Year: 1875

Shortly after six O'Clock on Wednesday evening the
18th nst the royal yacht Alberta having the Queen
and suite board, in collision with the yacht
Mistietoe, which Immediately sank. Three lives
lost 1t appears that the Alberta which was in charge
OF Captain his Serene Highness Prince Leningen,
G. B. and STAFF Captain Welch left Cowes halfpast
five O'Clock for the Royal Clarence victuaing yard,
Gosport. She had board Her Majesty and suite,
who route for Balmoral The day was beau
tfully fine and numerous yachts were cruising about
the Solent When the Alberta crossing Stokes
Bay a schooner yacht which afterwards proved DO
the Mistetoe, was observed in close proximity and
suddenly 1t is stated, her helm altered and she
the bows of the Alberta which, going at
full speed struck her with tremendous force running
right into her nearly amidshps; 1t with dfn
Guilty that she could be got clear Of the Inflated cran
which went down Immediately afterwards; Commander
Fullerton and some OF the seamen OF the Alberta
jumped overheard and TO the Of the unfor-
tunate persons on board the yacht; the manmast Of
the Mstleoe with the mainsa set, fell and took down
with lady iss Ann PeeD and Commander Fullerton;
the former was drowned, and Comm ander Fullerton,
/ whose gallant conduct is spoken OF in the highest
terms by the eve witnesses of the sad calamity had
narrow escape for his life The master of the yacht
Captain Stokes picked up in drowning condition,
and the also in exhausted state. The
crew rescued but the mate drowned. Before
the Alberta arrived at the Royal Clarence Yard the
master had breathed his last.


HER MAJESTY, WHO WAS OVERWHELMED


with grief evnced the utmost anxiety that every
and attention should be bestowed upon the sufferers
and that steps should be Immediately taken to apprse
the relatives of the melancholy event The Of
the yacht Mr. Edward Stanley Haywood brother of
Sir Percival Haywood. He left Ryde on Tuesday the
18th inst, for a cruise being accompanied by sis
ters OF his wife Miss Eleanor Peel and Miss Annie
Peel The former saved by Commander Fullerton
and the latter was drowned On the arrival Of the
royal yacht at Gosport Her Majesty sent for
Admiral Elliot Commander-in- Chief at Portsmouth
who, with General Sir Hastings Doyle, commander
South Western District In attendance, and gave
the admiral her royal commands with regard to the
of Mr. Haywood and the survivors, at the time d.
recng that kilograms should be sent to her during the
night informing her of their condition The body the
master removed to Haslar Hospital The steward,
who had his arm broken was also removed TO Hasar.
while the provided with comfortable quarters
on board the Duke of Wellington Mr.. Haywood was
taken TO the residence of Admiral Elliot The Elfn,
tender to the royal yacht was despatched to Ryde for
Mrs Haywood, and returned with that lady


The Alberta lost her bowsprt and sustained consider
able damage TO her STEM portion OF which carried
away The Mistletoe was 40 tons burden and had
Gently undergone a thorough overhaul II is believed
that the mainmast in falling must have struck the
master, he had sustained terrible blow the side
of his head and also another on his shoulder.


Her Majesty greatly agtated by the fatal occur
J
soctous about those who were hurt but were rescued
| from death. The inquest to discover the cause
Of the collision was begun here. on Thursday
/ The most important testimony was taken
yesterday. send you those statements upon which the
most reliance is to be placed have not time to make
comments, as must be hasty to catch the mail


