The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-06-28


ish Ship and Her Crew-AdmiraI
Markham to Be Court Martialed.
NEW YORK, June 26-An extra edi-
tion of the Evening World issued this
evening contains a special cable from
Tripoh, Syria, giving the first full de-
tails OF the sinking of the flagship Vic
toria
At about 3 o'clock last Thursday af-
ternoon the English fleet came in sight
of FL Nina, the port and town of Trip
oil. 1t was coming from the northeast
and making directly for the harbor.
The five big iron-clads. Victoria,
Camperdown. Edinburgh, Nile and Sans
Parefl, We're drawn up in full front.
The Victoria was in the center, the
Camperdown was on her left and the
Edinburgh on her right. When they
were within five miles Of shore Vice Ad-
miral Sir George Tryon signalled to
turn and form in double line. This
meant that the Victoria and Camper
down We're to go ahead a little and
describe a turn-the Victoria turning
TO the left and the Camperdown turn
ing TO the right-then they would ad-
vance side by side in the direction from
which they had come and the others
would swing into double column order
and advance two and two behind the
leaders
When the order was given the dis
tance between the two ships was less
than two cable lengths. The execution
OF the order was easy enough for ships
further away from the center, but ex-
tremely difficult for the Victoria and
the Camperdown. In turning their
bows would pass within a few fathoms
of each other, even if the movement was
executed with the greatest precision.
This movement is rarely made and is
chiefly for the purpose of training the
ship commanders TO move expeditiously
away from shoaling waters.
Whether because Admiral Markham Of
the Camperdown could not believe this
movement was to be tried when the
ships We're so close together or because
he thought Admiral Tryon had miscalcu-
lated the distance he did not Set about
executing Admiral Tryon's order bu, sig
nailed that he did not understand il. The
Victoria and the other vessels had not
hesitated The Victoria began to turn
at once as she still held to the signal.
The Delay Was Fatal.
The Camperdown no longer hesitated
but also began to turn. The brief delay,
however. had been fatal. The Victoria
had nearly turned and the Camperdown
swinging around, bore down upon her
Both admirals were quick to act Ad-
miral Tryon swung the Victoria so as to
receive at the smallest angle the blow
which both officers saw was inevitable
and Admiral Markham did the same for
the Camperdown, besides reversing her
screws.
The twelve-foot ram of the Camper
down struck the hull OF the Victoria
just in front of the armored bulkhead
and plunged into the thin plates of her
starboard side. The armor ends at the
bulkhead and the forward part of the
Victoria above the water line were mere
cardboard to he great iron wedge so
nightly propelled.
There was a smashing Of wood and
iron plates and the ram and eight feet
of the bow of the Camperdown crashed
twenty feet into the bowels Of the Vic
toria. The Camperdown was halted by
the heavy arnor of the Victoria and as
her screws were reversed she at once
began 10 back away As all the other
vessels We're moving together into double
line behind the two leaders they were
and catastrophe involving all the iron
clads was imminent. Only the coolness
and prompt action of the other COM
manders prevented general disaster.
The VictOria's bow was now pointed full
toward the shore. It seems that Ad-
miraI Tryon did not realize the extent
OF the damage to the Victoria.
All Assistance Declined.
As no incident of exactly this kind has
EaF Ha
what the effect Of the hole I'm the COM
partment was to be. He no doubt
thought that as only one compartment
was damaged the others would keep his
ship afioat; when the Camperdown and
the other ships signalled offers of boats
he replied that he did not need them
The Victoria began to forge straight for
the shore under full steam. 1t is one Of
the rules Of the British navy that If a
ship is in danger Of sinking and shore
is not far away she must be got into
shallow water so that If she goes down
she may be raised again. So Admiral
TryOn was making for the shore and
was widening the distance between the
Victoria and the other ships. When the
CanperdOWn's ram struck the Victoria
Admiral TryOn, the navigating officer
two signal officers and the men at the
wheel were all up in the bridge either
In full view or in the chart house. Most
Of the crew was on the forward deck
lounging about trying TO keep cool un-
der the blazing sun of the clear calm
day. With the crash they rushed into
the battery and as far aft as possible.
but when the two vessels separated all
returned to their places. Discipline was
perfect. The admiral and officers re-
mained steadfast upon the bridge set
ting an example. So good was the dis
cipline that within five minutes after