The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-27
DISASTER In THE DELAY
NOW THE ACCIDENT TO THE vIC-
IORfA At TRIPOLI OCCURRED.
IL All Occurred Through a Moments Hcsi-
fancy In Obeying Orders-Went
Down Without Warning.

NEW YORK, June 26.-The Evening
World published an extra this evening.
In which was the following special cable
dispatch from Tripoii. Syria. regarding
the sinking OF the battle-ship Victoria:
About o'clock last Tuesday afternoon
the English fleet came in sight of Ell
Nina, the port and town OF Tripoll.
The five big iron clads-Victoria, Camp
erdown. Edinburgh, Nile and Sans Pareil-
were drawn up in full front. The Vic
toria was IN the centre, the Camperdown
was on her left, and the Edinburgh on her
right.
When they were within five miles Of
shore Nice-Admiral Sir George Tryon
signalled TO turn and form I'm double line.
This meant that the Victoria and Camp
erdown were TO go ahead little and de-
scribe n turn, the Victoria turning TO the
lett and the Camperdown turning 10 the
Hsht-then they would advance side by
side In the direction from which they
had come, the others would swing into
double column order and advance two
and two behind the leaders.
When the order was given the distance
between the ships was less than two cable
lengths. The execution OF the order was
easy enough for ships further away from
the centre, but extremely difficult for the
victoria and the Camperdown. who in
turning their bows would pass within a
Few fathoms Of each other, even II the
movement was executed with the greatest
precision.
Whether because Admiral Markham. OF
the Camperdown, could not believe this
movement was to be tried when the ships
were so close together, or because he
thought Admiral Tryon had miscalculated
the distance, he did not set about execut-
Ing Admiral TryOn's order, but slgnalled
that he did not understand Il.
The Victoria and the other vessels had
not hesitated. The Victoria began 10 turn
at once, as she still held 10 the signal.
The Camperdown no longer hesitated,
but also began to turn. The brief delay.
however had been fatal. The Victoria
had nearly turned. and the Camperdown.
swinging around. bore down upon her.
Both admirals were quick to act Ad-
miral Tryon swung the Victoria so as TO
receive at the smallest angle the blow
which both officials saw was inevitable.
and Admiral Markham did the same for
the Camperdown, besides reversing her
screws. The twelve-foot ram of the Cam
perdown struck the hull OF the Victoria
just in front Of the armored bulkhead
and plunged into the thin plates OF her
starboard side. The armor ends OF the
buikhead and the forward part Of the
Victoria above the water line was mere
cardbOad to the great iron wedge so
nightly propelled. There was mash
Ing Of wood and iron plates, and the ram
and eight feet Of the bow Of the Camper
down crashed twenty feet in the bowels
Of the Victoria. The Camperdown was
halted By the heavy armor Of the Vic
toria. and as her screws were reversed
she az once began 10 back away.
AS all the other vessels were moving 10
get into double line behind the two leaders
they We're bearing down upon the entan-
gled ships. and a catastrophe involving
all the ironclads was imminent. only
the GOODNESS and prompt action OF the
other commanders prevented general
disaster.
The Victoria was at once headed for
shore. and steamed ten minutes. the dis
cipiine meanwhile being perfect. Sud
denly the Victoria leaned TO starboard
and with n great roll and plunge buried
her bow I'm the sea Her engines contin-
ued working. and the screws whirled in
the air as the vessel gradually sunk. The
suction of the vessel was drawing eyory-
thing IN the whirlpool, and when the
screws became submerged they created a
great vortex into which men were drawn
in plain sight Of the other vessels, and
dlsmembered by the revolving blades Of
the screws. Heads limbs and trunks OF
human bodies we're thrown out Of the
deep cone OF water and fell back and
disappeared. The horror of this scene
turned sick all who beheld II, and men
I'm the water I'm danger Of this new death
lost their presence OF mind, and good
swimmers ceased 20 swim. Scarcely had
the vessel settled so low that the vortex
closed up the boilers burst, and those
who had escaped chopping knives were
beating waves Of scaidins water.
With the first under plunge Of the Victoria
all the boats were called away from all
the other ships, and came strainlng over
the calm sea 10 save the strugglers.
These boats were soon picking up the
unfortunate ones who had got out OF
reach OF the terrible vortex. So long as
the vortex was there the boats dared
not venture near. but they did lift from
the scaldng water several wretched sail
ors who We're horribly burned. II Is
thought that more than half OF those
drowned got out Of the ship, but were
caught in the vortex, or scalded TO death.
Admiral TryOn stuck on the bridge,
and refused 10 tfbNt H. JNHN b'A't' fAi'
Victoria made her under plunge he saw
what was about 70 happen. and issued
an order for each man to save himself,
but the order never got beyond the
bridge. for ruin descended straightway.
The peril Of those In the water was In
creased by the fact that the sea here
ahouts Is infested with sharks.
II is the duty OF the marines when |
collision occurs 20 Immediately go below |
and close all the water-tight compart- |
ments When the Camperd'wn struck |
the Victoria the Victoria's marines went |
below for their duty, and as a result, |
out Of 100 marines on the Victoria, ninety |
nine were lost.
LONDON, June 2G-The British cruiser |
Rarham. with Rear Admiral Markham's |
official report Of the loss Of the Victoria, |
IS expected 10 arrive at Port Said to-
night. The Rear AdmiraPs report VIII
be sent by cable from Port Said 10 the
Admiralty Office here. All the survivors
of the disaster sailed from Tripoli to-day.
presumably for Malta. They embarked
on board the cruisers Edgar and Phae-
ton.