Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-03

LONDON, July - a hluSui plh@u
from the Victoria arrived at Calais this
morning with Rear Admiral Markham's
adispatches concerning the collision of
TrIpoli. he was brought by special
steamer the Maid Of Kent to Dover
and was conveyed thence by special
train 90 London. He drove directly to
hs Admiralty Office, where the Admir-
Atty Board, notified in advance Of his
coming, received and read the dis
patches at once. The board decided to
publish the dispatches in full forthwith.
The first dispatch was dated from the
Earship Camperdown June %. 1t says;
ut is with most profound regret that
/ have to report the total loss Of Her
Majesty's ship Victoria, involving the
irreparable loss Of the Commander-in-
Chief, Vice Admiral Sir George Tryon,
% officers and $50 men, under the fol-
lowing circumstances:
The squadron, consisting Of Her
Majestys ships, Victoria, Camperdown,
Nile, Dreadnaught, In1exible, Colling-
wood, Ph8ton, Edinburgh, San Spareil,
Edgar, AphiOn, Fearless and Barhan,
eff Bayrout about 10 o'clock this fore
noon for Tripoli Shortly after the
sOuadFon formed single columns line
abreast and proceeded at the rate OF
about eight knots an hour. When
about FIVE miles from the anchor
Age Of Tripoli the signal was made
Il geo Ia the afternoon TO form
columns OF divisions in line ahead dis
posed a beam 10 port-the colOmns 10 be
six cable lengths apart. We proceeded
In this formation until 3:3S, when the
signal was made from the Victoria TO
the first division TO turn sixteen points
To port, and TO the second division TO
turn sixteen points 10 star0Oard. As
Ihe columns were only six cable lengths
apart. it was not, therefore, in my opin-
ion possible within the maneuvrlug dis
tRnee 70 execute such an evolution.
directed the flag lieutenant &c SCop-,he
signal, which we were repeating at alp
as indication that the signal from the
Victoria
WAS NOT UNDERSTOOD.
then directed him to signal with the
semaphore: ''DO understand lt IS your
wish for the columns TO turn as indi-
:. Gated by ths signal now flying" But
before my order could be carried out
he commander-in-chief semaphOred me
O know what I was waiting for. IL
hen struck me that be wished me 20
urn sixteen points, as indicated oy
he signal, and 10 was his Intention
o circle round the second division,
Aeaving them on the port hand
When the signal was hauled
Down the helm OF the Camperdown was
out hard a-port. AT the same time the
helm OF the Victoria was starbOarded.
watched very carefully the helm OF
he Victoria rs Indicating the purpose
q her signals AS the two ships turned
towards each other and seeing that the
helm of the Victoria was still hard star.
hoard, | directed the captain Of the
CamDerdown TO go full speed astern
with the starboardS crew in order 10 de-
ycrease our circle OF turning.
Seeing that collision was inevitable
then ordered him 10 60 full speed
Astern with both engines, but before
cur speed could be materially checked
the stem OF the CamperdOwn struck
the Victoria on the starboard bow about
90 feet before the turret and crushed
into the ship almost to the centre line,
the fore and aft lines Of the ship az the
time Of the collision, being inclined to-
wards each other at an angle OF about
so degrees. IL was, l think, quite two
minutes before the CamperdOwn was
able, although going with full speed
Astern with both engines 20 get ciear
OF the Victoria
THE WATER TIGHT DOORS
OF the Camperdown had been closed by
my orders before the. collision occurred
Seeing the critical condition Of the Vic
toria, which, seemed to be settlinS
down by the head, boats were immedi-
ately prepared and the boom boats were
got ready TO be hOisted out when the
open pennant was hoisted By the Vic
tOria and the signal was made not 10
send any boats. A very few minutes
later she heeled over to starbOard and
turning
BOTTOM UPWARDS
disappeared. The time that elapsed be-
tween the occurrence Of the collision
aud the disappearance was only about
thirteen minutes. shortly before the
Victoria turned over the men were seen
Jumping overheard. Observing this,
Immediately ordered the signal made 70
send All boats TO the rescue, and direct
ed the Barham asd Fearless 10 close in
at once TO save life, steaming up in the
Camperdown at the same time TO succor