New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-13
MIKAsA AND 600 LOST.
TOGO,s FLAGSHIP SUNK.
Fire Erptodes Maga1ine- The Id
miral Not on Board.

Tokio. Sept. 1.-THE battleship Mikasa. Ad-
rnirai Togo's flagship. has been destroyed by
FIRE and the explosion Of her magazine causing
the loss of 599 lives. including men from other
warships who went to the rescue Admiral Togo
was not on board when the disaster occurred.
The fire started at midnight on Sunday. Sep.
tember 10 Before the officers could be rescued
the fire reached the aft magazine. which
uloded blowing a hole in the port side Of the yes
sal below the water line. The Mikasa sank at
$50 a N.
The disaster has cast a gloom everywhere
The Mikasa. as Togo's flagship. was endeared
10 the hearts of the people. The ship was at
anchor in saseho Harbor when the fire started
At the base of the mainmast at midnight 1t
spread with great rapidity, exploding the after
magazine an hour after the fire had been dis
covered.
The Mikasa sank in shallow water, and it is
believed the ship can be repaired. R-scuins
nsrties were sent from the various warships in
,bs harbor. and there were heavy casualties
among them.
Various coniectures are current as to the
y
charge of electricity An investigation is being
held
Great relief was felt through Japan when it
vzas learned that Admiral Togo not on
board The ship at the time of the fire.
Tho x,fsasa was first class batteship. OF 1920
,ons 5isplacernent She was built at Barrow. and
vas launched in 1902. The battieship was 400 feet
long had IS feet beam and drew 271z feet of water
she had 1s.4sI indicated horsepower. giving her
sneed of over eighteen knots and carried crew Of
egs officers and men. Her armored oelt was from
four TO nine inches thick. her deck was protected
by three inches of armor. she had six inches OF
steel on her sides above the belt, her bulkheads
we're protected by twelve inches of steel she had
fourteen inches of steel ernaor over her heavy gun
positions and inches Of steel over her secondary
battery gun positions.
The armament of the Mikasa consisted of four
Pinch guns, fourteen s-inch guns. twenty l2-
FOUNDERS and number of smaller rapid fire guns.
She had four submerged torpedo tubes. and r
ried from 100 1.520 tons OF coal.
Her complement sS5 officers and
At the battle Of the Sea of Japan Admiral Togo.
as the engagement was about to open. few the
following signal
The destiny of our empire depends upon this ac-
ton You are all expected 10 do your utmost
In that battle the Mikasa was the heaviest loser
Of all the japanese ships. having sixty-three killed
and wounded She approached nearer the Russians
than any other hattleship. According TO re-
port Of the engagement. q lieutenant at Admiral
Togo's side wounded with splinter from
she'll and Togo ppent on his knees and tenderly
lifted up the young officer. After the battle. when
ne arrived at saseho, Togo allowed one 10 land,
and himself did not leave his ship till he visited
the captive Russian commander. Admiral Rojest-
Yensky.
The Mikasa vas also the flagship Of Admiral
Togo after the great naval battle fought of Port
Arthur on August 10. 1904 when the flagship also
had the heaviest losses in the japanese fleet but
continued in the fighting line On that occasion
the Mikasa had four officers and twenty-nine men
killed. six officers and twenty-nine men severely
wounded and four officers and twenty-nine men
slightly wounded