The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-09-23

London. Sept. ls.-The loss OF To-
COS flagship. the battleship Mikasa,
sunk Monday morning in the harbor
OF Sasebo. comes as tragic anu.cli-
max TO the horrors OF the war
According TO the official report Civ
en- out BY the Japanese navy depart
ment az Toxic Tuesday morning. 500
lives were lost when the Mlkasa was
destroyed.
Later reports seem to mitigate the
horrors OF the disaster. dispatch to
the Times says that the casualties i'm
elude five men killed. 3l3 wounded.
and POI missing.
These figures which total 500. indi.
cate that at least 343 men were res.
cucd from the battleship. wounded,
but stu alive. that FIVE OF the dead
have been recovered and that 25i
are missing. The presumption is that
the POI missing men either were
killed by the explosion or drowned
when the ship went down.
Another dispatch from Toxic says
that OF the officers on board one was
killed and eleven wounded. while i've
are missing.
There 10 also some indication that
the battleship rs not so seriously dam.
aged as first reports indicated. Dis
patches from Toxic say the ship sank
In shallow water and that Il probably
can be relocated and repaired.
Story From Toxic.
Toxic, Sept. l3.-Admiral Togo's
flagship the battleship Mikasa. was
destroyed by the explosion OF It's mag.
azine at 1 o'clock Monday morning.
in the harbor at Sasebo
The official announcement OF the
disaster stated that 500 lives were
lost.
The explosion OF the magazines
was caused by a fire. which was dis
covered in the hold, at the base of the
mainmast. shortly after midnight.
The origin OF the fire is unknown.
The flames spread In the interior OF
the battleship with great rapldity.
other warshlps lying at anchor in the
harbor IN once sent attachments OF
officers and men to assist in the
work OF fighting the fire,
Reseuers Lose Life.
The presence OF the men from the
other warships on board added TO the
casualties, as many Of them were
killed or drowned Thus many OF
the warships IN the Japanese navy
are represented on the death list.
The crews OF the several ships
fought the flames hcroically despite
the constant danger of the explosion
OF the magazines.
The energies OF the officers and men
were directed Go preventing the
flames from reaching the. big forward
It being believed that the
magazine aft was IN less danger of
being reached boy the flames
An hour after the discovery OF tho
fire the aft magazine exploded. blow.
ing a great hole IN the port side Of
tho battleship. The huge craft sank
almost IN an instant.
Men Caught in Trap.
Nearly all OF the men on board 81
the moment OF the explosion were be.
low decks. fighting the flames When
the explosion came the magazine was
by swarms of men Some
OF them were killed instantly. Others
were either so badly wounded OF 50
completely stunned by the conclusion
that they were unable to reach the
deck or even a portfolio.
Many OF those who were on deck
and we'll forward sprang or were
thrown into the water and we're
picked up by boats from the other
ships.
The disaster to the battleship Mi.
kasa has cast a gloom everywhere. The !
Alikasa was Togos flagship and was
TO the hearts Of the people.
Great relief was felt throughout ia
pan when Il was learned that Admiral |
Togo was not on board the ship az |
the time OF the fire.
An investigation IL now being held |
TO determine the cause OF the firo