The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-18
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE?
THE COURT-MARTTdL OF THE OFF,
GERS OF THE vICTORIA.
Captain N. A. Bourke Put on Examins
tion in His Own Defense-Admiral
Tryon's Fatal order.


Victoria. sunk in the collision with the
Camperdown. opened to-day upon the
Hibernia, the flagship Of Rear Admiral
Richard F.. Tracey.
The president Of the court is Vice
Admiral Seymour, Of the cruiser Hawk,
who succeeded Vice Admiral Tryon.
Rear Admiral Tracy is vice-president.
The principal defendants were Captain
Maurice \. Bourke and Staff Commander
Hawkins Smith. A letter was read from
Rear Admiral Markham, which bears up
on the published statement that Mark
ham had refused to obey Tryon's order.
In this letter the statement is made that
i'm reply 10 Admiral Tryon's question:
what are you waiting for?' signalled
after the vice-admiral saw that his order
for the manOeuvre was not being obeyed
Markham had signaled that he did not
quite understand the Vice-admiral's order.
Captain Bourke was then placed on
the stand I'm his own defense. He re-
peated the story Of the accident, as al
ready told In these dispatches. In sub
stance he said that he and Stan Com
mander Hawkins-Smith went 10 Vice
Admiral Tryons cabin. and received their
order from him as TO the manoeuvres 10
be carried out. Captain Bourke repeated
the conversation that then took place
regarding the distance from each other
to be observed by the ships, and how
the vice-admiral, after having originally
fixed the distance at six cable lengths
agreed with the suggestion Of the stan
commander that e should be eight cable
lengths. subsequently. when the sig
nails We're set the flags designated six
cable lengths. and when the vice-admi-
RAILS attention was called 90 this fact, he
said they were 20 remain.
Captain Bourke added that he saw
when the ships began 10 swing toward
each other there was not sufficient dis
tance between them 10 allow OF the evolu-
ton ordered. and that he asked permis-
sion 10 reverse the port screw I'm order
that the shins should make n shorter
turn. This was given him, and subse-
quently both engines were ordered full
speed astern. II was too late, however
20 avert the disaster. The Victoria had
turned twelve or thirteen points when
the Camperdown struck her.
Captain Bourke described at length the
efforts made to save the ship after the
collision. descriptions Of which have here
tofore been published. lie said that his
dispatches TO the Admiralty truly de-
scribed all the details OF the disaster.
He had no complaint whatever TO make
regarding the conduct OF any Of the sur
vivors.
Captain Winslow. the prosecutor asked
the survivors If they objected TO any
thing in Captain Bourke's narrative Of
the disaster. or II they had any charges
% make against them. They answered
nothing In chorus.
In the course OF Captain Bourke's ex-
IfVl.earrrfnr cl aI
him
when STAFF Commander Hawkins
Smith suggested 70 Vice-Admiral Tryon
that eight cable lengths would be n bet
ter distance I'm which 10 form the col
umns than six cable lengths did you say
anything in regard TO the subject?'
Captain Bourke responded mo" He
then stated that after the conversation In
the Admirals cabin. Sir George Tryon
went out and sat on the stern walk.
Fleet Lieutenant Clifford came 20 the
witness and said that the staff comman-
der had told him that eight cables"
was 10 be signalled. Captain Bourke re-
minded Tryon that he certainly had said
the distance ought 10 be more than six
cable lengths.
The Admiral turned 20 Lieutenant Gill
ford and said: Leave IL at six" GIN
ford then left the cabin. Captain Bourke
and Nice-Admiral Tryon remained to-
gether.
Captain Bourke at first declined 10 say
what passed between them after Clifford
left them.
The president reminded the witness
that he must make full statement,
otherwise he would inculpate himself.
Captain Bourke then said that he called
Sir Georges attention 10 the fact Of the
Victoria's turning I'm a circle Of $40 yards.
The admiral replied, Let Il remain at
six cables"
Captain Bourke then went on deck.
CAPTAIN Bourke displayed extreme re-
luctance TO say what passed between
himself and Admiral Tryon. on the ground
that Tryon. II he had lived. might have
qualified the report OF the conversation.
In replying TO further questions put By
the prosecutor. he said that he was
atop th- forechart house when the first
signals were holsted He did not then
say anything TO Admiral Tryon who was
talking jocuarly with the STAFF com
mander about other matters. lie ala
not remember about the signal 10 turn
Inward being holsted. He explained
that the Victoria's turning diameter at
the ordinary speed OF the fleet was just
under six hundred yards. with the es-
treme helm Of IS degrees. The helm
was usually used at 2s degrees, and gave
an estimated circle OF eight hundred
yards The Camperdown's turning cir
Gle was practically the same
Captain Winslow. the prosecutor: Did
you ask permission 10 reverse the port
screw when the signal was hauled DOWN.
Captain Bourke: Directly after the sig
nal was hauled down and the helm put
over the ship having swung about two
III | HHnFe9Epl
the admiral thus: I'VE shall come very
close 10 the Camperdown" then turned
TO my Aide-de-C Camp MILDLY Lanyon and
told him 10 take the Camperdown's dis
lance. To the best OF my recollection.
when | addressed the admiral he looked
up. but made no reply
English Courts Martial.
English naval courts-martial are di-
rected by the regulations 20 be held on
board ship, and in the most convenient
part OF IL. though in one case at least.
the court has been specially permitted
10 sit on shore They are public, except
10 such persons as are 10 give evidence.
They begin at noon, and continue, IL
necessary, from day 10 day, except on
sundays They render the finding at
once. the members merely suspending
the sitting for consultation. and they
pronounce sentence without first sub
hitting II 10 any superior authority,
though they have TO report It imme-
dIately TO the commander-in-chief or Sc
uior officer present, TO whom, also, they
have TO send minutes OF the proceedings
for transmission 10 the admiralty.
Under the existing naval discipline act,
cantains or admirals who may be SUI
nerintendents OF dock-yards are not TO
be summoned. save by special order from