New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-27
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
\ GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE SINKING OF
THE VICTORIA
ADMIRAL TRYoN At FIRST SOUGHT TO BEACH
HIS VTSsEI-ADNIRAL MARKHAM'S DE

ADMIRAL TRYON AT FIRST SOUGHT TO BEACH
HIS vESsEL-ADMIRL MARKHAM's DE-
LAY MAY HAVE LED TO THE ACCIDENT.
"The New.York World published last evening the
first details OF the recent great naval Disaster III
advance even Of the great London daics IN the ioi-
lowing special cable dispatch from Trpoli SYRIA
Tripoi. SYRIA June oG.-About o'clock last Thurs
day afternoon the English feet came In sight oi III
Nina, the port and town OF Tripoli II was coming
from the northeast and making directly for the mar
bor.
The five big ironclads-Nictoil. Camperdown, Ehin'
burch Nile and sans Parcil-woTc drawn up In fun
front The Victoria was IN tho centre. the camper
down was on her left and the Edinburgh on her rght
When they were within five miles Of shore Nic'-
Admiral sir George Tryon signacd 10 turn and i'rm
in double line. This meant that the Victoria and
Campcrdown were to 60 ahead a It'll, and dcscrb"
rurn-thc Victoria turning to the left and the Cam
nerdovn 10 the richt-thcn they would advance SIDE
bv side In the direction from which they had come,
tho others would swing into double-column order
md advance two and two behind the leaders.
TIE ORDER DIFFICULT.
Whom the order was given distance between the
,hps was less than two cables length. The exc
,u,on Of the order enough for ships further
AWAY from centre. but extremely difficult for tn"
yic,orio and tho Canprrdown. In turning their bows
uou'd pass within few fathoms Of each other. even
u tho movoment was executed with the greatest pr;
clslon Thi, movement is rarely made and i chchy
,r the purpo,,. Of training the ship commanders 10
move expedltiously away from shoaling waters.
Whether because Admiral Markham OF the Camper
down could not believe this movement was TO b" tficd
when the ships close together or because II"
,houoht admiral Tryon had miScalcnlatcd the dis
tonco hc did not about executing ADMIRAL Iryons
oder but siguallcd that he did not UNDERSTAND H.
The Victoria and the other vessels had not hest
.ord The Victoria began 10 turn at once, as She
tin held TO the signal
DELAY FATAL.
rb. Coupcrdown no longer hcstatcd. bnt also began
to turn The brief delay. however, had been fa'al.
The Victoria had nearly turned. ana the '"perno"h'
swinging around, bore down upon her.
Roth Admrais were quick to act. Adflira iry"h
swung the Victoria 80 as To receive ~ VIZ
angle the blow which both Officers saw was new
table. and Admiral Markham did the same ior ''e
C,mu.rdown besides reversing her screws.
;he Twelve foot ram Of the Campci1io"h s'r"c" NV
hu of the Victoria Just In front Of the ainor"d bu'
cod and plunged into the thin plates of her s'aFp''"
,ide The arfnor. ends at th" bulkle"h anu o'
eor,v.rd p,rt Of the Victoria above the water me
we're mere cardboard to the great iron wedges ~
nightly propelled ,u... .,.,o.
Thcr. WAS a smashing OF WOOD anu iron P'''H'
and he ram and eight feet OF the bow OF tne camper
anur crashed twenty feet into the bowels OF the
Victoria. A., ., r
The Campcrdown halted by tn" heavy armor
., tho yictoria and as her screws were reversed She
AT once began 10 back away
THE WHOLE FLEET ENDANGERED
A, oil tbc other vessels were moving 10 ee' h''
dh,c line behind the two leaders they were o'''"s
ar pnon The cntangled ships a'd ca'as'"P"e
,,,,,,nr all the ronClads was imminent
Op,v the coolness and prompt actio' OF 'ne "'"'
o,,rrspders plevented general disaster
Tho Victorias bow now pointed '"'' IVA
,.o II seems that Admiral 1ryon hd not
,,vo tho ex,ent of the damage TO tn" Nic'or" "S
no accident OF exactly this kind has happ'"'" o''
-, ,,d M, know what the effect OF the ho" III '"o
commandment to be. a,
n ,o dout thought that as only one co"P"''
., ,,os damaged the others would Keep his ni'P
a., eo when the CamperdOwn ana the oth'I s'i'I'
,I,d offers OF boats he replied that he uio '''
need them. ,.. , tho ebor.
rh. victoria began TO forge straight for inc sho'r
-. t,u s,eam IL is one Of the rules OF thc h'i''S"
vavv that n ship Is In danger OF SINKING III" '"o''
,, t,r .w,v she must b. got into shailo" "h''''
- .,,, ~ she goes down she may be raisea hs"'
o.. .dmro, Trvon was making for the shore "''" "'
,aan,nc distance between the Victoria ana other SUPP
whon the Camperdown's ram struck the ''
.am,rol Trvon the navigating omcer' t"o ''e
So and the men at the wheel were oil upon Wv
..aco a,,her in full view or In the cnart ho"se'
pI'ue'' 49, y,s ON the forward deck. lounging nbon''
" 49,, q, Loon coo under the blazing sun OF INC '''"''
calm day ,, ,h ,,,.rv and as
- ,,oss,b,o tut when the two vessels sephrh'e"
'ai o.. 'n 90 their place.. Discipline was perfect
nii and officers remained steadfast upon the
Coutiuusd on Seventh PAGE