Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-07-19

rAi.s sse Respsasihisib = Ne British sasal
pisasAas.

yAIErra. July iS-The court martial
anooiatsxs 70 try Captain the Hon MAJ
r;ee A Bearke, STAFF Commander Haw-
k,u,-Smith. sIlsi the surviving officers of
the British hartlsship Victoria. which WAS
sunk in collision with the British battle
shin Compendium. off Tripcli, Syria, on
Jnue -, opened yesterday upon the Hitef-
mia. the flagship OF Rear Admiral Richard
L. Tracey, admiral superintendent OF the
Malta dockyard All the survivors were
OF, tsarsi the Hiheruia 1T So'etock III tue
morning, snd shortly thereafter the pro
Greetings opened.
Tn. president Of the coure-naetisl is
Vice Admiral Sir Michael Culme7oeFmohr
of the cruiser Hawke, who succeeded VICE
Admiral Sir George Tryon As commander
in-chief of the Mediterranean station
Vice Admiral Tracey is vice president
CAPTAIN Alfred Lee Winsloe, by order OF
the admira lty. appeared as prosecutor.
The regular trial opened with a reading,
bx Judge Advocate Riekari, OF the first
dispstch sent ay Rear Admiral Markham,
whose fiag WIS on the Camperdown at TIE
time Of the accident. announcing the loss
of the Victoria to the admiralty, and the
sub>euuept dispatches forwarded by tile
rear admiral
CAPTAIN Bourke Testifies-
Cantafn Bourke was then placed on the
stand in his own defense. He repeat d
th., story Of tine accident as already told.
In substance he said that he and STAN
Commander Hawkins-Smith went TO Wee
Admiral Tryou's cabin aud received their
order from him As to the naneuvers to b.
carried out. Captain BourSe repeate the
conversation that then took place regard-
ing the distance from each other to be oh
served By the ships, and how the vice Nd =
miral. after having originally fixed this
distance at SIX cable lengths, agreed that
il should be at eight cable lengths Sub
s4ou,.ntiy when the signals were set the
f,gs Indicated six cable lengths, and when
the vice admirars attention was called to
this fact he SAID they We're TO remain so.
C,ptAin Bourke added that he saw
when the ships began to swing toward
each other that there was rot sufficient
distance between them to allow of the
evl luton ordered, and that he asked per
mission TO reverse the port screw in order
that the ships should make shorter turn.
This was given him, and subsequently
both engines were ordered full speed
asJern. II was too late, however, to avert
the disaster. The Victoria had turned =!
or 10 points when the Camperdown struck
her,
Csptain Bourke described at length the
effort. made Ia save the ship after the
collision. descriptions Of which have here
tofore been published. He said that his
dispatches To the admiralty truly describe
all the
Details of tho Disaster.
He had no complaint whatever to make re-
yarding the Conduct of any of the sur
yiyors.
Captain Winsioe, the prosecutor, asked
the survivor, if they objected to any
thing in Captain Bourkes narrative OF
the disaster, or II they had charges to make
against anyone. All the survivors an
swered ''Nothing' in chorus.
la the course of Captain Bourke's exam
nation Prosecutor Winsloe asked him:
''Wh,n staff Commander Hawkins
smith suggested to Vice Admiral Tryon
that eight cable lengths would be the
better distance in which to form the
column than six cable lengths, did you say
ANYTHING in regard to the subjects"
L "a
! He then stated that after the conversation
in the admir,l's cabin Sir George Tryon
went ouJ and sat on the stern walk. Fleet
Lieutenant Clifford came to the witness
and said that the staff commander had
told him that eight cables" was to be
signalled.
Captain Bourke reminded Vice Admiral
Tryon that he certainly had said the dis
lance ought to he more than six cable
| lengths The admiral turned to Lieuten-
ant Clifford and said: Leave it at SIX -
Lieutenant Clifford then left the cabin.
CAPTAIN Bourke and Vice Admiral Tryon
remained together. Captain Bourke at
| first declined to say what passed between
them after Lieutenant Clifford left them
The president reminded the witness that
| he must make full statement, otherwise
| he would nculpate himself. Captain
| Burke then said that he called Sir George :
attention to the fact of the Victoria turn
| in a circle Of $40 yards. The admiral re-
| piled: Let It remain at six cables" Cap
| tain Bourke then went on deck.