The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-26
ALGESIRAS NOW
RUINED HULK
City Of Toulon Wrings It's Hands
IN Anxiety on the Shore While
Thousands of Seamen
Rush to Rescue Of
Comrades in
Peril.

TOULON. FRANCE. November 25-Tbe
torpedo schooI-ship Algesiras. stationed
IN this harbor. was totally destroyed by
fire at late hour this evening. There
were i've hundred men on board When
the fire broke out. but il is believed only
three were burned TO death.
The burning OF the school-ship created
tne greatest alarm throughout the city.
News Of the fire was nrst conveyed at
about II clock by the firing of cannon
ln the harbor- The people hurrlediy left
the cafes and theatres and rushed 90 the
docks. whence they could see the AIge-
siras d mass Of flames in the harbor The
burning vessel stood out brilliantly in the
enclrcIlng darkness. and the glare OF the
names ut up the other shipping and the
coast and wharves.
Terrible Anxiety Felt.
There was terrible anxiety concerning
the fate OF the COO men on board untu the
authorities announced that everybody
mad been taken off In boats and saved
win the exception OF three These nen
did not answer the rou-cau. and it IS
presumed they We're burned TO death
The entire garrison here was called out
70 render assistance and the crews Of
the warshQs OF this division hurrfedly
launched their boats 20 90 20 the rescue
o. their comrades who were on board the
Algesiras FOR purposes Of instruction
Tug boats and nre-boats as well as sew
eral steamers lying in port. slipped their
anchors and likewise went out To help
Organized efforts were made 10 put the
fire out. but IN vain. The flames sDread
quickly 70 all parts OF the ship. and she
was blazing from stem to stern. almost
before the men had time 70 leave her.
Save Other Ships.
As soon rs the uer bod been taken
on the flaming vessel. the EFFORTS OF the
authorities were directed to safeguarding
the other ships anchored in the vicinity
OF the Algesiras. including the new battle
ship Patrie and the torpedo gunboat La
Hire. These two warships were toved
t. places of safety.
The authorities came rapidlv % Clio con
olusion that the Algesiras was doomed.
and she was left 10 burn herself out
The discipline maintained on board
the Agesiras was excellent a majority
OF the men We're cool and collected The
small boats Of the Algesiras were
launched. filed with men and rowed
away. while those who could not leave
In this manner awaited the arrival OF
their rescuers. A few men. however.
were forced by the flames TO jump over
board and swim away. Six torpedoes on
board the schoolship exploded while the
men were leaving the vessel
Magazine in Danger.
There was much fear during the height
OF the fire that a torpedo magazine on
shore would become ienited. but this was
prevented by deluging the magazine with
heavy streams of water from powerful
freboats II IS not known whethe- the
fire originated from an explosion ~ DOW
der OF broke out among the stores on
board.
The Agesiras had been used as a
school ship since 1894
It IS thought that me fire which b-olo
out tonight had been smoIdering All
day long IN the vessels bunkers. This
would account for the sudden breaking
out of the flames at practically the same
time on different parts Of the ship
There is some uncertainty as 10 whether
the three missing men We're really burned
or not 1t IS reported that they were
last seen standing on deck. and when
ordered to jvu'n into the water they re-
piled that they could not swim
The Algesiras was p ship OF the line
and for number of wears she has been
doing duty q harhor vessel and ern-
ployed as a torpedo training ship. she
was OF 5.047 tons displacement. and was
built in 1855.