Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-06-23
FOUND A WATERY GRAVE
FOUR HUNDRED MEN-OF-wAR
DROWNED.


COIlisiOu with Another Vessel
OF The English Navv-9Ome-
body Made a Fatal BIunder.
LONDON, June CA most terrible
calamity has befalen the British battle
ship Victoria, the flagship of the Medi-
terranean squadron and hundreds Of
lives have been lost.
The Victoria which flew the flag of
Vice Admiral Sir Geo. Tryon, K. c. g.,
was run into off Tripoli by the British
battleship Camperdown, also belonging
to the Mediterranean squadron and
under command of Capt. Chas. John
ston. The Victoria had an enorr Gus
hole made in her side through which the
water poured in torrents.
The immense hull of the ship at once
began to settle and before those on
board of her could cast loose their small
boats she went to the bottom, carrying
down with her nearly all on board.
Some of the officers and crew managed
to get out of the suction caused by the
sinking vessel and were rescued. Among
those lost is Vice-Admiral Tryon.
The first reports of the disaster stated
that about 200 men were loss, but later
dispatch show that the loss of life is far
greater. Not less than 400 of the officers
and crew of the Victoria went down
with their ship.
The Victoria was a twin screw battle
ship of 10,470 tons and $4,000 horse
power. She mounted Is guns. The
Camperdown is also frst-class twin
screw battle ship. She is of 10. 600 tons
and II 500 horse power and carries 10
guns. ~,
AS soon as the OF GERS of the Victoria
saw there was q nger of their ship
laundering. orders were given to close
the collision bulkheads, in order to keep
the water only in the compartment into
which the Camperdown had showed her
ram. The sailors tried to obey the Or
ders, but the ship was making water too
fast to allow of the closing of the bulk.
heads, and while the men were still
trying to shut them the vessel with her
immense guns and heavy tophamper,
turned over and carried them down.
Admiral Sir Geo. Tryon was commander
in-chief of the Mediterranean station.
He was first made vice-admiral August
Goth, 1901, and later rear admiral.
Albeit H. Markham of the Trafalgar,
flagship of the rear admiral in the Medi-
terranean, has telegraphed to the ad-
rniralty from Tripoli, under date OF
t.day, as follows:
"Iregret to report that while vancouver
ing off Tripoli this afternoon the Victoria
and Camperdown collided. The Victoria
sank in Is minutes in 1S fathoms OF
water. She lies bottom uppermost.
The Camperdown ram struck forward
of the turret on the starboard side.
Twenty-one officers were drowned; 255
men were saved. The injury to the
Camperdown has not yet been fully as
certained, but it is serious and will
necessitate her going on dock for repairs.
l propose to send the survivors to
Malta"
The compliment of the officers and crew
of the Victoria comprised 600 men.
The first dispatches concerning the
accident led to the belief that it had
occurred off the coast of Tripoli in North
ern Africa. Later advices show that the
scene of the calamity was near Tripoli, g
seaport town on the Eastern Mediterra
mean, so miles northeast of Beyroot
Syria, and a comparatively short dis
tance from the Island of Cyprus.
As soon as news of the disaster became
known in London the Duke of Edinburgh
who was lately promoted to position o
Admiral of the feet, visited the admi
rality and conferred with the officials
there. The news of the calamity hal
caused most intense excitement, not only
among those who had friends on boarC
the Victoria, but among all classes. 81
dense was the thiong in the vicinity TIN
the Admiralty officials were compelled
to summon the police to restrain th'
| crowd.