The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-03

Sergeant Of Marines Morgan. and Chnrles
Tomkins seaman. which have been inferred
IN the Christian cemetery in Tripol The
turkish authorities have been communicated
with relative 10 any body that might be
washed ashore. and they have rendered avery
assistance in their power. The mannuvrinp
consisted OF tho two lines turning in toward
each other. exactly reversing their course, in
parallel lines. Owing to lack OF room, tho fg-
ure that resulted was like an inverted let
ter W."
The Hon. Maurice A. Bourke. tho Captain OF
! the Victoria. sends to the Admiralty n letter
dated H. NJ 4. Nile. June %. After technical
preface detailing the vessels course. the writer
continues:
Shortly after ?. NJ the commander told
me ne wished to see mo and Staff Commander
Hawkins Smith. with charts We went to his
cabin. Tho commander said he should form
the fleet in two divisions disposed to port, col
ums six cables apart. and when sufficiently
| past the line OF bearing. namely, tho
Tower OF the Lions S. by i. which was
the line we were going to turn UP and
anchor upon. he would invert lines by turning
columns inward sixteen points. so that on
reaching tho line OF bearing for turning up for
anchor tho fleet should alter course together
eight points to port. bringing tho fleet in
! columns OF divisions in line abreast to port
/
anchoring on those bearings when Taros
Island bore W. by s. Tho staff Commander
suggested that eight cables would be better
distance to form UP in two divisions than six.
| Tho Admiral said: Yes. it should DO eight
cables
Tho star commander went on deck and
about 2:l5 O'clock tho signal waa made for the
fleet to form columns OF divisions in line
ahead. columns disposed abeam to port col.
1 m n OF hln1n -
then sent to the Admiral to say that six cables
were flying. and he had said eight cables.
was then In the Admiraps cabin. Tho Ad-
| miral said 1t was to remain at six cables.
| then went on deck. Just before 2:45 o'clock
the staff commander sent me sheet OF paper
| with new course, viz, E by N. This took
down to tho Admiral. who told me to
make 1t. md the fleet steered at 2:45
L by n. On this course the flagship
passed two and half miles north OF Ramkine
lighthouse At 800 the Lions Tower bore s.
by E. At this time the Admiral came forward
| to the fore bridge. and on to the top OF tho
chart house, where was with the staff COM
mander. At 1925 1t was reported TO him that
| 1t was time to hoist the turning signal. and
| again at 1927 when he ordered the signal to DO
hoisted for the first division to alter course
sixteen points to starboard. the leaders
| together. the rest in succession.
The hagship's helm was put hard to star
board. and directed Lanyon. a midshipman.
| to observe closely tho distance OF the Camper
| down. l reported to the commander that it
would be too close. and asked permission to
reverse the port screw. This was done. and
just before the collision both engines wore GO
ing at full speed astern. The ship had turned
twelve or thirteen points when the Camper
down struck the Victoria on tho starboard bow
about ten feet abaft the anchor.
From information given by Chief Petty On
Ger May. who was in his mess right forward.
learn that he sa " the Camperdowns bow come
right through into the ship as FIR as into the
chain lockers. and burst into tho bulkhead be-
twoen the fore mess deck and tho stokers'
| moss deck. When tho collision was seen to be
inevitable orders were given to close the wa
ter-tight doors. This was done. and prepara-
tons were made to use the collision mat. but
nothing could DO done with the mat, as tho
Victoria's bow had settled down steadily.
AT this point left the deck. BY the COM
mander's order. to see il al! the doors were
closed and up to what bulkhead the ship had
filed. ! went in the starboard flats and saw
that the doors were closed and that the scut-
ties had boen shut. called round and asked
If everything was tight. and was answered
with Yes but by whom I could not say.
then heard tho order for every one to go on
deck. and the men in the fiat where was. on
tho starboard side. all went UP. l then got up
on the mess deck and aft and down into tho
starboard engine room. Tho engines were
being worked. and heard the gongs Of tho
telegraph. spoke to Engineer Deadman. who
was there and who told mo there was no water
In the engine room. He told me all his doors
were closed. Thon l asked for tho fleet en-
gneer. He told me he did not know where he
was.
IL kIav ,iD Iaol- n,
seeifthose doors were properly closed. and met
tho fleet engineer coming aft. who said that all
was tight as far as he could make out abaft
the foremost boiler room. l then went on
deck to report to tho commander and got on
the after bridge. whore all were at their sta
lions to get out the boats. The ships company
in great numbers were on tho port side OF the
upper deck. 1 then went along the port fore
and aft bridge to the Admiral. the ship having
q heavy list to tho starboard
Just as / reached the cutters foremost
davit on the port side. the ship gave a great
lurch starboard. and cIutched at the rail.
found myself sucked down. but came up to
the surface again among the wreckage. ].
with many others. was picked up by tho Niles
boats. The conduct and steadlness OF all at
their stations were beyond praise. There was
no panic of any sort or description.
MAURICE A. BouRKE. Captain"
Staff Commander Hawkins bmlth OF the
Victoria makes this report:
Tho Captain left the top OF the chart house
tmm ediately after the collision. by the COM
mander's orders. to look after the water-tGht
doors The ship was headed in for land, to get
into shoal water. at q speed OF seven knots. or
thirty-eight revolutions the helm being hard
to starboard. On my giving the order to right
the helm the wheel could not BIO moved. She
gradually filed by the bow and listed over to
starboard. The commander and myself
were on top OF the chart house at the
last and were washed Off by the water
coming up there. was taken down. l think.
by the small masts. and was sucked in as the
ship settled under. When came up found
close by some loose oars. with which sup
ported myself until I was picked up by the
Dreadnought's whaler. My watch stopped at
3.44: 80 o clock, this being tho time at which
the ship sank. After finding myself in the
water never saw the Admiral again"