THE NAVAL DISASTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4682, 28 June 1893, Page 3

THE NAVAL DISASTER.

»■ Discipline and Heroism. The Admiral's Death. [Special to Phehb Association.} LONDON, June 26. Lord Mount Stephen has increased his subscription to the relief fund to £500. Lady Tryon has expressed her gratefulness* at the marks of sympathy received from Sydney, where the late Admiral was so long stationed. The Benbow replaces the Victoria as flagship of the Mediterranean squadron. June 27. The squadron was ranged in two parallel lines, six cables' length apart, the Victoria and Camperdown leading. Admiral Tryon ordered the formation of a single line, and it was in executing this manoeuvre that the collision took place. The Camperdown rammed the Victoria's bows, crashing right into the centre of the ship. Latee. After the collision, Admiral Tryon endeavoured to run the Victoria ashore, and ordered all men on deck. When the Victoria began to settle, he ordered " Sauve qni peut." All those on deck jumped overboard except Admiral Tryon, who remained alone on the bridge. The vessel sank head foremost. The stern was for a few momentß in a perpendicular position. The hull then turned over. There were tremendous explosions as she sank. The Oumperdown was kept afloat by closing the watertight chambers and the use of the pumps. The Admiral was last seen in the water waving his telescope to Bear* Admiral Markham, who was on board the Camperdown. The latter, immediately after the accident, dropped her collision mat and had to go full speed to avoid the wreckage. Some eye-witnesses state that the Victoria disappeared in six minutes. Telegrams have been received from the Governors of Tasmania, Western Australia, New South Wales, Vietori, South Australia and New Zealand, and a joint letter from Messrs W. Heaton, Hogan, T. Curran, B. Curran, W. H. M' Arthur and P. O'Driscoll (as Australian members of the House of Commons) expressing regret and sympathy, and highly lauding Admiral Tryon's personal merits. The Standard's special correspondent wires that the forecastle of the Victoria was instantly submerged when she was struck. Admiral Tryon ordered mats to be put to cover the injuries, and signalled to the whole fleet for assistance. Boats were sent with the utmost despatch, but the Victoria turned turtle before they arrived. The propeller of the ill-fated ship could be seen furiously revolving in the air. A number of the crew crept up the sides of the ship to the keel. The boats were kept busy in rescue work, but many of those who gained a position on the bottom of the vessel were sucked into the vortex. H.M.S. Nile narrowly escaped ramming the Victoria on the port side after the collision with the Camperdown. The Victoria's crew observed perfect discipline; nobody moved from his post until ordered, ajbeit the hideous nature of the catastrophe was apparent. Admiral Tryon remained cool to the last, and refused the offer of a buoy, telling his coxswain to save himself. Though, ordered to jump into the sea, the crew heroically persisted in fixing the collision mats. Admiral Tryon went | down with folded arms. The vessel ! capsized owing to the upper chamber flooding ; the lower one was intact. H.M.S. Triumph has been ordered to proceed from Queen stown to Malta to convey the survivors to England. It is proposed to erect a monument in St Paul's to the memory of those drowned. The Lord Mayor's Belief Fund has reached £6000, including .£SOO from the Duke of Edinburgh, and .6500 from the Bothschilds. The memorial service held out of respect to Admiral Tryon took place at Elm Square. The Dukes of Cambridge and Edinburgh, Lady Tryon, and many leaders of society were present. BEISBANB, June 27. Both Houses have passed an address of sympathy to the Queen respecting the disaster to the Victoria.