The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-03

mon IN on tho port SIDE OF tho upper deck.
This order was piped, and almost INN ediately
aftor the ship lurchod heavily to starboard and
turned over"
Lord Guiford. ing lieutenant Of the Vic
toria. makes the following statement:
AT IL p. NJ. the signal was made to alter
course together to n. l. by N. thus forming
tho feet on n limo OF bearing W. by n. from, or
two points abaft. the port beam OF tho flag
ship About 2 o'clock the signal was made
to increase speed to 48 revolutions. or about
aSkuots About ~ the Admiral ordered me
to take tho signal to form columns Of divisions
in line ahead. columns disposed abeam to
port. and Immediately nftorward to make
tho signal that columns should be
six cables apart. The first signal was
made answered, and hauled down. The sec
ond signal was then hoisted. and while it was
still flying the STAFF Commander came aft to
mo and said that the Admiral intended that
the columns should DO eight cables apart
thereupon went below and informed the Ad-
miral Of what the STAFF Commander had said.
The Admiral replied that he wished the dis
lance between columns to be left at six cables.
went on deck, hauled down the signal. as 1t
was answered. and sent to inform the STAFF
Commander that the Admiral wished tho col
umns to remain six cables apart.
About 2:40 tho course OF the vessels was
hhoIeu W east ny nOTtn III SucCeSSlOn pre-
serving the order of the floot. the first division
reducing and the second increasing the speed
OF the enginesto carry tho evolution out.
About 3:l5 the Admiral came on deck. and.
after few minutes on tho after bridge. went
forward to tho top OF the fore-chart house.
About 1925 hoisted by The Admirars nrdor
the signal:
Second division alter course in succession
sixteen points to starboard. preserving order
OF fleet; first division alter course sixteen
points to port. preserving order OF feet
While this was flying tho Admiral ordered
the following signal to DO got ready. viz:
Columns to be two cables apart. md all
ships will turn together with their guides as
the guido OF the fleet turns.
The last ship to answer the above signals, as
far as could see. was the Camperdown. About
$3.50. as soon rs she had answered. the signal
was hauled down by order Of the Admiral.
Thereupon the Victoria put her helm hard
to starbonrd and tho Camperdown put hers
hard a. port.
Il ordered three midshipmea to watch tho
speed and helm signals OF tho Camperdown,
Edinburgh. and Nile. No alteration. however,
was reported to mo other than that the
Camperdowns helm was being put hard over.
On the signal being hauled down and n coll
lision appearing likely with the Camperdown.
tine port engines were reversed and almost
Immediately afterward the starboard engines
also
Close the watertight doors. was piped be-
fore the collision occurred.
Tho Camperdown struck the Victoria just
abaft tho starboard anchor bod Tho Victoria
keeled slightly over to starboard. l reported
to tho Admiral that the DreadnouRht was
lowering boats. He thereupon made q gen.
eral signal to annul the sending OF boats.
Immediately afterward he made a general
signal to open on the Camperdown. disengaR-
ing herself from the Victoria. Tho latter re-
tain cd her list to the starboard and had settled
down slightly in tho bows. An attempt was
made to place the collision mat. but the water
rising quickly over tho forecastle it was aban-
doned
Tho Captain. by tho Admirals ORDER went
below to soc TINT the watertight doors were
closed The Admiral remained on deck. He
asked tho staff commander what water we
wcro in. and the staff commander replied:
Deep water: seventy or eighty fathoms.' Tho
helm was then put hard starboard and both
engines won't half speed ahead. Tho ship
gathered Roadway. swinging slowly to port.
\ minute afterward the steering gear broke
down. tho quartermaster reporting that he
was unable to move the wheel. During this
time the ship gradually heeling more and
more to starboard and the water rising rapid
Is over the lorccastle. the Admiral ordered me
to go down and ask tho Captain IL the ship
was making any water aft. On gaining the
port side of the upper deck found number
OF men Attempting to climb up over the net
tings. Immediately afterward lost my foot
ing on the ships giving rapid luroh to star
board. clamberod along tho deck to the
port foremast siX-pounder gun. whore the
rising water washed the away.
The time from the actual collision to the
time when she turned over and swamped was.
l should say. eight to ten minutes. When
came to the surface was. roughly estimated.
midway between tho Nile and the Victoria.
whose screws were revolving In the air. l Just
caught sight OF her AS she sank. bow first"