Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-13

Frsnah Battlsship Destroyed BY BxplOuion
Of MAGAZINE IN TOulOn HarbOr.
AT LEAST EIGHTY MEN ARE KILLED
Odies Are Blown TO Fragments and Exact
Number Of Victims is Unknown.
HUNDRED AND FIFTY BADLY INJURED
Accidental Disohsrge Of Torpedo Ignites
Many Tors Of Powder.
ADMIRAL AND CAPTAIN AMONG VICTIMS
Number of Persons I'm Town Injured
by Explosion of ProjectiIes and
Large Part OF the Arsenal
is Destroyed.
HUNDRED AND HFTY BADLY INJURED
ADMIRAL AND CAPTAIN AMONG VICTIM

TOUDON March 1.-THE powder maga-
Sines on board the French battleship lena
blew uD at las this afternoon. and as a
result Captain Adigard. commander Of the
battlehsip; Captain Vertiez, chief Of star
Of the Mediterranean squadron, ana from
seventy to eighty biuejackets are dead,
while Rear Admiral Manceron and hun
drads Of other men are suffering from in
3uries. Naval circles are aghast and the
public is stunned by the appalling catas-
trophe coming 50 soon after the loss Of the
French submarine boat Lutin, in which
sixteen men met death
The entire afterpart OF the lena was
blown to pieces. The bodies OF the victims
were hurled through the afr by a success
sion Of explosions and panic-stricken work
men at the arsenal fed for their lives from
the vicinity of the drydock. Scores on
board Of the lena jumped overheard on to
the stone quays and sustained serious in
3uries
- e., The primary cause of the accident was
the explosion of a torpedo What caused
the explosion is not known. but the powder
magazines of the lena were set on fire and
the resulting explosions practically de-
stroyed what was considered one OF the
best vessels in the French navy The lena
had Just undergone a final inspection of
fits hull and machinery, the latter having
been completely overhauled preparatory to
Joining the squadron tomorrow. The crew
was In It's fun strength, being composed OF
the rear admiral. twenty-four other off,
GERS and GEO men.
Tons of Powder Explode.
The magazines had been replenished re-
Gently and contained many tons OF powder
e well as a number OF charges for tor
fedoes.
fThe crew had finished its midday meal
only short time before the explosion and
had dispersed to various parts OF the YES
sci. Most of the men were engaged in
work connected with the approaching de-
parture OF the warship. but quite a large
party had been detailed to attend a lee
ture that was being given forward.
The first shock OF the explosion was ex-
frenieiy- violent and shook the vessel fore
\ ara aft. It was followed instantly by other
FhockA. The crew rushed wildly about the
deck The men forward who had been at
tending the lecture clarhbered over the bull
warks and jumped down, some OF them
into the deck and others to the stone quay,
many being fatally hurt.
The hundreds of men below Geek were
enshrouded IN srnoke, and while they
groped their way toward the exits they
became the prey OF suffocating fumes
which caused many OF them to fall uncon-
scious.
shells and charges OF explosives In the
magazines continued TO explode and masses
of metal were hurled into the air and fell
about the docks and arsenals. These fylng
missiles demolished the torpedo shed, the
engine works and the pump house nearby
and constituted a most serious menace to
the lives Of those who made their way to-
ward the battleship to take part in work of
rescue. The lena was afiame from bursting
proiectiles, and the fire prevented approach.
II rs declared that for thirty minutes the
authorities were unable to discover the
keys with which 10 open the locks to food
the drydock and submerge the ship, but
when they did finally open the locks the
water rushed in onto the lena and the ex-
plosions came to an end.
Docks Uttered with Dead.
Then amidst masses OF dense smoke the
search for the dead and wounded was com
menced. The lower decks OF the lena were
Uttered with fragments OF shattered and
torn bodies, while the surrounding water
was dotted with human fragments
II will be impossible 20 ascertain the exact
number OF killed and wounded until tomor-
row when roll call win be held. as many
Of the men were completely blown to pieces
while others were Moderated.
Many OF the injured became temporary
insane and rushed frantically around untl
they fell exhausted.
duartermaster gave an account Of his
experiences. His face was blackened his
hair and beard had been burned on his
uniform was IN rags and he had sustained
a number OF minor injuries.
Il was on the bridge ana just about to
call the afternoon roll" no said. when
the explosion occurred had no idea what
had happened. felt myself hurled into
the air and a few seconds later found my
Al. I e.. -,
and run; had no idea where ] was going .
An orderly Of Rear Admiral Manoeron.
who was cut. bruised and blood stained.
gave the following recital Of his expert
ences
Rear Admiral Maceron-s quarters are
above the magazine. ] was m the dining
room when the first heavy shock occurred.
The quarters were az once filled with fumes
and choking smoke. ! rushed TO the rear
Of the admirals cabin. saw he was
wounded and shouted to him 10 run. After
that i do not know what happened. I
lost my senses and did not regain con-
sciousness until the reseuers found me"
Captain Vertier xuled.
Captain Vertier occupied a cabin near
she after turret, over the magazine. I'M
Cmediately after the explosion he tried TO Eet
out. but the door OF his cabin was blocked
with debris ana the only means OF exit
was impossible.
After the hre was extingufshed the res
cuers found his ineinerated body as well
as the terribly burne1 bodies OF several
other ohicers who had been caught IN the
after cabin.
a Two midshiPmen were killed outright and
the others attached 70 the lena have not
net been accounted for.
Until late hour anxious persons be-
Eieged the ONCE OF the maritime prefaot
seeking the names OF the victims. Finally
the 0mciais persuaded the people 70 dis
perss telling them there was no chance
OF learning the names before tomorrow
Lieutenant riercelin. one or the wounded
survivors. believes everybody below al the
CONTINUED on Fourth PaEel