THE MIsTLBToR SIDE
! Mr. Edward Stanley Haywood, the owner of the Mis-
tletoe testified that he resided at Light Oaks Manches-
ter He was at present stopping at Ryde with his fam
iy He had been cruising in the Channel for the last
fortnight On Wednesday he was board his yacht
mir hv fun of bfo Thavxu
round the Nab Light and sailed from Bembridge Point
to Stokes Bay They then tackled about go for Ryde
They were all down at tea when the steward said the
royal yacht was coming II was half past five. They
deck and he looked through his glass and saw
the Royal ensign flying They pursued their course
steadily The Alberta came down and got nearer to
them than he liked They did not alter their in
anywise until the moment when collision became in
eviabe At that instant the captain put the helm hard
down. Much about the same moment the Alberta star
boarded her helm. His thought at the moment
that the at the helm had misunderstood his orders
and starboarded his helm instead Of porting That
his impression. If the helm Of the Alberta had been
ported he thought a collision might have been
saved but perhaps their bboom would have been car
red Off From what had been said in the newspapers,
1t suggested that they had attempted to get close
TO the Queen. He issued order 10 that effect He
should have thought II


A GREAT IMPERrIxENcE TO DO so;


in dipping the flag they wished pay the usual
pliment to Her Majesty; the apprehension of the
who stated that orders 70 that effect had been issued
incorrect; directly after they struck great deal of
rigging fell over the Albertas bows partly their own
and partly belonging to the Alberta, making sort of
ladder up which several Of their men climbed Miss
Eleanor Peel was pulled up from the Alberta; Miss
Annie Peel was being p-ed up; he was below her and
helped her; she had hold Of the hand of officer Of
the Alberta and after that he more of her;
very after that the Mlstletoe sank and he went
down with her; when he came the surface he saw
two or three ropes IN the water: he got hold of one
and pulled into boat by whom he knew not he was
taken board the Alberta taken the cabin below
stripped Of his clothes and put in blankets and
kindly attended by the doctor Of the Queens
yacht When they into the harbor he was put
a cab and carried TO Admiralty House From his
dtion at the time he could not say anything about the
master; he did not him. he had never known
I the captain otherwise than a sober man; he q
spectacle man; he had had him three years; but he
a well-known and able man; he had been well
for time; they going about three knots as
the wind had ulled he very much exhausted If the
Alberta had stopped and the water had in they
would probably have all been saved


BY Juror-A steamer coming from Ryde would
have had plenty Of room to pass; they were nearer
Stokes Bay than Ryde; the thought crossed his mind
that as the Alberta was close 1t would have been
more courteous TO put the yachts head TO the wind
but he ultimately agreed that it better to adhere
the rule Of the road at sea- and he gave order the
subject


George Hiscock the steward, who had his arm band
aged sling, deposed the general circumstances Of
the collision perceiving the Alberta distance he
called the attention of the owner and the guests to the
fact they were getting their tea at the time when the
Alberta came near he went aft and the two ladies were
there also; she nstantaneously struck and he got
up the port bows Of the steamer by means Of the
fallen rigging; he caught hold Of Miss Eleanor
Peels arm and with the assistance Of the
and others got her board; he then caught hold Of
Miss Ann PEEPS hand and part Of her body brought
over the rails Of the Alberta; the rigging then slipped
away and carried his arm the rail, his arm being
gTazed; he held on until his arm was broken, and he
said,


'NY GOD, GOD MUST LET You col"


and she and the mate went below; In the water
shouted TO Miss Peel 70 jump into boat but she could
not do that she entangled In the rigging; that
the last time he anything Of either OF them;
he slipped over the forecastle and, looking the
side, Mr. Haywood In the water on the starboard
bow; rope was thrown 70 him and he dragged on
board


This testimony gives but side OF the case; the
other s exposed by the following evidence OF Captain
David WEIGH, STAFF captain in the Royal Navy


THE ROYAL ALBERT STORY.


He said: He resided at Virginia Water; he was cap
tain OF the Alberta royal yacht; Her Majesty left
borne for Scotland at half past FIVE Wednesday last
Captain, the Prince Leningen and Comman der Fuller
ton were on board every possible lookout kept at all
times on board, but more especially when Her Majesty
Is present, because the speed Is greater; he was
the bridge at the time Of the collision,