The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-02-03
WARsH|P SINKS
IN SHORT TIME
Brazilian Vessel Goes Down
Within Three Minutes
After an Explosion.
NATIONAL FUNERAL TO BE HELD
Two Hundred and Twelve Officers and
Men Who Went Down with the ship
VIII Be Honored at Rio de Janelro
--Nlnety-Elght Are Saved.

Rio Janeiro. Brazil. cablegram: The
Brazilian warship Aquiddban was
sunk Sunday night In Port Jacarepa-
qua. the result of an explosion.
Two hundred and twelve officers
and men went down with the ship,
only one officer escaping. The injured
number thirty-six. or those on board,
ninety-elght were saved.
The bodies OF the dead will be
brought to this city and national
funeral will be held.
There is general mourning here and
all the theaters are closed.
The following members OF the COM
mittee which left the arsenal on board
the Aquldaban, accompanying the
Minister OF Marine, were drowned:
Rear Admiral Rodrigo Jose do Rocha.
Rear Admiral Francisco Calheiros da
Graca, Rear Admiral Joao Candida
Brazil. and Captain Alves de Larrigo.
Two commanders, two German pho
tographers. and one reporter also were
drowned.
The explosion was In the powder
magazine and was OF such terrific
force as TO tear an immense hole
through the armor plate ond sheath
Ing OF the hull.
Ship Sinks Quickly.
The ship sank In three minutes
The food OF water which swept In
through the riven armor plates filled
the hold. drowned stokers, engineers.
and all others below decks at their
posts, and caused the craft 10 rush
TO the bottom.
The Aquldaban. which was sumpt-
uously furnished. was being used to
accommodate a large number OF Of
ficers OF high rank who were accom-
panying the Minister OF Marine on a
cruise TO select site for a new ar
senal.
The Minister OF Marine and HIS
staff were on the cruiser Barroso.
which was within half a mile OF the
Aquidaban at the time OF the acci-
dent. Boats were hurried to the
scene, but all except those who es-
capped In llfeboats had disappeared.
Naval officers here are at loss 10
account for the explosion, the pre-
cautions with which the powder mag.
azine was guarded being considered
perfect.
While all are loath 10 believe the
ship could have been blown up by In.
tent, the recent mutinles in the navy
and the fact that the Aquidaban was
the craft which quelled the latest re-
volt cause these reports TO be re.
ceived in many quarters.
Socialists here held meeting in
commemoration OF Red Sunday" in
Russia. 1t is even suggested that the
destruction OF the ship was connected
with the celebration.
Vessel Built In England
The Aquidaban was built by Sa.
muda Bros. Poplar. England. in 1885,
and was OF 1850 tons displacement.
the vessels dimensions being:
Length. 2ss feet; BREADTH 81 feet.
depth, 20h feet. The engines were OF
$500 horsepower, giving speed OF
fourteen and one-haf knots! The YES
sells crew consisted OF 3sS officers
and men. Besides the hea4y guns In
It's main battery. the ship had 1--WE
torpedo tubes.
In the Brazilian revolution the
Aquidaban played..a praCa .acnt part
IL was torped6ed and sunk by Us.
sampalo elnd when raised was re.
named the vinte Quarto de Maio.
This name. however. was discarded
later. and the vessel given It's orig
inal name.
The Aquldaban cost s1,725.OO when
built
The Aquidaban for many years was
the pride OF the Brazilian navy.
She war the first OF the modern
type OF warshlp which Brazil acquired.
In a naval review held az New York
the Aquidaban was sent by Brazil to
participate In the review. as being
the best example OF that country's
naval progress.