The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-03
MARKHAM'S STORY TOLD.
Concerning the Great Naval Disaster
In the Mediterranean.
MIGHT HAVE SAVED MANY LIVES
But He Was Forbidden 3y His Superior
Admiral SIR George Tryon. to Lower
His Bosts--News That the Admiralty
Has Received From the Wreck.

LONDON. July s A midshipman from
the Victoria arrived at Calais yesterday,
with Rear Admiral Markham's dispatches
concerning the collision off Tripoli He
was brought by special steamer TO Dover
and was conveyed thence by special train
TO London. He drove directly TO the adj
miralty Office, where the admiralty board,
notified In advance of his coming. re-
ceiyed and read the dispatches at once
The board decided to publish the dis
patches in full forthwith. The first dis.
patch was dated from the warship Cam
perdown. on June 22. II says:
1T is with the most profound regret
that have To report the total loss OF her
majesty's ship Victoria, involving the loss
Of the communicative chief, Vice Admiral
Sir George Tryon. 90 officers aud 336 men,
under the following circumstances: The
squadron, consisting OF her majesty's ships
Victoria. Camperdown, Nile. Dread
naught, Infiexlble, Collingwood, Pbaeton.
Edinburgh, Sanspareil, Edgar, Amphrion.
Fearless and Barham, left Beyrout about
10 o'clock this forenoon for Tripoli.
Shortly after, the squadron formed single
column line abreast and proceeded at the
rate Of eight knots per hour.
when five miles from the anchorage off
Tripoli the signal was made 1T 2:20 I'm the
afternoon to form columns Of divisions in
line ahead, disposed beam TO port-the
columns To be
Six Cable Lengths Apart.
We proceeded In this formation uutil 3,2s.
when the signal was given from the Vic
toria to the first division to turn 10 points
to port and to the second division to turn
10 points TO starboard.
''As the columns were only six cable
lengths apart IL was not thought in my
opinion within the maneuvring distance
to execute such an evolution. directed
the flag lieutenants to keep the signal,
which we were repeating at dip as an in
dication that the signal from the Victoria
was not understood. Ithen directed them
to signal with the semaphore, DO under
stand IL a wish for the columns to turn as
indicated by the signal now fyingS' But
before my order could he carried out the
commander-in-chiefs semaphored to me
To Know what i Was Waiting For.
1T then struck me that he wished me to
turn 10 points. as indicated by the signal,
and IL was his intention to circle round
beyond division, leaving them on the port
hand Having the fullest confidence i'm
the grcnt ability of the commander TO
maneuver the squadron without even risk
of collision, ordered the signal hoisted as
an indication that understood
when the signal was hauled down the
helm of the Camperdown was put hard
aport. As the two ships turned toward
each other, and, seeing the helm of the
Victoria was still half-starboard, I di
rected the captain OF the Camperlown to
go full speed astern with the starboard
screw, In order to decrease our circle of
turning Seeing that a collision was in.
evitable, then ordered him to go full
speed astern with both engines, but before
the speed could be materially communi.
Gated the stem of the Camperdown struck
the Victoria on the starboard bow, about
20 feet before the turret, and crushed into
the ship almost to the center line.
Seeing the critical condition Of the Vic
toria, which seemed to be settling down
towards the head, boats were Immediately
prepared for the rescue, when the open
pennant was hoisted by the Victoria aud
the signal was made
Not tn Send Boats.
A few minutes later she keeled over to
starboard and, turning bottom upward,
disappeared"
Hon. Maurice A. Bourke, the captain of
the Victoria, sends to the admiralty let
ter dated II. M. 8. Nile. June IS. After
n technical preface detailing the vessels
course, the writer continues:
shortly after . p. m. the commander
said he should form the feet into two
divisions disposed to port. columns six
cables apart, and when sufficiently past
the line Of bearing he would invert lines
by turning columns inward Is points,
bringing the columns of divisions in the
abreast TO port. The staff commander
suggested eight cables would be better
distance to form mp in two divisions than
six The admiral said; Yes, it should
be eight cables
"The chief commander went on deck
and about 2l5 his signal was made for the
feet to form column Of division In line
ahead, columns disposed abeam to port,
columns six cables apart The staff COM
mander then went to the admiral to say
that six cables were flying and he had said
eight cables. 1t was In the admir- ais cabin.
The admiral said 1t was
To Remain st Six Cables.
"When the signal was ordered to be
hosted for the first division to alter the
course 16 points to starboard directed
Lanyon, midshipman, to observe closely
the distance of the Camperdown He re-
ported to the commander that it should be
too close. and asked permission to reverse
the port screw. This was done. and just
before the collision both engines were GO
ing at full speed astern.
"The ship had turned 1o or l3 points
when the Camperdown struck the Victoria
on the starboard bow about 10 feet abaft
the anchor.
Excursion Postponed.
The irst Of the series OF ocean excur-
sions by the steamer Frances, under the
cnrn and of Cant Ganrrra Il Hnll