The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-06-28

ing to the Mediterranean squadron, and
under the command of Captain Charles
tombstone.
The Victoria had an enormous hole
made in her side through which the
water poured in torrents. The immense
hull of the Victoria at once began to
settle, and before those on board of her
could cast loose their small boats she
went to the bottom, carrying down
with her nearly all on board.
AS soon as the officers of the Victoria
saw that there was danger of their
ship laundering orders were given to
close the collision bulkheads in order
to keep the water in the compartment
into which the Camperdown had showed
her ram. The sailors tried to obey the
order. but the ship was making water
too fast to allow of closing the bulk
heads, and while the men were still
trying to shut them the vessel, with
her immense guns and heavy top
hamper, turned over and carried them
down.
Some of the officers and crew man
aged to get out of the suction caused
by the sinking vessel and were rescued.
Among those lost is Vice Admiral
Tryon.
The first reports of the disaster stated
that about 200 men had been drowned.
but later dispatches show that the loss
of life was far greater, not less than
400 of the officers and crew of the Vic
toria having gone down with their ship.
The Victoria was a twin-screw bat
tleship of 10,4 40 tons and 1900 horse
power. She mounted Is guns.
The Camperdown is also first class
twin-screw battleship She is of 10000
10 guns.
Admiral Sir George Tryon was COM
mander-in-chief of the Mediterranean
station. He was made vice admiral
Aug. 20, 1891.
Rear Admiral Albert H. Markham of
the Trafalgar. the flagship of rear adj,
miral in the Mediterranean, telegraphed
to the admiralty from Tripoli, Syria, as
follows:
II regret to report that while ma
neuvering off Tripoi this afternoon the
Victoria and Camperdown collided.
The Victoria sank in 10 minutes in 50
fathoms of water. She lies bottom
uppermost. The Camperdown's ram
struck the forward of the turret on the
starboard side. Twenty-one officers
were drowned. Two hundred and fifty
five men were saved. The injury to
the Camperdown has not yet been fully
ascertained, but it is serious and will
necessitate her going on dock for re-
pairs. l propose to send the survivors
to Malta"
In January of last year the Victoria
ran aground off the Greek coast. near
Platea, and she was only hoated off
after an immense amount of labor and
large expense. 1t was said that this
accident was due to carelessness.
a later dispatch from Beyroot says
that the collision occurred at ) o'clock
in the afternoon, about seven miles
at right angles when the Victoria was
struck. The men on the Victoria's
deck at the moment of the collision,
scrambled 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 keeling of the Victoria caused
her to begin to fill Immediately, and no
escape was possible.
the rescued, and they are aboard
several vessels and so far all efforts
have been made to recovering bodies.
Shortly after the collision five bodies
were taken from the water, one of
them the body of the chief paymaster.
They were buried with military honors
at Tripoli. The Caperdown was severe
ly damaged forward in the collision.
The temporary repairs will be made
and she will start for home.
1t is said here that several times the
Victoria has shown signs of weakness
in her steering gear. One theory, that
on account of this weakness she became
pnmanageable and could not get out of
the Camperdown's way.