The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-20
THE VICTORIA INQUIRY.
REan hDMIRAL MARKHAM TEs7ITIES
A. THE COURT 1rdRTIiL.


z1.naeer-ent OF tho can,perdown = His
y,-st Thought wa, that the Proposed
y1sneuvre was Jmprncticnbie-he Then
I.ecrrrr.iy Assunaed that Tryon Intend-
ed 60 Pas. Out-ie. tho Ca,np~reown.
TarE1uA. Malta. july 1a-The Victoria dis
pfter cour. martlsl resumed Its sitting this
morning. Tho first witness called vns Rear
Admiral MARKHAM. whose nag was flying on
The Cam perdown at the time she ran into and
osank tho Victoria His Official dispatches TO
rho Admiralty reporting the fact and the de-
tale OF the dsastor were read. and no said
THAT he hai nothing to add to these dispatches.
Whom questioned ~ to tho Impression made
y,upon HIN whom the signal OF Vicc-Admirni
t'Tryon was hoistod on tho Victoria ordering
ethat the distance between tho two columns BIO
six cable lengths. Rear Admiral Markham re-
Aplled that when the signal was read he said to
Ahis flag lieutenant:
"That 10 impossible since It 10 an impracti-
iasable man1uvre."
! The Rear Admiral then repeated the story
Aof the signals as contained In his dispatches
tfe tho Admiralty. He said that when he sig.
Enabled to the Victoria that he did not quite un-
sderstand tho signal. the Victoria answered
that the Camperdown was delaying the ma
hh0uyres 1t then occurred to the witness that
She was to put the holm OF the Camperdown
Etdoun and turn her sixteen points to star
Eboard, while the Victoria would ease her helm
hand crcle round on tho outside OF the division
which was being led by the Cnnpsrdown.
Markham said that he had conferred with
,5his nag lieutenant and Captain. and that both
$ooneurred in his assum ption that the Victoria
Twas to pass round to the outside OF the Cam
apsrdown. Had this assumption been founded
Aonfnct the man9uvre would have boon at
Ntsnded By no danger. When he discovered
1fhat his assumption was wrong he watched
lythe yictora's helm signal with the closest at.
sntcn Ths Rear Adm1a said ing he Sewos
grendum Iii regard to discretionary obediencS
SSof orders when strict obedience would entail
When lie saw TINT, tho victora,s helm sig
anals wore not altered; he ordered Capt; I8nnss;
sscrew and to close the water-tight doors in the
Soollision bulkheads. These orders We're com
Emunicnted by Capt. tombstone to the proper
itoficers, and were PROMPTLY obeyed: Soon alter
iward Markham. saw that a collision WAS In
nsnss w aaa MSen @ %
Ting on the Victoria was hauled down the
MarEham also said that he was, not aware
that tho engines Of the Camperdown were
EsSoush the Vessels way IVA was not lessen ed as
smuoh as he had expected after the signal
tkthought that II the order had heen properly
genscu.ed The a. aapmGge inflicted upon tho VIC
When questioned ms to his placing two
EmeaninRs on the signal, the Hear Admiral
G"ss
preted II in the same way that he DID: and the
hnG s was 81 s
smMeh time to ask questions.
helm hard over It was too late to rectify any
fmistake. The Rear Admiral said he had never
either rySn ps er SS9rs
me" he said 1t would haye preserved the
2, the b IT, nd tn' sShs tns
could have done moth ing to prevent the COLI.
H,sion after tie vittorla.. and Gappsrdowa had
other Il I had sone astern with both screws
the Edinburgh would undoubtedly have
for ths oi tS st ship Aithoash
did not give Capt Johnstone instructions II
had done so he won have executed my
nsng TrSGa nrbs% .
slug OF the Howe. 1t is difficult to say whether
ea .ns st
e sSsr sSsaf h land f
the boats were got In readiness. Eotwithstand-
Tho Rear Admiral further said that he did
T.yon's signal although he admitted That such
n ere
ing their object. which Was, only explained
tso nev.r beore shat
bat n rI nsa .ns G ; Wee
anxiety about oheyinR his orders.
Flag Lieutenant Bradshaw OF tho Camper:
,!down vas next examined. He corronornted
the testimony o: Rear Admiral Markham.
Cnpt. tombstone o. the Cnmperdown also
gave testimony similar to that Of the Rear Adj |
tmtraL He said that he considered that Tryon's
4memornndum had no bearing on the case.
The witness thouehtit extremely dangerous
TO act contrary to a commanders orders for u |
mangnvre WHICH pornaps had been carefully
! iconsidereu and work oil out mathemat ically. |
Rear Admiral bInrRhani's Interpretation OF
Tryons order seemed the only reasonable one
Cnpt. Johnstono aeid that some OF the wa
: ter tight compartments Of the Camperdown
d remained open because the rush Of water pre-
xpaba s ssS w6ethssr s tbon mG
the tine that he was working the ship
on Dis own resIonslhilitY or was merely
but he was ready to accept full responsibility
for the arrangement OF the vessel He be-
fsthe powor to prevent the accident by reversing
Sner helm In time.
.IESIIGE SMIIH MlRRIEn