DOOM OF THE TIGER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 128, 1 June 1908, Page 6

DOOM OF THE TIGER.

HEROISM AND DISCIPLINE

WENT BACK TO TURN OFF

STEAM,

Stories told by survivors of the terrible disaster to the destroyer, Tiger, of which our cablegrams duly informed us at the time, prove the splendid discipline which prevailed Both on the sinking vessel and the Berwickj which cut her in two.

Many eye-witnesses confirm the splendid conduct of the1 Tiger's engineroom! staff. After- the crash they quietly opened" all the valves, and then went on deck, and EngineerLieut. Vinning and others took off their boots in readiness for swimming. When the deck was awash and the half-vessel about to founder the men leaped into the water. ' . Engine-room Artificer John S. Charnock, who was in watch in the Tiger's engine-room and standing near the throttles, gave a thrilling story to a Portsmouth correspondent. WMri the crash occurred all the electric lights went out, but there were some oil lamps burning, and he looked up to the telegraph, which still indicated full speed ahead. Realising that something was wrong, he stopped the engines and sang out: "Clear up on deck for God's sake; this is no place for us." It seemed as if the engine-room was drifting away and the floor-plates were collapsing. He managed, to force a space through a hatchway partly crushed in the collision, and through this the men in the engine-room (four in all) scrambled on deck.

"Here everything was orderly; but I soon, saw what had happened, and the fore part of the ship had , then broken away v The Berwick was close to us. Knowing that there was steam in at least one of the boilers, I went down again to open out the silent blow-off, and then got back on deck. The after part of the Tiger was then gradually sinking, and everybody was looking out for something that might held to keep them up in the^ water. "I and poor Newman tried to clear the dinghy. The water was about up to our waists, and although we still tried to cut the boat clear, the ship went under before we could do so. I had only light clothing I on, and was wearing slippers, so thai, fortunately, I^ada good chance to swim." T/his witness speaks in the highest te»ms of the behaviour of the captain of the Berwick. Captain Nicholson, from the cruiser's bridge, used a megaphone, with which he shouted to the destroyers to stop their engines, and thus prevent a possibility of their running the men down or injuring them with the propellers. On board the Berwick everything was done for the comfort of the men picked up, and brandy and other hot drinks were given them.