Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-04
b Sinking Of the British
Torpedo Boat Tiger.
l1Bt Hope Of Recovering Re-
mains or Crafts Hull.
Small Boat Cut IN Two by, Cruiser
In Night maneuWes.

Portsmouth, April 3.-Thirty-six
men, including Lieut.. Middleton, the
commander Of the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Tiger, lost their lives III the
collision OFF the Isle of Wight last night
between that vessel and the British
cruiser Berwick. The vessels belong
to the Portsmouth division of the
British Home fleet and were engaged
in night nancuvres in the channel
while on their way to Portland. The
night was very dark and the Berwick
was steaming slowly.
When the destroyer attempted (,
cross the big cruisers buw .;slc WAS
caught ainidships ;tnd cut in tlulf with
knfcIikc precision, sinking almost
Immediately. The dccl; crew, who
were dressed in heavy oilskius sad
boots, went down with the vessel, nos
having time to free themselves from
these heavy "nculnbrunceS. OF the ..
men WHO We're rescued most Of them
We're engineers and stokerS who hnvin.
light clothing were able to Keep Them
selves Htloat until boats from other
ships. which We're immediately launch
ed picked them MP.
The collision occurred III so o'rlu''is
last night The ships We're man
cuvcriu@ without lights. 1t is he
licvcd that several oc the iD"n Wcr'
killed H." III" impact. Tugs were d.
patched to the S""nt' ~ M diS"Stc" at
daylight this morning :nd Viii mai"
an attempt to recover til" bodies OF
the !ueu who Wcr" drowned.
Tho smaller naval vessels Wrr, IL
h., .,ii
conSortS at the tune of the disaster
The entire fleet WIS under In"skrI
lights and in the absolute d::rllnts+
the Tiger was suddenly struc% square
anidships by the berwick The sharp
stem If this vessel cut the destroyer
in two as if she had been made Of
paper. The forward half sank iininc-
diatcly and the sea- became dotted
with struggling men. most Of whom
sank before help could reach them
The warships quickly had their boats
overheard and the scene Of the tragedy
was brilliantly ilIllnined by u conccn-
tration Of Scarchighta. The after
portion of the Tiger iloated just long
enough To enable those on board to
seize life belts. They threw themselves
into the water and were able To keep
ahoat until picked w. Lieut.. VIM. T.
Middleton was on the bridge ut the
time Of the disaster and went down
with ih" fore part of the ship. Tin"
Tiger had a complement of So men and
was of 400 tons.
An officer who was an eye witness to
the sinking of the Tiger gave the fol-
lowing account of the accidents
The first we knew that anything
had Happened was when We saw q
flash and heard u loud report. This
we supposed to be a gun. I'm reality
however, the flash ana The report re
suited from the sea water which
reached the boiler room of the Tiger
This caused AN escape of steam which
must have Scalded to death every
body that it touched. The men in the
stoke holes must have met q fearful
end, IT was horrible To see the forms
struggling in the water. Many OF the
men went under just as help was with
in reach. | do not think that there
is any hope of saving the Tigc" or re
covering the bodies as the wreck lies
III too deep water"
The Tiger was in Il serious accident
last September when during man
euvrcs she piled herself up on the
Portland brcakwater. A stokcr res
cued from the Tiger gave Il vivid ac-
count of the accident.
THE Berwick flew up in tho black
ness and seemed to fall on u.s." sad
this man. 1.-The noisc of the impact
was not great. but in a few seconds
Continued on Page Twelvc,)
TO BREAK UP A COLD