LOSS OF THE "VANGUARD." 63 



uncertainty, as thick as the fog in which the Vanguard went down, envelops the subject 

 in many ways, is most certain. The circumstances connected with that great disaster 

 are still in the memory of the public, and were simple and distinct enough. During 

 the last week of August, 1875, the reserve squadron of the Channel Fleet, comprising 

 the Warrior, Achilles, Hector, Iron Duke, and Vanguard, with Vice -Admiral Sir W. 

 Tarleton's yacht Hawk, had been stationed at Kingstown. At half-past ten on the 

 morning of the 1st of September they got into line for the purpose of proceeding to Queens- 

 town, Cork. Off the Irish lightship, which floats at sea, six miles off Kingstown, the 

 Achilles hoisted her ensign to say farewell her destination being Liverpool. The sea was 

 moderate, but a fog came on and increased in density every moment. Half an hour after noon, 

 the " look-out " could not distinguish fifty yards ahead, and the officers on the bridge could 

 not see the bowsprit. The ships had been proceeding at the rate of twelve or fourteen 

 knots, but their speed had been reduced when the fog came on, and they were running 

 at not more than half the former speed. The Vanguard watch reported a sail ahead, 

 and the helm was put hard aport to prevent running it down. The Iron Duke was then 

 following close in the wake of the Vanguard) and the action of the latter simply brought 

 them closer, and presented a broadside to the former, which, unaware of any change, had 

 continued her course. The commander of the Iron Duke, Captain Hickley, who was on 

 the bridge at the time, saw the spectre form of the Vanguard through the fog, and 

 ordered his engines to be reversed, but it was too late. The ram of the Iron Duke 

 struck the Vanguard below the armour-plates, on the port side, abreast of the engine- 

 room. The rent made was very large amounting, as the divers afterwards found, to 

 four feet in width and the water poured into the hold in torrents. It might be only 

 a matter of minutes before she should go down.* 



The vessel was doomed ; a very brief examination proved that : nothing remained 

 but to save the lives of those on board. Captain Dawkins gave the necessary orders 

 with a coolness which did not represent, doubtless, the conflicting feelings within his 

 breast. The officers ably seconded him, and the crew behaved magnificently. One of the 

 mechanics went below in the engine-room to let off the steam, and so prevent an ex- 

 plosion, at the imminent risk of his life. The water rose quickly in the after-part, and 

 rushed into the engine and boiler rooms, eventually finding its way into the provision- 

 room flat, through imperfectly fastened (so-called) " water-tight " doors, and gradually over 

 the whole ship. There was no time to be lost. Captain Dawkins called out to his men 



* The sentence of the court-martial blamed Captain Dawkins, his navigating-lieutenant, and the ship's 

 carpenter, for not endeavouring to stop " the breach from the outside with the means at their command, such 

 as hammocks and sails;" for not having "ordered Captain Hickley, of H.M.S. Iron Duke, to tow H.M.S. 

 Vanguard into shallow water," such being available at a short distance; the chief-engineer for not "applying 

 the means at his command to relieve the ship of water ; the navigating-lieutenant " for neglect of duty in not 

 pointing out to his captain that there was shoaler water within a short distance;" and the carpenter in "not- 

 taking immediate steps for sounding the compartments, and reporting from time to time the progress of the 

 water." A lamentable showing, truly, if all these points were neglected! So far as the commander is con- 

 cerned, his successful efforts to save the lives of all on board (not knowing when his ship might go down, and 

 with the remembrance of the sudden loss of the Captain full in view) speak much in his favour, and in ex- 

 tenuation of much that would otherwise appear culpable neglect. 



