Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-29


afternoon about seven miles from
Tripoli, The vessels were almost at
right angles when the Victoria was
struck. some Of those ON the Nictoria's
deck at the moment of collision scram-
bled away and were rescued by boats
from the Camperdown and several other
vessels. The men below had no time
to reach the deck
The sudden heeling of the Victoria
caused her to begin to fill Immediately
and no escape was possible. She went
down in 80 fathoms of water. 1t is diff.
cult to obtain the names of the rescued,
as they are aboard several vessels and so
far al, efforts have been devoted TO re-
covering bodies.
Shortly after the collision five bodies
were taken from the water, one of them
the body of the chief paymaster. Tney
were buried last evening with military
| honors at Tripoli. The Camperdown
was severely damaged forward in the
collision. II is said that several times the
| Victoria has shown signs OF weakness
III her steering gear.
| LONDON, June 26-The Times publishes
| this special dispatch from rripoli
The collision between tho Victoria and
| the Camperdown occurred at BAL in the al-
tcrnoon. The sea was perfectly calm and
| the evolution of changing line was being
| performed at the time. Many men We're
| killed by the Nictoria's screw. After the
| sinking of the Victoria diver narrowly
escaped death. He was rescued only
I through the presence of mind shown by
| his comrade, who cut his diving dress.
This cOmrade was drowned. Solemn ser
| vices for the dead were held last evening.
/ entire fleet"
1t is understood that Rear-admiral Mark
ham will be court-martialed with the
| officers OF the Camperdown, as that vessel
carried his lag as second in command of
| the squadron when she came into collision
with the Victoria.
Many sermons were preached here to-
day concerning the sinking Of the Victoria.
| In st. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey
! and many other churches the dead march
was played. Throughout Great Britain
| special references to the loss of the Vic
tora were made in the church services.
COMMENTS rs WASHINGTON.
| WASHINGTON, June 25.--The Bureau Of
! Construction has accurate drawings of the
| Victoria, and to these naval officers turned
yesterday with interest. 1t was expected
that these plans would show defects in the
vesse ) construction and explain why she
ideas of naval architecture in this country,
an examination of the drawings of the
Nictorias interior construction would
seem to prove that that vessel had not been
satisfactorily designed. Her plans indi.
cate that the bulkheads in her engine and
boiler space are not carried up sufficiently
high. Not carrying the bulkheads up to
an extreme height and securing them to
the upper decks would of course decrease
the structural strength of vessel and put
her greatly at the mercy of an adversary
when rammed. Apparently the Victoria
was strong at every other point and the
opinion prevails that the prov of the
Camperdown must have struck about
the space where the machinery was
carried such an opinion is based
on what seems to De sound reason. The
ram probably ripped out one Of the longi,
tudinal bulkheads. If such is found to be
the case a further solution of the accident
is simple. Ii Il longitudinal bulihead
connected with two or three compartments
was rupured, the quantity of water which
could then rush through the side of the
ships bottom would be sufficient to tlp.
turn her. Nor would there be ground tor
wonder at the rapidity with which vessel
with that number of large compartments
filled. That the bulkheads iuclosing the
engine and boiler space of the vessel were
not carried up higher is not due to the
faulty workmanship. The effect is due tC
design alone. Her type would not per
NIT OF any other arrangement, owing tC
her low treeboard, In the Indiana, Massa
ehusetts, Oregon and Iowa, notably the
latter, the freeb0ard is considerably greater
han i'll the Victoria. In preparing the
plans of the battleships tho strength ana
number of interior bulNieads received
particular consideration in view of posi-
bic ramminS or collision.
| ~ fp. 1,tl, A....
conduct of English officers connected with
the accidcnt which resulted in the loss OF
the Victoria. As a rule they have studi.
ouSly avoided unGenerous comment, and
when asked for professional opinions on
the subject they say that ii is not only un.
wise but manilestly unjust to speak Of the
matter in the absence of more details
That the ramnling was the result of acci
dent, and not bad Judgment, officers have
no doubt Not few officers now on duty
here have had narrow escapes when en-.
gagged in squadron eyoiutilns, and they
are charitaDly inclined in referring to the
sad experience Of others. Furthermore
il is well-knOwn fact that officers of the
EnsllSh navy are excellent seamen. 0tfi,
Gals at the department incline to the be
Ilet that sudden damage To the engines OF
the Victoria or Camperiown, or the Jam
ming ol the steering gear of either, led NJ
to the collision. Such accidents freuucntly
happen on steamers, though rarely, mos
fortunately, with such disastrous effect.
a prominent officer ON duty at the de.
partment yesterday worked out the fore,
with which the Camperdown struck tht
Victoria. The result is staggering, ano
shows the destruction which will follow
ramminS by heavy vessel. The office
assumed the displacement of the Camper
down to be 10000 tons, or 2O,U0OUOl
pounds. Applying the formula that tn
weight in pounds multiplied by the squar,
Of the velocity IN ieet per second and tha
that product divided by Gi 4-lO would Civ,
the striking energy of the Camperdown, IN
found that the Victoria was struck Will
, the force of I300O,Uu0 pounds. Il
the assumption the speed of th
Campcrdown was taken TO he II
knots at the time Of the collision
which was PROBABLY the case. Based OF
this assumed speed the CampcrdOwn wa
going at the rate of Ii feet a second. Thi.
terrible force applied to the Eict lria whei
rammed Gun better be appreciated by com
parlson. The mll21le energy Of a lO-incl
! modern rifle using the improved pUwdc
I now issued is only 1896 foot tons; ant
, that of the heavy guns constructed III thi
country with a bore IL inches in diameter
is only 1857 foot tons. From this com
parison it is apparent that the terrific blow
given by the Camperdown's ram was ahou
l2,uOO,UOO foot pounds greater in forct
than would be the effect of shot free
t from modern 13-inch gun.
LoNpoN. June 26.-Ihe United Pres
, correspondent sends from Beyrout an ac
, count of the sinking of the battlcship Vic
! toria by the Camperdown off Tripoli OF
last Thursday Admiral Tryon, he says
: visited Beyrout last week with til,
l squadron of l6 vessels, and he and hi
officers were entertained by the Anglo
, American residents The whole foreigr
i colony was en- fete The guests wer,
i entertained at banquets, balls aud recep
, tinnS The find reception was given a