Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-06-24
GREAT BR|TA|N'S LOSS
Further Particulars of the
Ocean Horror.
OVER 400 SEAMEN PERISH.
News Of the Calamity Creates the Most
Intense Excitement.


Ing run into by the British battleshiI
ranean sea yesterday, adds to the horror
More than 40 of the officers and crew
were drowned. Among the lost il Vice
Admiral Tryon.
As soon as the officers Of the Victoria
saw that there was danger of their ship
laundering, orders were given to have the
collision bulkheads closed. in order to keep
the water In the compartment into which
the Camperdown had showed her ram.
The sailors tried to obey the order, but
the ship was making water two fast, and
while the men were still trying to shut
the bulk heads the vessel, with her i'm
mense guns and heavy top hamper, turned
over and went down.
The vessels were almost at right angles
when the Victoria struck Those on the
Victoria's deck at the moment of the col
lision scrambled away and were rescued
by boats from the Camperdown and sew
eral other vessels.
The men below had
No Time to Reach the Deck.
The sudden heeling of the Victoria
caused her to begin to fill Immediately,
and no escape was possible. She went
down In 80 fathoms of water.
1t Is difficult 10 obtain the names of the
rescued, as they are aboard several vessels,
and so far all efforts have been devoted to
recovering bodies.
Shortly after the collision five bodies
were taken from the water, one Of them
the body of the chief paymaster. They
were buried with military honors at
Tripoli.
The Camperdown was severely damaged
forward I'm the collision. Temporary re-
pairs will be made, and she will then start
for home.
The News Of the Calamity
caused the most intense excitement, not
only among those who had friends on
board the ill-fated ship, but among all
classes of the population.
As soon as her majesty received Rear
Admiral Markham's dispatch she gave
orders for the postponement Of the state
ball that was to have taken place at Buck
ingham palace last night
Mr.. Gladstone was greatly shocked when
he was informed OF the sinking of the Vic
toria, and the great loss of life that had
attended the laundering OF the vessel. The
prime minister informed the house of com.
mons of the accident and paid a most
glowing tribute 10 the worth of Vice
Admiral Tryon, who he said, was one OF
the ablest and most esteemed officers In
the service of her majesty.
Mr.. Gladstone said that there were GIL
officers, seamen and boys and l07 mariners
on board the ship. 1t was feared of this
total of 7lS souls
Over 400 Had Been Lost.
He was sure that the deepest sympathy of
the house would be felt for the brave men
who had T. ind nm untimely grave in the
service OF their country, and that 1t would
be extended to their relatives and friends.
Lord George Hamilton, formerly first
lord of the admiralty, indorsed every
thing that Mr.. Gladstone had said, and
expressed the deepest regret for the ca.
lamity that had befallen the country In
the loss of so many brave officers and
men.
In the house OF lords, Earl Spencer, first
lord of the admiralty, referred to the dis
aster in terms similar to those employed
by Mr.. Gladstone In the house of COM
mons.
The queen published today special
letter of coincidence with the families
afflicted by the disaster.
The state concert and other royal func-
tions on the program for next week have
been postponed.
The lord mayor has opened relief fund
for the benefit OF the needy families who
lost members in the disaster.
Was q Big Vessel.
The Victoria was launched from the
Elswick yard Of w. G. Armstrong, Mitch
ell e. Co., Newcastle on-Tyne, by whom
she was built for the British government
In 1897. 1t was originally intended that
the vessel should be named the Renown,
but this was afterward altered and the
name Victoria given to her instead, In
honor Of the queens jubilee
She was one OF the largest ironclads In
the Britiah navy. Her dimensions were:
lie myth, $40 feet, breadth, 70 feet; mean
draught, 20 feet o inches; displacement In
tons, 10, 40; horse power, 12,OO0. She was
protected by armor IS inches thick, and
was equipped with two Ill ton guns, one
29-ton gun, i2 6-inch 5-ton guns, 70
6pounder rapid firing guns, nine 8 FOUNDER
rapid firing guns, beside eight machine
guns for smaller ammunition. She also had
a powerful ram and eight torpedo tubes,
four below the water line and four above.
The Victoria mp TO the time she was
launched, was the heaviest vessel ever
built on the Tyne.
The newspapers are filed with articles
describing the vessels. and with obituaries
Of the most conspicuous officers lost. All
publish leaders extending coincidence to
the friends Of the drowned men. Every
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