The Helena independent., 1893-07-03
Rear Admiral Markham Explains
the Sinking Of the Battle
Ship Victoria.
Offers OF Assistance Were Re
fused by the ILL Fated
Vessel
The Report of Another Ohioer Shows Thai
the Steering Gear Of the Victoria
Was Broken.

LONDON, July "A midshipman from the
Mediterranean squadron arrived here this
morning bsnHing dispatches concerning the
Victoria Cam perdown collision. He went
directly 10 the admiralty oilioe, whseA the
admiralty board were awaiting his ~ ING.
Aftsr reading the dispatches thsyx1 ,4ed
to publish them In full TO thwtth. The
first dispatch, dated from the Campsriown
Jane "a, 10 from Rear Admiral Markham.
After reporting the sinking OF the ship. in
volvina the loss Of Vice Admiral Sir GaorQe
Tryon, twsnty-two officers and 1886 men,. he
reoites the circumstances Of the squad ron's
formation just before the accident and
continuing says: "When about five miles
from tho anchorage off Tripoli the signal
was made to form eolumna of divisions in
line ahead. disposed abeam TO pot. the
columns TO be six cable lengths apart. We
proceeded IN this formation until tho sig
nal WAS made from the Victoria
for the frat division to turn sixteen
points 10 port and the second sixteen points
to starbeard. As the oolumns were onl ,
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 a counter signal asking instruc-
tions. but before il Was carried out the
commander In chief siRnalled to know what
WAS waiting for. Having the fullest oon-
| fdence in tho great ability Of the com
msnder to maneuver the feet ordered tho
signal hoisted that understood. The
helm of the Campsrdown was put hard
aport and at the same time she Victoria
"a ~hAA ~f.~lI. he
movement Of the Victoria % indicating the
purpose Of her signal. ~ the two ships
turned toward each othsr, and seeing the
helm Of the Victoria still starboarded
l directed the captain of the Camperdown
10 20 at full speed astern with his star
board screw in order to decrease the circle
Of turning. Seeing . collision was insv-
table then ordered him to 90 at full
speed astern. bus before tho headway was
materially checked the Oampsrdown struck
the Victoria and crushed into the ship al
most to the oentsr. Itwas. think. quite twe
minutes before the Camperdown. although
going at full speed astsrn. was able to Rsi
clear Of the Victoria. Seeing the critical
condition Of the Victoria tho boats were
! Immediately prepared. when the signal va.
hoistsd by the Victoria not to send the
boats. A very few minutes later she kssled
over to starboard and tuning bottom up
wards disappeared"
Hon. Maurice Bourke. captain Of the Vic.
toria, in his report says: Il directed mid
shipman to observe olosely the distance Of
tbs Camperdown. reported TO the COM
mander that II was too close and asked per.
mission to reverse the port screw. This
was done. and just before the collision both
engines were going full speed astern. Whom
the collision was te,n to be inevitable
orders wsre given TO close the watsT-tiRht
compartments. asked il everything wna
tight aud was answered with . yes bu1
BY whom could not say"
Lord Clifford, fsa Lieutenant Of the Vic
toria. in his report sns. after recitinR tle
details of the collision: II reported to tn.
admiral that the DreadnauRht was lowering
her boats. He thsreupon made q general
signal TO send no boats. After the collision
the staff oommandsr reported to the ad-
niral that they were in seventy or eighty
{ fathoms of water and the helm was theI
{ starboSrded and both enei mes went hall
) speed ahead. One minute afterward th'
steering gear broke. the quarisrmaster re-
PORTING that he was unable to move tn
I Wheel" Tho adnirrl ordered Clifford be-
{ low to see If the ship was making water At
{ and while carrying ont his order the vssse
{ sank.