New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-18
CAPTAIN BOURKE'S STORY.
THE SINKING OFTHE VICTORIA
THE 1LLFATED VESSELS COMMANDER
TEsTIFIES AT THE COURT MARTIAL.

TESTIFlES AT THE COURT-MARTIAL
ApNIRAL TRYoN ORDERED THE FLAG.LIEU.
TENANT ANp AFTERwARp THE WITNESS
TO LET THE SIGNAL REMAIN "sIX
CABLEs''-BoURKEs SUGGESTIONS
FOR AVOIDING THE CAM.
PERDewN.
valetts Malta, July II The court-martal
appointed 70 try Captain the Hon. Maurice A.
Bourke staff Commander Hawlzins-Smith. and
the surviving officers of the British battleshp
Victoria, which was sunk in collision with the
British bsttleshp Campefdown of Tripoli, SYRIA
on June 23 opened to-day on the Hibcrnia, the
flagship Of R@ar-Admiral Richard f. Tracev. A1-
miral-Superintendent of the Malta dockySTl
Captain Bourke the principal witness of
the day
Iapiain 2.urke repeated the story of the
accident already told in these dispatches In
substance, he said that he and Staff Commander
Hawkins-Smth went TO Vice-Admral Tryon's
cabin and received their orders from him as to
the manoenvrcs to be carried out Captain
Bourke repeated the conversation that then took
ulace rAQardng the distance from one another
TO be observed by the ships, and told how the
vceAdmra after having originally fixed the
distance at SIX cable lengths. agreed with the
suggestion of the Stan Commander that it should
be eight cable lengths. Subsequently, when the
sirnals were SIT, the flags designated six cable
lengths.
Prosecutor Winsloe asked the witness: when
STAFF Commander Tawkins-Smith suggested to
Vice Admiral Tryen that eight cable lengths would
be the better distance in which TO form the
columns than six cable lengths. did you say any
thing in regard TO the suhject?"
Captain Bourke answered: No"
He then stated that after the conversation
in the Admiras cabin Sir George Tryon went
out and sat the sternwalk. Fleet Lieutenant
Clifford came to the witness and said that the
staff commander had told him that "e eight cables
was to be signalled. Captain Bourke reminded
Vice Admiral Tryon that he certainly haa said
the distance ought to be more than six cable
lengths.
The Admiral turned 10 Li"utcnant Clifford and
said Leave il sin"
Lieutenant Clifford then left the cabin. Cap
tain Bourkc and Vice Admiral Tryon remained
together.
Captain Borrkp at first declined to sav what
passed between them after Lieutenant Gillfor1
left them. The president reminded the witness
that he must make full statement, otherwise
he would nculpatc himself.
Captain Dourl,p then said that he called S'r
Georges attention 10 the fact of the Vi,ioraS
turning in = circle of 500 yards. The Admiral
replied: "Let it remain az six cables
Captain Bourke then went on deck.
UNWILLING TO TELL A oNE-sIDED STORY.
Captain Bourke displayed extreme reluctance
70 say what passed between himself and Admiral
Tryon, on the ground that Tryon, if he had
lived. might have qualified the report Of the con-
versation. In replying to further questions put
By the prosecutor, he said that he was atop the
fdre eharthouse when the first signals were
hoisted lie did not then say anything to Admiral
Jryon who was talking jocularly with the stan
commander about other matters. lie did not
remember about the signal to turn inward being
hoistcd He explained that the Victoria's turn
ing diameter at the ordinary speed of the heet
was lust under coo yards, with the extreme helm
of thirty-fve degrees. Tie holm was usually
used at twcnty-eight degrees, and gave an eeti-
mated circle of 500 yards. The CampeldOwns
turning circle was practically the same.
TRYON MADE no REPLY TO THE SUGGESTION.
Csntain Winsloc the prosecutor any yer.
mission reverse the port screw when the signal was
hauled down
captain Bmrke-Dhectly after the signal hauled
Gown anc put the ship having swun"
about two ponts helm. addressed the
Admiral I'VE shall very close to the camper.
down. 1 then turned 10 aldc-dccaip. Miidy Ian
yon and told him the CamlcrdOwns distance T.
The best of my recolcc addressed the Admiral
ne looked W but made reply After / spoke 70 |
Lanyon l aIicG remark TO him: 1--WE had letter do
something shsl vcir clos- 70 the Csmperdo"h'
AL this tine turning.
Recclylng no answer again addressed the Admiral
rer-a.ns quickly two three times MAY 90 ast"rn
full speed with tie port screwr At lat the Admiral
said We.
The port screw was immed a;ey stated full speed |
as,.ra Very shortly aitfwaid | ordered both screws
tun s,,cd as.crn | cannot exactly what va" the |
relative bearing OF vessels, but the Campcrdown
eerta,niy was on ssrtosrd wv W. had turned eight
points The appioVinatc time Between hauling down the
ssrsl and the collision was three and a half foai |
minute. \: the of the collision both telegraph
indicated sped astern cannot say, however what
Tie engines were doing The ships way had not been |
checked arprecably Dhecdy s'tf the eoi"soh he en-
eine- stopped.
ACCOUNTING roR THE GREAT LOSS OF LIFE
Captain Bourke was examined AT great length |
concerning the victorias bulkheads He eXpaincl
with The aid of models. exactly what was done,
and what was the nature OF the damage lle
nave an order he said. to Close the gunports but |
Thought that il was not executed The com
mandcr-inchie had at once hailed the Camper |
down and had ordered her 10 20 astern Every |
BODY Rad come ND from below, except the poor |
fellows in the ensine-room The witness had ''Han |
the last one 10 come up lie had heard NJ ord''
10 abandon the ship, and he did not
know that any order had b'cn given Tor the
engineers 10 come up He should say that ton |
minutes had elapsed between the COLLISION am
the sinking The greatness Of th" mortality hl'
hesu partly due TO the fact, he thought 'ha'
many stokers and marines were unable ~ H"I"''
Nobody believed the end was so near con-
tnued Captain Bourke " | myself dlu IL" sup
pose that the vessel would turn over
After describing the splendid behavior Of the
men, and the wonderful sell-control displayci ~
them when they fell in on deck, Captain bourNe
said IL believe the commander gave no oroefS'
Just at the last Lieutenant Heath gave the Orucr