Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-03
ADMIRAL MARKHAM's REPORT.

London yesterday with Rear Admiral Mark
hams dispatches concerning the collision of
Tripoli. He drove directly to the admiralty Of
fee. where the admiralty board, notified in adj
vance OF his coming, received and read the dis
patches. The board decided to publish the dis
patches in full forthwith.
The first dispatch was dated from the warship
Camperdown, on June o. 1t says:
1T is with most profound regret that have
to report the total loss Of her majesty's ship
Victoria, involving the irreparable loss Of the
commander-in-chief, Vice Admiral Sir George
Tryon, 20 officers and $50 men, under the fol-
lowing circumstances:
'The squadron, consisting Of her majestys
ships Victoria, Camperdown. Nile, Dread
naught, IndeXible, Collingwood, Phaeton Edin-
bu. sh, Sanspareil, Edgar, Amphion, Fearless
and Barham left Beyrout about 10 O'Clock this
forenoon for Tripoli. Shortly after the squad
ron formed single column line abreast and pro-
ceeded at the rate of about eight knots an
hour. When about five miles from the anchor
age on Tripol the signal was made at 2:20 in
the afternoon to form columns of divisions in
line ahead, disposed abeam to port, the columns
to be six cable lengths apart. We proceeded in
this formation until 3:2S, when the signal was
made from the Victoria to the first division TO
turn sixteen points to port, and to the second
DIVISION to turn sixteen points to starboard
As the columns were only six cable lengths
apart. II was not, therefore, in my opinion.
possible within the maneuyering distance 70
execute such an evolution. directed the FAC
lieutenant to keep the signal, which we were
repeating, at dip, as an indication that the sig
nal from the Victoria was not understood.
II then directed him to signal with the sema-
phore: DO understand IL is your wish for the
columns to turn as indicated by the signal now
fyingT But before my order could be carried
ont the Ior-i in
to know what was waiting for. 1t then struck
me that he wished me to turn sixteen points,
as indicated by the signal, and it was his inter-
ton to circle round the second division, leay-
ing them on the port hand. Having the fullest
confidence in the great ability OF the COM
mander to maneuver the squadron without even
risk Of collision, / ordered the signal hoisted
as an indication that understood. When the
signal was hauled down the helm Of the CAM
perdowu was put hard aport. At the same time
the helm Of the Victoria was starbosrded
watched very carefully the helm OF the Victoria
as indicating the purpose Of her signals.
TRIED TO PREVENT IT.
"As the two ships turned toward each other,
and seeing that the helm of the Victoria was
still hard starboard, directed the captain Of
the Camperdown to 60 full speed astern
with the starboard screw in order TO decrease
our circle Of turning. Seeing that collision
was inevitable then ordered him to 60 full speed
astern with both engines. but before our speed
could be materially checked the stem Of the
Camperdown struck the Victoria on the star
board bow, about twenty feet before the tur-
ret, and crushed into the ship almost to the
center line, the fore and aft lines Of the ship at
the time Of the collision being inclined toward
each other at an angle Of about eighty degrees.
1t was, I think, quite two minutes before the
Camperdown was able. although going full
speed astern with both engines, to get clear Of
<hA Vsn<D No. A.
Camperdown had been closed, by nv orders,
before the collision occurred. Seeing the crit
teal condition OF the Victoria. which seemed 70
he settling down by the head, boats were i'm
mediately prepared, and the boom boats were
got ready to be hoisted out, when the open
signal was made not to send boats.
"A very few minutes later she heeled over to
starboard, and, turning bottom upward, dIsap-
peared. The time that elapsed between the
occurrence Of the collision and the disappear
ance was only about thirteen minutes. Shortly
before the Victoria turned over the men were
seen jumping overheard. Observing this, I'M
mediately ordered the signal made to send all
boats to the rescue, and directed the Barham
and Fearless to close in at once to save life
stsaming up in the Camperdown at the same
time to succor the officers and men struggling
in the water. The combined efforts Of the
squadron resulted in the saving OF 20 officers
and about 262 mcn. but regret that no less than
% officers and $50 men, the majority Of whom
were, in all probability, below at the time, were
lost.
'rhe sea was smooth, and there was only a
light breeze at the time OF the accident The
injuries to the Camperdown are serious, but
hope that, with the assistance Of the artifcers
Of the squadron, they may be temporarily re-
paired. SO that she may be sent to Malta and
locked
Il regret that the ships books Of the Vic
toria were lost. In fact, nothing Of import
ance has been recovered SO far.
FOR some hours after the sinking Of the
Victoria the water remained agitated over the
wreck. The screws were revolving ms she
sank. i remained in the vicinity Of the
catastrophe with the squadron until half past
o'clock, when. as the Camperdown was
making water, 1 deemed il advisable to anchor
the ships Of Tripoli. The Amphion. Barham
and Fearless remained until after dark, but did
not recover anything Of importance.
81 cannot express the deep grief and sorrow
felt in consequence Of this lamentable catastro-
phe by myself, the captains. the officers and the
men OF the Mediterranean squadron-sorrow
that is very materially enhanced by the great
and irreparable loss which the navy and the ma
ton have sustained in the death of our beloved
commander, Sir George Tryon, whose kindness
OF heart, no less than his signal ability in the
profession OF which he was such distinguished
ornament, had endeared him to all who served
(Signed) "a. MARKHAM,
Rear Admiral.
"NoTE-The maneuvering consisted of the
two lines turning in toward each other, exactly
reversing their course, in parallel lines. Owing
to lack Of room the figure that resulted was like
an inverted letter W."
CAPT. BouRKE's STORY.
Maurice A. Bourke, the captain Of the Vic
toria, sends to the admiralty letter dated II.
NJ. S. Nile, June q. After q technical preface
detailing the vessels course, the writer con-
tinues: shortly after pm the commander
told me he wished to see me and STAFF CON-
mander Hawkins Smith with charts. We went
to his cabin. The commander said he should
form the feet in two divisions disposed to
port. columns six cables apart, and when
sufficiently past the line Of bearing-namely,
the Tower Of the Lions, s. by E., which was
the line we were going to turn up and anchor
upon-he would invert lines BY turning
columns inward sixteen points, SO that on
reaching the line OF bearing for turning up
for anchor the fleet should alter course
together eight points TO port. bringing the
feet In columns OF divisions in line abreast Of
port. columns disposed astern steering s. by
E., and ancLoring on these bearings when
Tares Island bore W. by s. The staff CON-
mander suggested that eight cables would DO
better distance to form up in two divisions
than six. The admiral said: Yes, il should be
eight cables. The staff commander went on
deck and about quarter after O'Clock the
signal was made for the feet to form columns
OF divisions in line head, columns disposed
abeam to port, columns six cables apart The
staf commander then sent to the admiral to