Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-03
DESTROYER CUT DOWN
British Naval Disaster Costs
Thirty-Six Lives.
TIGER SUNK By BERWICK
twenty-five of Her Fifty-Eight
Men Rescued.
SHAM BATTLE IN THE DARK
Cruisers and Torpedo Boats Were
All Running Without Lights.
Men Had No Chance.
SHAM BATTLE IN THE DARK

PORTSMOUTH, England. April s..
Thirty-six men. including Lieut.. Middle
ton. commander of the torpedo boat de
stroyer Tiger. lost their lives in the c6lli-
sion off the Isle of Wight last night be
tween that vessel and the British cruiser
Berwick.
The vessels belong to the Portsmouth
division of the British home fleet and
were engaged in night maneuvers in the
channel while on their way to Portland.
The night was very dark and the Berwick
was steaning slowly. When the destroyer
attempted to cross the big cruisers bow
she was caught amidships and cut In half
with knifelike precision, sinking almost
Immediately.
Sunk by Oilskins.
The deck crew, who were dressed in
heavy oilskins and boots. went down with
the vessel. not having time to free them
selves from these heavy incumbrances.
OF the twenty-five men who were rescued
most Of them were engineers and stokers
who, who, having light clothing; were able to
keep themselves af1oat until boats from
other ships. which were Immediately
launched, picked them up.
The collision occurred at $40 o'clock
last night. The ships were naneuvering
without lights. 1t is believed that sew
eral Of the men We're killed by the i'm
pact. Tugs were dispatched to the scene
OF the disaster at daylight today. and
divers will make an attempt to recover
the bodies of the men who were drowned.
Attempts at Rescue.
The smaller naval vessels were in the
midst of an attack on their bigger con-
sorts when the disaster occurred. The
entire fleet was under masked lights. and
In the absolute darkness the Tiger was
suddenly struck square amidships by the
Berwick. The stem Of this vessel, to use
the words OF an eyewitness cut the de-
stroyer in two as if she had been made
of paper. The forward halt sank in
simultaneously and the sea became dotted
with struggling men. Most of them. how
ever. sank Before help could reach them
The warships In the immediate vicinity
quickly had their boats overheard and
the scene at the TRAGEDY was brilliantly
illuminated by a. concentration of searcf1-
lights. The after portion Of the Tiger
noated for minute or two just long
enough to enable those on board to seize
life belts. They threw themselves into
the water and were able to keep afioat
unit, picked up. William Z. Middleton
was on the bridge at the time OF the dis
aster and went down with the fore part
Of the ship. The Tiger haN a compile
ment of ffty-eight men and was of 400
tons.
Scalded and Drowned.
Al, officer who was an eyewitness to
the sinking Of the Tiger gave the follow
ing account of the accident:
''The first We knew that anything had
happened was when we saw a flash and
heard loud report. This we supposed
to be a gun. In reality, however, the
fash and the report resulted from the
sea water reaching the boiler room of the
Tiger. inducing an escape of steam which
must have scalded to death everybody
that 1t touched. The men in the stoke
holds must have met a fearful end. It
was horrible to see the forms struggling
In the water. Many of the men went un-
der just as help was within their reach.
do not think that there is any hone OF
salving the Tiger or recovering the bodies
as the wreck lies in too deep water"
The Tiger was in a serious accident Ia ST
september. when during night maneuyers
she piled herself upon the Portland
breakwater.