The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-03

LONDON, July IA midshlpman
from tho Victoria arrived at Calais this
morning with Rear Admiral Markham's
dispatches concerning the collision off
TripoII, He was brought by special
steamer, the Maid of Kent, to Dover
and was conveyed thence by special
train to London. He drove directly to
the admiralty Office where tho admiral
ty board, notified in advancOpfhis COM
ing, received and read tho dispatches at
once. The board decided to publish tho
dispatches in full forthwith, The first
dispatch was dated from tho war ship
Campeydown on June 90 1t says:
at is with most profound regret that
have to report the total loss OF hor
majosty's ship Victoria, involving the
iTreparable loss OF tho commander'in-
chlOl, Vice Admiral Sir George Tyron,
twenty-five officers, and 1856 men, under
the following circumstances:
"The squadron consisting OF her ma'
iestys shirs Victoria, Camperdown,
Nile, Dreadnaught, InAexiblo, Colling-
wood, Phaeton, Edinburgh, Sun Spareil,
Edgar, Aphion, Fearless and B1rhQm,
left Bayrout about 10 o'clock this foro.
noon for Tripoli. Shortly after the
squadron formed single columns limo
abreast and proceeded at tho rate OF
about eight knots IN hour. Whom
about five miles from tho anchorage oil
TrIpoli the signal was made ut 2:2O in
tho afternoon to form columns OF divi-
sions in line ahead disposed abeGm to
port-the columns to be six cable
lengths apart,
1--WE proceeded in this formation un-
til 1928, when the signal was made from
tho Victoria to the first division to turn
sixteen points to port and to tho second
division to turn sixteen points to star
board. AS tho columns wero only six
cable lengths apart 1t was not, there.
fore, in my opinion, possible within the
maneuvering distance to execute such
IN evolution. directed the flag lieuten-
ant to keep the signal which we woro
repeating at dip as indication that the
signal from the Victoria was not under.
stood.
~ then directed him to signal with
tho semaphore: DO understand 1t is
your wish for tho columns to turn as in.
diCated by the signal now hying2' But
before my order could be carried out
the Commander.in.chief selnaphored mo
to know what l was waiting for. II
then struck mo that he wished mo to
turn sixteen points as indicated by the
signal, and 1t was his intention to circle
round the second division, leaving thom
on the port hand. When the signal
was hauled down tho helm OF tho
CamperdOwn was put hnrd-aport. At
the same time the helm OF the Victoria
was starboarded. Iwatchcdvory care
fully the helm OF the Victoria as indi.
eating the purDose OF her aignals. AS
the two ships turned toward each other,
and aeoing that tho helm OF tho Vic.
toria was still hard starboard, IdireCted
tho captain Of the Camperdown to go
full head astorn with the starboard's
crow in order to decrease our circlo Of
turning.
Seeing that collision was inevita-
bio, then ordered him to 90 full speed
astern with both engines, but before
our speed could be materially checked
the stem Of tho CampOrdOwn struck tho
Victoria on the starboNrd bow about
twenty feet before tho turret and
crushed into the ship almost to the
centre line, then fore and nft lines Of
tho ship, at tho time Of the collision
being inclined towards each other at
an angle Of about eighty degrees. 1t
was, ] think, quito two minutes before
tho C0mperdown was able, although
going with full speed astcrn with both
engines, to get clear OF the Victoria
Tho water tight doors Of the Camper.
down had been closed by my orders
before tho collision occurred.
Seeing tho critical condition OF tho
Victoria, which seemed to be settling
down, tho houd boats were Immediately
prepared aud the boom boats were got
ready to be hoisted out, when tho open
pondsnt was hoisted by tho Victoria,
and the signal was not TO send boats.
A very iew minutes later sho hocled
over to starboNrd and, turning bottom
upwards, disappeared, Tho timo that
elapsed between tho occurrence
Of tho collision and tho dis
appearance was only about
thirteen minutes. Shortly before tho
Victoria turned over tho mon were
soon jumping overheard. Observing
this ! Immediately ordered tho signal
mado to send all boats to tho rescue
aud directed the Barhaln and Fearless
| "a close In ut onCO TO savo liio, Btcaming
up in the Cnmpertlown at tho same
timO to sucCor tho officers aud mon
struggling in tho water The combined
efforts Of the squadron resulted in the
sAvlngoi twonty.nine officers nnd about
$3.50 men, tho majority Of whom wore, in
all probability, below ut tho time. were
lost,
~ regret thpt tho ship books Of the
Victoria woro lost, In taCt, nothing Of
importance has been recovered 10 far
cannot express tho dOop griOi and
sorrow felt in consequence OF this
lamonlablO catastrophe by my.
sOli, tho captains, tho officers, and tho
mon Of tho Mediterranean squadron
sorrow that 10 very materially enhanced
by tho great and torribo loss which tho
navy and tho nation have sustained in
death Of our beloved commapder, Sir
George Iryon, whose kindness Of heart,
no loss than his signal ability in tho
profession Of which no was such q
distinguished ornament had onAearrd
him to all who served In his command.
/ A NJ