The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-03
MARKHAM'S STORY
The Rear Admiral's Version
of the Victoria Disaster.
NE THOUGHT IT A BLUNDER,
But He Obeyed Orders When Asked
Why He Delayed.

80. R.port supplemented by tho Graphic
statements of Four Victoria OMcers-AIl
,s, Evidence Points to Tryon's Rssponsi.
nifty FOR tho DIsaster-He Ordered the
shin. six Cables Apart, Though Told
that Eight Were Required Tor tho Ma.
reuyre-whcn the ships Began to Lower
Roat. He Ordered Them to Deslst-No,
the Least sign OF Panic During tho Ter
r4bie Eight Minutes Before tho Great
E,rii.h War Ship Sank Ont OF Sight.
LONDON, July "A midshipman from the
Victoria arrived at Calais early this morning
With Rear Admiral Markham's dispatches
eoncerning tho collision or Tripoli. He was
brought by special steamer. the Maid Of Kent.
10 Dover and was conveyed thence by special
train 10 London. He drove directly to tho Adj
miralty Office. where the Admiralty Board,
notified in advance OF his coming. received
and read the dispatches at once. The Board
deoided to publish the dispatches in full forth
with.
Tho first despatch was dated from the war
ship Camperdown on June %. 1t says:
1T is with most profound regret that have
to report the total loss OF her Majesty's ship
Victoria involving the irrepnrable loss OF the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Nlce-huInIh Or IeorGe
Tryon. % officers, and 1856 men. under tho fol-
lowing circumstances:
Tho squadron. consisting Of her Majesty's
ships Victoria. Camperdown. Nile. Dread
nouRht. Inlexiple. Collingwood. Phaeton. Edin-
burgh. Sanspareil. Edgar. Amphion, Fearless.
and Barham. left Beirut about 10 o'clock this
forenoon for Tripol. Shortly after the squad
ron formed single column. line abreast. and
proceeded at the rate Of about eight knots an
hour. When about five miles from the anchor
age of Tripoli tho signal was made at 2:20 in
tho afternoon to form columns Of divisions In
line ahead. disposed abeam to port, the COL
umns to be six Cable lengths apart.
We proceeded in this formation until 3 :2a,
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 six
teen points to starbonrd. As the columns were
only six cable lengths apart. 1t was not. there
fore, in my opinion, possible within the ma.
n9uvring distance to execute such an evolu-
ton. directed the flag lieutenant to keep the
signal, which we were repeating, at din ms An
indication that the signal from the Victoria
was not understood. then directed him to
signal with the semaphore:
do understand it is your wish for the
columns to turn ma Indicated hv tha sie, al nou
flying?
Before my order could be carried ont thu
comm ander in chief ssmaphored ma to know
what was waiting for Itthan struct ma that
be wished mo to turn sixteen points as indi-
Gated by the signal. and Il was his inten,ion 70
circle round the second division. leaving tbsm
on tho port hand. Having the fuIlest conf
depce in tho great ability NJ the commandar n
manuuyre the squadron withnnt .ven rial ~
collision. ordered tbe signal bo,sted "a an IN.
dication that T underatood WIZ, an .i,ro,
was hauled down. tho helm ~ tho Camnar-
down vns mt hard ..nort A. 10 a. =. ttr,.
the helm OF the Victoria was atarhoardad 7
watched verv caro,ulI - tho naIr, - 49, viotor,.
as indicating the nurnosa othar s,an,,.
As the two sbips turned toward .aoh otb.-
and seeing that the helm or Tho viotario ,vas
still hard a.st.rboard Idjrsn.aa tha 60 -,
the Camnordown 70 o. tni, $3.50 80. ..;.n
thu starhoord &C.,, ~ 100 asA wiz "I
circle NJ turnin, so.,nr. th.t oIi,", w.
inevitable Jtban ordo.as III ~ " ,.'m VOC
astern With hoth .naina. 49,. . w ~ .uI 49,
could be matariniln oha.,,os 80 ~
Camperdown strnot ths Wiot,.i. ~ a.. 80