The morning call., 1893-07-03
Ordered His Ship to Her
Destruction.
ADMIRAL MARKHAM'S STORY
The Official Accounts of the Disaster
Received at London From the
Island of Malta.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

LONDON. July "A midshipman from
the Mediterranean squadron arrived here
this morning bearing dispatches concern
ing the Victoria -Camperdown collision.
He went directly to the Admiralty Office,
where the Admiralty Board were awaiting
his coming. After reading the dispa tches
they decided to publish them IN full forth
with.
The first dispatch is dated from the
Campo rdown, June %, and is from Rear
Admiral Markham, After reporting the
loss of the ship. involving the loss of Vice
Admiral Sir George Tryon and twenty
two Off 'ers and 336 men. he recites the
circum instances Of the sauadron's formation
just before the accident. and, continuing,
says:
"When about five miles from the an
chorage off Tripoli signal was made to
form columns of divisions in line ahead,
disposed abeam to pOrt-cOlumns, to be six
cable-lengths apart. We proceeded in this
formation until the signal was made from
the Victoria for the first division to turn
sixteen points to port and the second six
teen points to starboard.
'As the columns were only six cable
lengths apart, it was not, in my opinion.
possible to execute the evolution. /
directed the flag lieutenant to signal that
the order was not understood. | ordered
prepared the counter signal asking in
struction, but before it was carried out
the commander-n -chief signalled to
know what / was waiting for. Having
the fullest confidence in the great ability
of the commander to maneuver the fleet,
ordered the signal hoisted that under
stood.
The helm of the Camperdown was put
hard aporG and at the same time the
Victoria starboarded. l watched very
carefully the movement of the Victoria
indicating the purpose Of her signal. AS
the two ships turned toward each other,
and seeing the helm of the Victoria still
starboarded, directed the captain of the
Camperdown to 60 full speed astern with
the starboard screw in order to decrease
the circle Of turning.
"Seeing chat collision was inevitable.
| then ordered him to 60 full speed astern,
but before the headway had been ma
terially checked the Camperdown struck
the Victoria and crashed into the ship
almost to the center. 1t was, l think,
/ Lqnite two minutes before the Camper
down, although. going full speed astern,
was able to get clear OF the Victoria.
Seeing the critical condition of the Vic
toria the Camperdown's boats were imme-
dately prepared. when a signal was
hoisted by the Victoria not to send boats.
A very few minutes later she keeed over
to starboard, and. turning bottom up
ward, disappeared
Markham then recites the efforts made
to rescue the men. He states that nothing
Of Importance was recovered from the
Victoria. Tile injuries tU the Camper
down are serious, but he hoped that they
could be temporarily repaired, so that she
might be sent to Malta. He closes with an
expression of the deep grief and sorrow
among the Mediterranean squadron at
the lamentable catastrophe and pays a
high tribute to the ability and personal
character of Sir George Tryon.
Hon. Maurice Bourke, captain of the
Victoria, in his report. says. after tech
nical recitation of TryOn's order: II di-
rected midshipman to observe closely
the distance of the Camperdown. l re-
ported to the commander that it was too
close and asked permission to reverse the
port screw. This was done, and just be-
lOEe tub COltISlUH DOtu cuRlutS were SOIuR
full opeed astern. When collision was
seen to he inevitable orders were given to
close the water-tight compartments. l
asked If everything was tight and was ans
swered with YES but by whom could
not say"
Staff Commander Hawkins Smith and
Lieutenant Heath Uf the Victoria also
make reports which are purely technical
Lord Clifford. flag lieutenant of the
Victoria, in his report says. after reciting
the details Of the collision: Il reported 10
the admiral that the Dreadnaught was
lowering boats. He tnereupon made
general signal to send no boats. After
the collision the staff commander reported
to the admiral that they were in seventy
or eighty fathoms of water. ana the helm
was then starboarded aud both engines
went half-speei ahead. minute after
ward the steering. gear broke. the quarter
master reporting that he was unable to
move the wheel"
l. The admiral ordered Clifford below to
see IL the ship was making water aft, and
while carrying out the order the vessel
sank.