The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-11-06 00:00:00

BURNING OF A FRENCH IRONCLAD.

On Monday the Daily News published the following
telegram, sent them by their Own Correspondent :
PARIS, Sunday Night.
The Magenta, the Admiral's ship in the Mediterranean
Squadron, took fire from an unexplained cause, in Toulon
Harbour at one o'clock this morning, and at 350 blew up.
Admiral Roze, who was on board at the time the fire broke
out, and who hoisted his flag on the Magenta when ap-
pointed to succeed Admiral La Roncibre le Noiuy, telegraphs
..to the Minister of Marine that the ship is utterly destroyed.
The Magenta, launched at Brest in 1861, wat one of the
oldest irouclads in the French navy, and one of the most
Powerful. The first order given by the Admiral when the
ship was in flames was to turn on the cocks, so as to flood
the powder. but the water did not flow fast enough, and
hence the explosion. All the crew were saved. The Admiral
was the last to drop down from the bowsprit into the boat.
He witnessed the blowing up from a whaler. Although the
other ships of the squadron had been ordered to get away
from the Magenta, the Maritime Prefect telegraphs that the
burning splinters were projected on to the rietorieuse and
Eclaireur, and that they produced an unimportant fire,
which was speedily extinguished. A few men were slightly
injured, but present advices report that no life has been lost.

PARIS, Oct. 31.
The following official report has been received from
Admiral Roza :

"A fire, of which the origin is unknown, broke out at one
o'clock this (Sunday) morning in the store-rooms in the stern
of the Magenta. Vigorous measures were at once taken to
extinguish it, but the flames, nevertheless, invaded the aft
part of the vessel. The cocks of the powder magazine were
at once opened. It became necessary to evacuate the quarter-
deck and take steps for the safety of the crew, and boats
were brought alongside. The Admiral was the last to leave
the ship, when all hope of saving her was lost. She blew up
at 3 39 a.m , there not having been sufficient time doubtless
to completely flood the powder. In consequence of the ex-
plosion, the ships Victorieuse and Eclaireur caught fire, but
the flames were promptly extinguished."

The Naval Prefect of Toulon has sent the following
telegram to the Minister of Marine :

TOULON, Oct. 31, 6.40 a.m.
On the Mcujenta blowing up, a piece of wood, from two to
three metres long, was thrown on the roofing of the Vic-
torieuse, which it broke through, and set fire to the deck.
The roofing of the Eclaireur was also set on fire. These
beginnings of conflagrations were slight, and almost imme-
diately extinguished. All is now at end. A report will be
sent to you as soon as I get detailed information. A few
Persons have been slightly wounded, but no one has, I think,
been killed.

The Sentinelle du Midi gives some details respecting
the loss of the Magenta,. The explosion of the vessel
was followed by showers of burning wood, paper,
clothes, and iron, which fell into the streets of
Toulon. One of the plates of the ship fell on to the
pavement and entered it some eighteen inches. Not a
single jet of gas was left burning in the town. The
windows of the shops, cafés, and private houses along
the quays were all broken, while doors and shutters
were burst open. There is scarcely a house in the
town which has not been more or less injured. It is
expected that the sixteen guns of the ship may be
saved. Immediately after blowing up the Magenta
sank, and at present the stump of the mizenmast
appears above water. It is confirmed that no lives
have been lost.