Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-09-15
M|KASA CREW TO
BOTTOM Of SEA
Admiral Togo's Flagship is
Blown Up and
Sinks.
FIRE FROM UNKNOWN CAUSE
Causes Destruction Of Vessel and
Loss Of 500 Lives = Led Japanese
Fleet Into Action With Rojestven-
sky's Fleet During War.

Toxic, Sept. 1.-THE navy depart
msnt announces that the battleship
Mikasa has been destroyed by fire
and the explosion Of her magazine
causing the loss OF 5s9 lives, includ-
ing men of other ships who went to
the rescue.
The fire started from an unknown
cause at midnight on Sunday night,
September 10. Before the officers
could be rescued the fire reached the
aft magazine which exploded, blow
ing hole in the port side of the yes
gel below the water line and caus-
ing the ship to sink.
London, Sept 13-The Toxic cor
respondent of the Times says that the
casualties resulting from the loss of
he battleship Mikasa are FIVE killed,
PSI missing and 343 wounded.
Sasebo. Sept 13.-Admiral Togo's
flagship, the Mikasa, was destroyed by
fire and the explosion of her magazine
At an early hour Monday morning
while peacefully lying at anchor in
this harbor. Hundreds of lives, includ-
ing members Of her crew and men
from other ships who went to the
rescue, were lost. This little town,
which has suddenly risen to a prom
inent eminence since the outbreak of
the recent war. had spent quiet Sun
day. The presence in the harbor of
several warships that had taken part
in the humiliation of the formidable
navy OF a great power, presented an
object of pride. but the quiet slumber
Of the night. while the people were
drea ming Of peace after an unparallel-
ed series Of victories. was violently
disturbed little after midnight by
terrific explosion accom- panied by a
severe shock.
An eager crowd assembled ON the
coast only 10 discover that a terrible
disaster had oyertaken the beloved
Mikasa, the flagship of the great Togo,
who led his men 10 victory in the
life and death struggle in which the
nation had just been engaged. Words
are powerless to describe the profound
disappointment and sorrow attending
this great catastrophe. The absence
Of Admiral Togo from the ship at the
time of the explosion and the hope
that the vessel can be repaired are
the only redeeming features of the
calamity. A deep feel
ing of sympathy toward the unfortun-
ate sufferers after cessation Of hos
tilities permeates every class. The
loss of life is placed at $50.
The Mikasa was first class bat
t!eship Of 1920 tons displacement.
She was built in England and was
launched in 1902. The battleship was
400 feet long, had a speed Of over Is
fcers and men. She was heavily ar
mored and carried four Pinch guns.
fourteen 6-inch guns, twenty ~
Founders and a number of smaller
rapid fire guns. She had four sub
merged torpedo tubes.
In the battle Of the Sea of Japan
the Mikasa was the heaviest loser OF
all the Japanese ships. having sixty
three killed and wounded. She ap-
preached nearer to the Russians thar
any other battleship. ~
The Mikasa was also the flagship
Of Admiral Togo after the great naval
battle fought off Port Arthur on Aug
ust 10, 1904, ON which occasion the
japanese flagship also suffered the
most. but continued in the fighting
line. On that occasion the Mikasa had
four officers and twenty-nine men kill
I'd, 6 officers and % severely wounded
and four officers and 20 men slightly
wounded. .-.. -.
The Mikasa was the flagship of the
japanese navy, flying the flag OF Vice
Togo as the commander in
chief. She was present at all the
principal engagements during the
war and was on several occasions re-
ported severely damaged in action,
while at the battle of the Sea OF
Japan she led the fleet into action and
ler name was mentioned in connec-
ion with some of the most stirring
events of this famous sea fight.
Washington, Sept. 1.-THE bureau
If naval intelligence yesterday receiv-
I'd advices by cable from the Ameri-
IAN naval attacfe at Toxic to the ef-
.ect that the loss in killed and miss
ng on the battleship Mikasa was
,56. The wounded numbered 343. The
.ause of the accident cannot be as
,ertained until the Mikasa is f1oated.
Admiral Togo was not on board at the