Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-01
BRITISH TAEs ACTED LIKE HEROES.


The Victoria's sailors Stuck to Their Posts
Until Told to save Themselves.
The representative Of the United Press at
Faletsa, Malta, Yesterday had interviews with
several of the survivors Of the disaster, and
the stories told by them confirm the report rs
to the collision with the Csmperdown as tele-
graphed from Beyrout by the agent Of the
United Press there.
An officer who was q witness Of the whole sf-
fair. after detailing how the ram of the Camper
down had stove an enormous hole in the hull
Of the Victoria below the water line, said that
almost immediately after the collision the Vic
toria began to settle like lead, and in four min
utes the vessel turned partly over with her bows
under water. The officer added that he did not
see a single man jump overheard until the or
der was given for every person to save himself.
Many Of the men we're good swimmers, but they
were unable to get at . safe distance from the
ship before she turned completely over and
went down. They were caught in the vortex
caused by the laundering ship and their strength
and ability ~ swimmers availed nothing against
the suction which drew them down.
When the ship was lying on her beam ends
the engines continued 20 work, and one Of the
|
water, raced at a very high speed. The other
screw was submerged, and its revolutions
caused the water on one side of the ship to flow
in strong current toward its rapidly revolving
blades.
Many Of the men who we're swimming were
caught in this current, and despite all their
efforts a number Of them were struck by the
screw and killed. Perfect discipline prevailed
from the time the Victoria Was struck until the
order was given to abandon the ship.
sailor who was Of the crew Of the Victoria said
that he was below when the collision occurred.
When he felt it he started to run to the upper
deck. The water began to pour into the ship
in an enormous volume Immediately after the
collision When he reached the upper deck he
saw Vice Admiral Tryon and Capt. Maurice
Bourke standing of their posts. Every man on
duty was at his station. Shortly after the
sailor got to the upper deck the ship listed
heavily to starboard, and an order was given to
jump and for every man to save himself.
Until that order was given not u man left his
post, although the vessel was lying at such an
angle that it was necessary for the men TO hold
on to supports to keep them from sliding over
board. Aliknew the Victoria was doomed. but
every man stood by her until ordered to
abandon her.
This sailor said he felt himself being drawn
down by the suction OF the sinking vessel almost
as soon as he jumped, but in come way he got
out Of the down flow Of the water and WAS soon
vessel From the time of the collision until he
was picked up scarcely five minutes elapsed.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Another witness of the running down Of the
Victoria declares that the cause of the disaster
WAS the impossibility Of turning sixteen points
whenthe ships were only six cable lengths apart
This statement implies that Vice Admiral Tryon.
In ordering the maneuver known as changing
columns at tie time he did. was responsible for
the accident.
Another survivor says he heard it said. but
was unable to confirm the report, that, seeing
collision was inevitable, the commander Of
the Camperdown ordered her engines reversed
and the vessel was actually going astern when
she struck the Victoria. Some person also
heard that Vice Admiral Tryon had declined to
accept the offers OF other vessels to lower boats
and go to the rescue of the victoria's crew until
IL was too late. Both tunnels of the Victoria
broke of and the turret fell out while the YES
sci was listing to stsrboard.
An officer who was on deck at the time of the
collision says it is quite unintelligibe to those
on board the Victoria how it happened. The
Camperdowns ram was seen to crush the whole
side Of the Victoria and then get clear with
tremendous way on. Il am told" he added,
that the Camperdown's ram was completely
bent round"
Lord Charles Beresford. commander OF the
Und~unted and formerly lcrd of the admiralty,
dent must have resulted from n mishap to the
machinery. Such contingencies, he said. would
always be common to naval life. The iron
sides were the best possible compromise. 1t
would counterfeit the deadly effect of the ram.
A dispatch to the London Daily Ne,rs from
Malta saws il is learned that the Victoria was
struck slightly in the rear OF her foremost tur-
ret, the ram of the Camperdown cutting into
her turrets full length The blow smashed up
the foremost bulkbead OF the boiler room. and
the water rushing down the tunnels as the YES
sci keeled over caused the explosions that we're
heard as the ship sank.
ADMIRAL TRYoN TO BLAME.
The London Times correspondent at Malta
says that IN spite Of the edict placed on the
mouths OF the survivors he learns that Vice
Admiral Tryon admitted that the accident was all
his fault. Rear Admiral Markham realizing
the impossibiiity of executing the order to
deviate sixteen points while the columns were
20 close did not respond promptly. but the
Victoria again signailed. what are YOU doing?"
Ihereupon the Camperdown obeyed the
order.
1t is asserted that Staff Commander Smith Of
the Victoria remarked to Vice Admiral Tryon,
There is no room for the ships to turn in, -
bat Tryon replied, Let her 60"
Then 1t became question which ship would
strike the other. The Camperdown struck the
Victoria just in front of the turret cutting
over six feet into the doomed vessel and leaving
her figure head on the Victoria's mess deck
al the ships in the fleet seeing the danger be-
gan lowering boats to aid the ylctoria's crew,
but Vice Admiral Tryon, believing that the Vic
toria would float, ordered the boats back to