The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-24
Vice Admiral Sir George Tryon. K. G. B.. One
Of the Oldest Fighters in Her Mojesty's
Navy, Among Those Who Perished.
The Victoria Lying Bottom Upward in
Eighty Fathoms of Water.
Filled so Quickly After Being Struck that
There Was No Time to Close the Bulk
heads-Views Of Naval Officers.



Tho British War Ship victoria Sunk In the
Mediterranean and Over 400 Lives Lost.
LONDON, June GA tragedy Of tt q sea
without parallel in the naval annals of re-
cent times occurred yesterday. The British
battle ship Victoria, the flagship OF tho
Mediterranean squadron. has completed q
checkered career by sinking off TrIpoli
after collision with the Camperdown. a
sister ship of the squadron. This tragedy.
resulting in the loss oIeover four hundred
men, including the vice admiral of the
squadron. has not been equaled lin fatal
results since the sinking of the Royal
George. in 17S2. when six hundred souls
found their shroud in the oceans waves.
The responsibility for this woeful
loss of life has not been fixed.
Some Of the ships of the squad
ron were maneuveriDg when the Prov
ram of the Camperdown struck the VIC
toris forward of tho turret on the star
board side. Through the enormous hole
made by her sister ship the water poured
so rapidly that she was sinking before an
effort could be made to man the boats.
Even in the face of impossibility the sail
ors strove to close the break, but, in the
midst of their labor Of desperation. the
rightly hull turned completely over and
went to the bottom. Fifteen minutes after
the Victoria had received the fatal blow
the water closed over her, and tho brave
hearts that were prepared to battle with
all enemies of their country had ceased to
beat, because the probable mistake of a
friend was more deadly than the great
guns OF any foe.
The loss of this ship. with its attend ding
terrible sacrifice of life, is looked upon as
confirming the opinion of many naval Off.
GERS concerning the monster war ships of
the present day. While the Victoria mi ght
be unmatched as to efficiency In lombard
ing . seaport town or in destroying a SEQ
coast, experts say she was decidedly too
unwieldy for serious maneuvering. Naval
engineering. they point out. has not pro-
gressed as rapidly ss architecture, and the
stupendous mass Of q ten-thousand-t ton
war ship cannot be controlled with the ease
the navy officer generally desires. 1t had
been thought that the twin screws were
the desiderstum so ionoed for. They
proved themselves excellent. indeed, but
the delay and waste OF energy In propelling
the levlathans is still tho same. There is
but little doubt In the minds of those who
have knowledge of naval architecture that
the loss of the Victoria was mainly due to
the defects referred to above. 1t 10 not
probable that either the Camperdown
or the Victoria could lessen the impetus
received from it's engines when required.
1t Is also commented on that while scarce
~ any thing has been done to nullify the
deadly action Of the ram" the navies of
the world have given hardly q thought to
lifeboat drill. proof OF which is seen In
the immense loss of life in connection with
the sinking of the Victoria. Taking il al
together, the disaster Is regarded Ly naval
people as severe lesson to the nayies of
world.
The Victoria was sunk fifty miles north
east of Beyrout, Syria, and not far from
the island of Cyprus. There were 71s souls
on board the vessel. OF these. 1t Is now be-
lieved. .4SO were lost. Vice Admiral Sir George
Tryon. X. C.. b, went down with bis ship
Soon after the first bulletin announcing
the disaster reached London Rear Admiral
Albert II. Markham. of the Trafalgar, the
flagship of the Rear Admiral of tho Med
iterreanan. squadron, telegraphed to the
Admiralty from Tripoli, Syria, as follows
81 regret to report that while maneuver-
ing off Tripoli this afternoon the Victoria
and Camperdown oollided. The Victoria
of water. She lies bottom uppermost. The
amperdown's ram struck the Victoria
forward OF the turret on the star board
side. Twenty one officers were drowned.
Two hundred and ffty-fve men were
saved"
Owing to the inaccessibility of the place
where tie collision took place details are
meager. The news created intense excite
ment in London. The Admiralty Office in
Whitehall was at once besieged by friends
of the officers and crew. and SO dense was
the shrong that police had to be summoned
to restrain the crowd. Little information
could be secured from the officials but
from the brief dispatches received from
Tripoli the following facts were Cleaned:
The Victoria. which few the flag of
Vice Admiral sir George Tryon. was
run into Oft Tripoli by the
Camperdown. also belonging to the
Mediterranean squadron and under tho
command of Capt Charles tombstone. The
Victoria had an enormous hole made in her
side. through which the water poured in
torrents. As soon as the officers saw that