The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-28
A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
The British Battle Ship Victoria IL Sunk
While in 8 Naval Review.
Nearly Five Kindred
Men Go Down
In Her.

men TO NoW0
In Her.
LONDON, June pa most terrible
calamity has befallen the British bat
tie ship Victoria, the flag ship Of the
Mediterranean squadron, and hundreds
of lives have been lost. The Victoria,
which few the flag of Vice Admiral
Sir George Tryon, K. G. B., was run
into off Tripoli by the British battle
ship Camperdown, also belonging to
the Mediterranean squadron, and un-
der command of Capt. Charles John
stone. The Victoria had an enormous
hole made in her side, through which
the water poured in ia 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. Some of the officers and crew
managed to get out of the suction
caused by the sinking vessel and were
rescued. Among those lost is Vice
Admiral Tryon.
The first report of the disaster stated
that about two hundred men were
drowned, but later dispatches show
that the loss of life was far greater, not
less than four hundred of the officers
and crew Of the Victoria having gone
down with their ship.
The first dispatches concerning the
accident led to the belief that the dis
aster had occurred of the coast Of
Tripoli, in Northern Africa. Later ad-
vices show that the scene Of the calam-
ity was near Tripoli, seaport town on
the Eastern Mediterranean, fifty miles
north of Beyroot, Syria. and a COM
paratively short distance from the
Island of Cyprus.
AS soon as the officers of the Victoria
saw there was danger of their ship
foundering, orders were given to close
the collision bulkheads in order to con-
fine the water in the compartment into
which the CamperdowH hsd showed
her ram. The sailors tried to obey the
order, but the ship was making water
too fast to allow of the closing of the
bulkheads, and when the men were
still trying to shut them the vessel,
with the immense guns and terrible
top hamper, turned over and carried
them down. ... ....
AS soon as the news of the disaster
became known in London the Duke Of
Edinburgh, who was lately promoted
to the position of admiral of the feet,
visited the admiralty and conferred
with the officers there. A meeting of
the admiralty board was held and tels.
graphic instructions were sent to Rear
Admiral Markham.
The news of the calamity has caused
the most intense excitement, not only
among those who had friends on board
Of the ill-fated ship, but among all
classes of the population. ..
The admiralty Office in Whitehall is
beseiged by the relatives and friends of
the officers and crew. cy reporters seek
ing further details of the disaster, and
by throngs of people attracted by curl
osity. So dense was the throng in the
vicinity that the admiralty officials
were compelled to summon the police
to rest.ain the crowd.
When Queen Victoria learned of the
disaster of her naval namesake she
ordered the postponement of the State
bali that was to take place at Bucking-
ham Palace tonight.
The prime minister informed the
House of Commons of the accident
and paid most glowing tribute to the
worth CT Vice Admiral Tryon, who, he
said, was one Of the ablest and most
esteemed officers in the service of her
Majesty. ,....
Gladstone said that there were 611
officers, seamen and boys. and O7
marines on board the ship. It is feared
that of this total of 713 souls 430 have
been lost.
In the House of Lords Earl Spencer,
first lord of the admiralty, referred to
the disaster in terms similar to those
employed by Gladstone in the House
Of Commons.
Details of the accident are meagre
and are received in a struggling man
ner, owing to the remoteness of Tripoli.
DETAILS OF THE GREAT DISASTER.
LONDON, June 26.-The United Press
correspondent sends from Beyreut an
account of the sinking of the war ship
Victoria by the war ship Camperdown.
The weather was sunny. There was
no breeze. The sea was smooth as 8
mirror. The vessels had been drawn
Up in double line. Abreast they were
about six cable lengths apart. The bow
of each vessel was two cable lengths
from the stern of the vessel ahead. At
about 8 o'clock the fleet was thus ap-
preaching Tripoli.
Admiral Tryon sigpailed the order
for single file. At the time when the
order was given the Victoria and
Camperdown were almost exactly
abreast. Both turned slowly with a
sweeping movement and their bows
converged. The Camperdown pushed
heavily upon the Victoria and rammed
her on the starboard side near the box.
She tore with tremendous force into
the Victoria's hull and drove the ram
with crash right through to the Vic
toria's middle. ''
It was just $50 o'clock when at the
great rip in her hull the Victoria began
to founder. :...' ,...
Admiral Tryon tried at first to run
ashore, but the distance, nearly five
miles, was too great. The great vessel
turned over broadside eight minutes
after she was struck down. Discipline
was maintained in the few minutes
between the collision and the catas-
trophe. Invalids were brought on deck
and provisions made hastily for their
safety in case Of the worst. The crew
remained at their posts.
When five minutes were up Admiral
Tryon apparently realized that his
vessel was doomed beyond all hope of
success. Ee then gave the order: "Let
every man save himself" Many of the
men rushed from their posts to the
vessels side and jumped into the sea.
Others were hurrying from below TO
follow them when the end came.
The boat disappeared gradually at
first, then rapidly plunged 80 that the
hull stood almost perpendicular in the
water, paused motionless fora moment,
and finally rolled completely over.
Two tremendous explosions were
heard, and then the Victoria settled
under. Admiral Tryon did not leave
the ship. He was the last man seen as
she first plunged her bow under the