Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-07-01
A NAVAL HORROR.
The British ,Battleship Victoria
Sunk in the Mediterranean Sea-
The Disaster Results from Collision with
the Camperdown-Four Hundred Lives
Lost-Among the Drowned Is
Vice Admiral Tryon.
DEATH ON THE DEEP.

LONDON, June "a. - Her ma1eStyS
great twin screw pattleship Victoria,
flying the flag of Vice Admiral George
G. Tryon, X. c. b., commander of the
Mediterranean station, was sunk in IS
fathoms of water off Tripoli, and at
least 400 of her officers and crew
went to the bottom with her The
disaster was due to the fearful bungling
of either her own officers or those of
the battleship Camperdown. In broad
daylight, during maneuver, she
was run into head on by her compan-
ion ship and in less than quarter
of an hour she had disappeared in the
waves, carrying with her all on board.
Twenty-one officers, including Vice Ad-
miral Tyron, are reported drowned,
and the great fighting ship lies use
less wreck, bottom side up, beneath
the waves.
The information so far received is
scant, but enough news has come
from Syria to make it apparent that
the disaster is one of the most horrible,
as well as one of the most disgraceful,
that has ever befallen the English navy.
Tripoli, near where the accident hap
pened, is about 20 miles from Damas-
Gus. 1t has small harbor, which is so
shallow as to be notoriously un-
safe. 1t is supposed that the Victoria
found lack of sea room in put
ting about as the Camperdown came
on and the latter boat hit the flagship
squarely on the starboard side with her
ram. The Camperdown was moving
under a high steam pressure and the
effect was such as would have been
made with an AK on plank.
The plates of the Victoria just for
ward of the turret were torn apart and
perfect flood poured into the hold of
the flagship. She began to sink i'm
mediately. The engines of the Camper
down We're reversed at once, but not be-
fore she had hit the Victoria second
time and completed the work of de-
struction. Every effort was made to
save the ship, but the Victoria settled
20 fast that this was seen to be impos-
sible, and the men, losing all discipline,
cast loose the small boats and attempt
ed to reach the Camperdown. Only
three of the boats got free of the sue
tion of the sinking ship. The rest were
overturned and many of the occupants
/ of these were drowned with the men
who were cooped up in the battleship
| beyond all chance of rescue. Vice Ad-
miral Tryon is said to be one of those
who went down with the ship. The
Vicsoria hardly moved forward after
the blow. The water poured so rapidly
! into .er engine-room that the fires We're
eXtin, shed before the engineer had
| time to speak.
The Camperdown was in command of
| Capt. Charles Johnstone. Every effort
was made by her officers and crew to
save the wretched men of the Vic
toria. All her boats We're put
out and many of the Victoria men
were picked up in the water be-
sides those taken from the fortunate
boats of the flagship. The number of
saved is given at $50. The officers of
the Victoria are reported to have acted
with great bravery and coolness.
| Most of them stuck to the ship
! till the last, trying to steady their
! men and cast loose the boats. The
action of the younger officers is especial
ly commended. Many of them went
down with the ship. The Victoria
sank evenly till the water in the star
| pullNu oNCl, WITCH SilG
capsized completely, with her keel in
the air.
The Victoria was battleship of TO-
470 tons and 14,000-horse power and
mounted fifty guns. She was built
by the Armstrong; and was regarded
as one of the crack fighting machines
of the British navy. Her model is
now in Chicago at the exposition
She was selected as Sir George
Tryon's flagship when Tryon was made
vice admiral, and assigned to the Medi
terranean station August 20, 1891. The
Camperdown is also of the Mediterrane
an fleet and is a slightly smaller boa
than the Victoria. She is of 10000 ton
and IL, horse power.
Admiral Tryon's Record.
[vice Admiral Sir George Tryon, who wen
| down in the wreck of the British batueshi
| Victoria, was one OF the bestknown men in tn
British navy. He had vast experience,his serv
ice beginning in the days before steam was
prominent feature in naval architecture an
running through all OF the various phases of at
velopment that were marked by the substitt
ton of steam for sail power, OF iro
for wooden hulls, OF steel for iron, G
turrets for broadsides and OF armor 70
thin sheathIng. He man who ha
earned the highest honors within the gift OF tn
British nation. His name first appears on tn
naval list away back in the days OF the Crimea
, war, where he served in the paval brigade b,
fore Sebastupol during the winter OF 1884 /
, the trenches, where he was wounded. He wa
present at all OF the operat' ms before Sebastt
, pol and at the capture c. kinburn. He n
I ceived medals for distinction and was special
mentioned in dispatches for services as d
rector of transports during the Abyssii
ian war in 1868 He was private SCI
= retary to the first lord OF the admi
! atty from 1871 to 1874, received var
? Gus orders OF knighthood and won the approvi
OF the government for the manner in which /
discharged mis- duties on the coast of Tunis an
in,the Sfax commission OF inquiry in 1891 II
e became acting permanent secretary In the fo
: lowing year. In 1884 he became commander
= chief on the Australian station. and after
brief attempt NJ u parliamentary career Wi
, made admiral superintendent OF naval reserve
In 1883. He commanded one OF the opposiI
. | In he N mn u In lhSA RQ.4l u