New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-27
HOW THE BATTLESHIP SANK.
THE THETICTORIA'SFEARFULFATE
pII,NGING TO THE BOTTOM EIGHT MINUTES
AFTER SHE WAS STRUCK.

SINGLE FILE-ADMIRAL TRYON STANDS BY
1sIE DOOMED sHIP-MANY SAILORS
KILLED BY THE vIcToRIAs
PRoPELLER.BLADEs.
London June 26--" The United Press CORE
spondent sends from Beyrout an account of the
sinking of the battlcship Victoria by the Camper
down of Tripo last Thursday. Admiral
Tryon. he says. visited Bevrout last week with
the squadron of sixteen vessels, and he and his
officers entertained by the Anglo-American
residents. The whole foreign colony en- fete.
The guests were entertained at banquets, balls
and receptions The final reception was given at
the house of an English physician Wednesday
evening The farewells were said little before
midnight At 10 o'clock Thursday morning the
feet sailed away TO the manoeuvres of Trpoli.
The weather was sunny. The sea as smooth
as a mirror. The vessels had been drawn up in
double line. Abreast, they were about six cable
lengths apart. The bow Of each vessel was two
cable lengths from the stern Of the vessel ahead.
At about o'clock the feet was thus approach
ing Trpo Admiral Trvon signaed the order for
single file. At the time when the order was given
the Victoria and Camperdown were almost exactly
abreast Both turned slowly inward with sweep
ing movement. and their bows converged. The
Victoria was slightly ahead as they approached
each other The Camperdown pushed heavily
upon her and rammed her on the starboard side.
near the bow She tore with tremendous force
into the Victorias hull and drove the ram with
crash right through to the Victoria's middle.
he TRIED TO Run THE VICTORIA ASHORE.
1t was just 80 o'clock when, with the great
rip in her hull, the Victoria began to founder.
Admiral Tryon tried at first to her ashore,
but the distance, nearly five miles, was too great
The great vessel turned over broadside, and eight
minutes after she was struck she went down.
Rigid discipline was maintained in the few min
utes between the collision and the catastrophe.
The invalids and prisoners were brought on deck
and provision was made hastily for their safety IN
case of tie worst. The crew remained at ther posts
When FIVE minutes were up Admiral 1ryon ap-
parcntly realized that his vessel was doomed
beyond all hope of succor. He then gave the
order. Lot every man save himself Many
of the mon rushed from their posts TO the yes
sells side and Jumped into the sea. Others were
h,rryinr from below to follow them when the
end S,me Tie bow disappeared gradually az
first then the vessel rapidly plunged so that
the hull stood almost perpendicuary IN the
water paused motionless for moment ana hndily
rolled completely over. Two tremendous en-
rlosions were heard and then the Victoria set
tied under.
ADMIRAL TRYoN STOOD BY HIS SHIP
Admiral Tryon did not leave the ship. lie
was the last man as she first plunged her bow
under water. He stood the bridge as long
a. il was possible TO stand anywhere above deck
Iii, body has not been found. Two hundred and
ninety Of the officers and crew were saved. Many
were severely injured by the concussion of the
two vessels
The Camperdown has a siXteen-fOOt hole in her
bows She made a great deal of water. and was
kept aioat only by the closing of her water-tight
compartments and by pumping The fleet lies at
anchor off Tripoi while the Camperdown is max
ing temporary repairs, which will enable her t.
reach Malta.
The Victoria lies in sevcnty-siN fathoms OF
water II will bc impossible TO float her. The
bodies Of twenty victims have been found and
have been buried at Tripo The Victoria had
4 band of Italian musicians on board. Mr.
Trottar the English Consul, and Sir George
Wellesley were to have been the guests of Admi-
raj Trvon on the voyage to Tripoli, but the cap
tain of the warship Edinburgh, who is an old
friend OF theirs, persuaded them to accept his
hosntaty, and they thus escaped the disaster
A memorial service for the lost sailors was held
in the Anglo American Church at Bcyrout yestcr-
day The church was drapcd in black.
THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN THE COLLISION
disnatcb from Port Said says il is learned
that Rear-Admir,l Marllhanl's dispatches regard
ing tie loss of tie Victoria have bccH sent pS
mail 10 the Admiralty. The cruiser larhaih'
which /, was thought would cany the dispatches.
has arrived al Fort Said. The officers OF the YES
sel confirm the story already told. but they can
oivo M exclamation as to the cause Of the coils
ion They state that Admiral 1ryons order
was sixteen points 10 starboard for on" division
and the same 10 port for the other DIVISION.
Thi, gridiron movement, a. IT Is cdiied, l.
defended in naval circles a. teaching commanders
how TO handle their ships. and enabling the adml-
raj OF fleet to bring the flagship readily from
lee 10 windward vice versa III order 10 ocai
the brunt Of an action or TO Obtain the "~t po-
si,ion IN control a squadron. The officers OF the
Barham say that even after the men OF 'hc
Victoria were ordered TO save themselves they
pcrsis,cd in their gallant attempt to hX the col
lision mat in position. This usually occupies 'ch
minutes.
MANY MEN KILLED BY THE PRoPELLEisS'
Admiral Tryon's signal for assistance was
nromntly ,bcycd every vessel immediately senl-
inc boats 10 the rescue : but the suction caus'l
by the sinking of the vessel dragged down inc
strongest Of the swimmers The great la'ai'"
was due to the fact that when the vessel went
down the prOpcers were etill revolving idpin'A'
AZ the ship sank many Of the sailors were o'
served crawling up uhc sides Of the nun 10 '"c
keel All agree that Admiral Tryon showed rare
heioism After he had ordered all to save tlleh'-
selves. the coNswain ran up 70 lim with a ii'c-
belt Tryon refused to take it, an1 told t'', IN u"
70 seek his own safety lie stool on the pfi'So
motionlcss and with folded arms, awaiting sure
death
Without execution the officers and crew ne
hayed nobly The explosions after the Victoria
turned over are supposed to have bcen the Dnrs'-
ing Of her boilers.
Besides those already mentioned in the AL
miralty dis atclcs the list OF the drowned incIndeS
Lieutenant Munro. Sub-l.eutcnant G'llett, En-
gtneers Harding, foreman Deadman and Iiatheriy'