Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-07-06
MARKHAM'S REPORT
The Commander Of the Camper
down on the Disaster.
ADM. TRYON ALONE TO BLAME
Positive Signals from the victoria for the
Camperdown to Turn within Too
Narrow waters, Causing
Collision.

LONDON, July "A midshipman from
the Victoria arrived at Calais with Rear
Adm. Markham's dispatches con-
corning the collision off Tripoli. He
was brought by special steamer, the
Maid Of Kent, to Dover and was con-
veyed at once by special train TO Lon
don. lie drove directly 70 the admiralty
Office where tho admiralty board, no.
titled in advance Of his coming, re-
ceived and read the dispatches at once
The board decided TO publish the dis
patches In full forthwith. The first
dispatch was dated from the warship
Camperdown on June %. II says;
1t is with the most profound regret that
have 10 report the total loss Of her maiesty's
ship Victoria, involving tho irreparable loss OF
the commander in. chief, vice.Adm Sir George
Tryon. twenty-five ofncers aud $50 men under
the following circums tances:
Tho squadron, consisting OF her mAiesty's
ships Victoria, Camperdown, Nile Dread
naught InfieHible, Collingwood, Phaeton. Edin
burg. Sans Pareil, Edgar, Amphion, Fearless
and Barham left Beyroot about 10 O'Clock this
forenoon for Tripoli Shortly after the squad
ron formed single columns line abreast
and proceeded at the rate NJ about
| eight knots an hour. When about I'VE
| miles from the hnCnOruge on lrlpOllt Tue sig
| nal was made OF e. % In the afternoon TO form
| columns Of division In line ahead, disposed
| abeAm to port-the columns 10 be six cable
| lengths apart We proceeded In this formA
| tion until S:2s, when the signal was made from
the Victoria 10 the first division 10 turn sixteen
| points TO starboard As the columns wero
/ only six cable lengths apart II was not there
fore, In my opinion, possible within tho
maneuvering distance, 70 execute such IN
evolution. directed the nag lieutenant TO
| keep the signal, which we were repeating at
dip, as an indication that the signal from the
| Victoria was not understood. / then directed
| him TO signal with the semaphore: DO un'
| derstand IL is your wish for the columns TO turn
| as indicated by the signal now fyingr But be
fore my order could bo carried out, the com
mandor.in- chief semaphored me 10 know what
| ! was waiting for
II then struck me that he wished to turn sir
teen points as indicated by the signal and It
was his intention 10 circle round tho second
division, leaving them on the port Having tho
fullest confidence In tho great ability OF the
commander to maneuVcr the squadron without
even risk OF collision ordered the sigma
hoisted as an indication that l understood
When the signal was hauled down tho helm Of
the Camperdown was put hard aport At th'
same time the helm OF the Victoria was star
boarded. watched very carefully the helm o.
tho Victoria as indicating the purpose OF hel
signals, as the two ships turned TOWARD
|
the Victoria was still starboard, l directed
the captain Of the Camperdown 10 20 full speed
astern with the starboard screw, In order Il
decrease our CIRCLE OF turning. Seeing that !
collision was inevitable, ! then ordered to q,
full speed astern with both engines hut befor'
our speed could be materially checked the stem
OF the Camperdown struck the Victoria on tn
starboard bow about twenty feet before w
turret and crushed into the ship alnoat " III
center line, the fore and ait lines OF Vac s"'-
1T tho time " The oollisin" Ia
toward each otn>- -.- Oeing Incline
49, ..,. at an angle OF about eight
.-srees
, II was, I think, quite two minutes before IN
, CamDcrdown was able, although going wit
full speed astern with both engines TO get clea
y OF the Victoria The water.tght doors Of N
. Camperdown had been closed by my orders b,
4 fore the collision occurred Seeing the critics
condition OF the Victoria, which seemed TO h
settling down by the head, boats were In
I mediately prepared and the boom boats wcr
4 got ready TO be hoisted out when the ops
pendant was hoisted by the Victoria and N
signal was made not to send boats very 70
u minutes later she keeled over 10 starbOar
and, turning upward disappeared The tin
, that elapsed between the occurrence Of III
y collision aud the disappearance was only abo,
| thirteen minutes Shortly before the Victor
' turned over the men were seen jun
4 Ing overheard. Observing this l imm
| | dutely ordered the signal made TO send a
n boats to the rescue and directed the Barha
!, and Fearless TO close In at once to save NJ
stcaming up In the Camperdown at the san
g time TO succor the oflccrs and men stru
i Cling In the water The combined forts OF u
y squadron resulted In the saving OF twcnt
: nine officers and about ga mon, but | rcgu
that no less than twenty-five officers AT
about $50 mon, tue majority OF whom were
all probability below at the time. were lost
The sea was smooth and there was only
: | light breeze at the time OF the accident N
=. Injuries to the Camperdown are serious, but
hope that with the assistance Of the artlnco
Of the squadron they may be temporarily r
i paired so that she may be sent TO Malta an
q | doCked