beyrant, Syria, and compare
lively short distance from the island
of Cyprus, by the British bat lleship
Camperdown, also belonging to the
Mediterranean squadron, and under
command of Capt. Chas. tombstone
The Victoria had an enormous hole
made in her side, through which wa
ter poured 10 in torrents. The i'm
mense hull of the Victoria at once be
gan to settle, and before those on
board of her had cast loose their
small boats she went to the bottom,
carrying down with her nearly all on
board. Some of the officers and crew
managed to get out of the suction
caused by the sinking vessel and were
rescued.
The complement of officers and crew
of the Victoria comprised 900 men. The
list of officers, drowned included, be-
sides Vice Admiral Tryam, Chaplain
Morris, Lieutenant Munroe, Fleet Pay
master Rickerd, first engineer Forman,
Engineer Tasting, Assistant Engineers
Deadman, Hatherly and Seaton, Gun
ner Howell, Boatswain Barnard, Car
penter Beall, Midshipman Inglis,
Grieye Fawkes, Lanyon, Penner, Cab.
in, and Scarlet, cadet steers, and
Clerks Allen and Savage.
A change had recently been made in
the commander attached to the Vic
toria, Charles L. Ottley having been
detached and succeeded by Com.
mander Fallicome, who was saved, as
was also Captain Maurice
A. Bourke and 10 other officers.
First reports Of the disaster stated
that about 200 men had been drowned
but later dispatches show that the
loss of life was tar great +, not less
than 400 officers aud crew OF the Vic
toria having gone down with their
ship.
The Victoria was twin screw bat
tleship of 10, 40 tons and $4,000 horse
power She mounted Is guns. The
Camperdown is also frstclass twin
screw battleship. She is of 10 600
tons and carries 10 guns. Admiral Sir
George Tryon was commander-in-
chief of the Mediterranean station he
was made vice admiral May o, 1890.
Rear Admiral Markham OF the Ira
falgar, the ship of the rear admiral in
Mediterranean, has telegrapned to
the admiralty from Tripali, Syria,
under date of today as follows:
Il regret to report that while man
oeuvering off Trlpali, this afternoon,
the Victoria and Campendown collided
The Victoria sank in 10 minutes in IS
fathams of water. She lies bottom
uppermost. The Campendown ram
struck the Victorits's forward of the
turret ON the starboard. Twenty.one
officers were drowned, 255 men were
saved. The injury to the Csmpen-
down has not yet been fully ascertain.
ed but it is serious and will necessitate
her going on the dock for repairs. |
propose to send the survivors to
Malta"
An interview was had today with
Lord George Hamilton to ascertain his
views as to the disaster. He said with.
out doubt the Camperdown's ram
cut away the plating on the Victoria's
outside several transverse bulk heads.
Had this not been the case the bulk
heads could have been closed and the
water kept in one, or at most two
compartments, and the vessel still
have fioated But with plating torn
off or cut away outside OF several bulk
heads the inflow of water would have
been enormous and there would have
been no time to close the bulk heads.
With the plating torn off the water
must have entered the ship in solid
mass and thus entering one side caused
the vessel to capsiZe almost immedi-
ately.
The cause Of collision, he said, was
clined to express All opinion. 1t is
said that misleading OF signals may
have caused the accident.
The accident to the Victoria was
never equaled in fatal results 10 naval
annals OF recent times. 1t calls to
mind q somewhat similar accident
similar so far as loss of life is concerned
that befell the English battle ship
Royal George in 1879. The Royal, car
rying 108 guns, was lying off Spithead.
She had been keeled over for repairs
when sudden gust of wind caused
her to keel over until the sea entered
open ports. She filled and went down
with all ON board including the Rear
Admiral Rempenfeldt and number
of women. Altogether 600 persons
lost their lives in the disaster.
The duke OF Edinburg has received
the following dispatch from Emperor
William: Words cannot express our
horror. We all sympathize with our
British comrades. AS token of SYM
pathy your ensign is flying from the
main mast of our vessels with our own
ensign at half mast" The duke sent
a suitable reply. A court circular is
sued this evening says the queen re-
ceived the news with the deepest grief
and her heart is grieved for the many
homes plunged into the deepest mourn
inU