The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-04


anchor upon-he would invert lines by
turning columns inward sixteen points, so
| that on reaching the line Of bearing for
turning w for anchor the feet should
alter course together eight points TO port,
bringing the feet I'm columns of divis-
ions I'm line abreast 10 port columns dis
posed estcrn steering south by east, and
anchorlng on these bearings when Tares
Island bore west by south.
THE staff commander suggested that
eight cables would be better distance
TO form UP In two divisions than six
The admiral said: Yes, Il should be
eight cables The staff commander went
on deck. and about 215 O'Clock the signal
was made for the fleet TO form columns
Of divisions In line ahead, columns dis
posed abeam TO port, columns six cables
apart.
"The staff commander then sent TO the
admiral TO say that six cables were
flying. and he had said eight cables /
was then I'm the Admiral's cabin. The
Admiral said / was TO remain at six
cables. l then went on deck.
Just before 2:l5 o'clock the staff COM
mander sent me a sheet Of paper with
a new course-viz., east by north. This
/ took down TO the Admiral, who told me
10 make it, and the fleet steered at 2:4j
ship passed two and a half miles north
Of Ramkine Lighthouse. At 800 the
Lions Tower bore south by east. At this
time the Admiral came forward 10 the
forehridge. and on the top Of the chart
house. where ! was with the staff COM
mander. At .8:2j II was reported 10 him
that e. was time TO hoist the turning
signal, and again at 81, when ne or
dered the signal to be hoisted for the
first division 20 alter course sixteen
points 70 starboard. the leaders together,
the rest I'm succession.
1.-THE nagshp's helm was put hard TO
starboard. and ] directed Lanyon. a mid
shpman 20 observe closely the distance
of the Camperdown. / reported to the
commander that II would be too close
and asked permission to reverse the port
screw This was done. and just before
the collision both engines were going at
full speed astern. The shin had turned
twelve or thirteen knots when the Cam
perdown struck the Victoria on the star
board bow. about ten feet abaft the
anchor. From information given by Chief
Petty o6cer May, who was in his
mess right forward / learn that he saw
the Camperdown's bow come right
through in the ship as FAR as into the
chain lockers. and burst I'm the bulkhead
between the fore mess deck and the sto-
kers' mess deck.
when the collision was seen 90 be
inevitable orders were given 20 close
the water-tight doors. This was done,
and preparations were made to use the
collision mat. but nothing could be done
with the mat, as the Nictoria's bow had
settled down steadily. At this point !
left the deck by the commanders or
der 10 see IL all the doors We're closed.
and up 10 what bulkhead the ship had
filed. / went I'm the starboard flats. and
saw that the doors were closed. and that
the scuttles had been shut. ! called
round and asked If everything was tight.
and WAS answered with yes but by
whom / could not say. l then heard the
order for every one TO 20 on deck. and
the men i'm the fat where 1 was, on the
starboard side. all went mp.
Il then got up on the mess deck and
aft and down into the starbOard engine
room. The engines We're being worked,
and I heard the gonFs of the telegraph.
! spoke 10 Engineer Deadman, who was
there. and who told me there was no
water in the engineroom. lie told me
all his doors were closed. Then l asked
for the feet engineer. He told ME ne
did not know where ne was. / then ran
along the main deck passage TO see If
those doors were properly closed, and
met the fleet engineer coming aft, who
said that all was tight as far as he
could make out abaft the foremost boiler
room | then vent on deck 10 report
TO the commander, and got on the after
bridge where alt were at their stations,
10 get out the boats.
"The ships company i'm great numbers
were on the port side Of the upper deck.
/ then went along the port fore-and-aft
bridge to the Admiral. the shin having
a heavy list 10 the starboard. Just as /
reached the cutters foremost davit on
the port side. the ship gave q great lurch
to starboard, and I clutched al the rail.
found myself sucked down. but I came
up to the surface again among the
wreckage. ], with many others. was
picked up by the Niles boats.
''The conduct and steadiness Of all at
their stations were beyond praise. There
was no panic of any sort or dascriptiOn
MAURICE a. BOURKE. Captain"
a sub-oiiicer who was attached 10 the
Victoria says:
The Camperdo~n struck the Victoria
on the starboard side, midway between
her cat-heads and the turret When
Rear-Admiral Markham saw that his
ship was bound 90 strike the Victoria he
signalcd for the CamperdOwn's engines
10 be reversed. il was too late. however,
TO much check the Camperdown's head
way. and she struck the Victoria a fear
ful blow Not only did the ram of the
Camperdown penetrate the flagship but
her forecastle was showed ten feet under
the forecastle of the Victoria. A bugle
call was sounded on the flagship calling
all hands 20 their stations. and an order
was given 20 close the water-tlght doors
IN the buikheads, a minute before the
collision occurred The Camperdown.
however, was swinging rapidly toward
the Victoria, and those on the flagship
scarcely had time 10 reach the compart-
ments before the vessels came together.
Then the water, rushing into the ship
through several Of the forward doors.
prevented access to these compartments.
The officers who were in the ward-room
felt the shock, which was tremendous,
and heard the sound Of tearing iron and
the rushing OF the water inboard. A
hugler sounded the collision alarm, but
though everybody aboard Of the ship
knew he was in imminent danger there
was not the slightest trace of a panic.
Perfect discipline was maintained and
every order was obeyed as soon as 70
was given. The pumps were cleared and
rigeed for action. and Captain Maurice
Bourke flag captain OF the fleet, made
an inspection 20 ascertain in what bulk
heads doors were closed. Al hands were
then ordered to fan in on the port side
of the ship. The collision mat and boom
were got out An attempt was made
TO place the mat over the hole In the fore
castle. but il failed
While this was being done Comman-
der Jellicoe was engaged in getting the
boats out. The rapid and increasing LIST
tie ship was making made this task a
difficult one. The port side of the ship
was crowded with men. their anxiety
plainly showing I'm their cOuntenancos.