Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1907-03-21
STORES DEAD,
MANY HURT
FRENCH PUBLIC STUNNED eY AN
AWFUL CATASTROPHE
IN THE NAVY.
BIG BATTLESHlP BLOWS UP
In Some Mysterious Manner Tor
pedo Esplodes, Firing the Mag
azine, and an Appalling
Scene Follows.

Toulon--The powder magazines on
board the French battleship lena blew
up at 1885 Tuesday afternoon, and as
result Capt. Adigard, commander OF
the battleship; Capt Nertiez, chief OF
stan OF the Mediterranean squadron.
and from 70 to so blue.jackets are
dead. while Rear Admiral Manceron
aud hundreds of other men are suner
ing from injuries. Naval circles are
aghast. and the public Is stunned by
tie appalling catastrophe coming 50
soon after the loss of the French sub
marine boat Lutin. In which lG men
met death
The entire after part OF the lena was
blown 10 pieces. The bodies OF the
victims were hurled through the air
by a succession OF explosions and
panicstriCken workmen at the arsenal
fed for their lives from the vicinity OF
the drydock Scores on board the lena
jumped overheard onto the stone
quays. and sustained serious injuries
Tho primary cause OF the accident
was the explosion OF torpedo. What
caused the explosion is not known.
The Vessel Practically Destroyed.
The powder magazines OF the lena
were set on fire and the resulting ex-
plosions practically destroyed what
was considered one Of the best yes.
sells in the French navy. The lena
had Just undergone n final inspection
of her hull and machinery. the lat.
ter having been completely oyerhanled
preparatory to Joining the squadron
The crew was in its full strength, be-
Ing composed OF the rear admiral. %
other officers and $50 men. The mag.
azlnes had been replenishcd recently.
and contained many tons Of powder.
as we'll as n number OF charges for tor
pedoes. The crew had finished their
midday meal only short time before
the explosion. and had dispersed TO
various parts OF the vessel. Most of
the men were engaged In work con.
nectcd with the approaching departure
Of the warship, but quite a large party
had been detailed TO attend the lecture
that was being given forward.
The First Shock.
The first shock OF the explosion was
sci fore and aft, II was followed in
stantly By other shocks The crew
rushed wildly about the deck. The
men forward who had been attend
ing the lecture. clambered over the
bulwarks and jumped down. some OF
them onto the deck. and then onto the
stone quay. many being fatally hurt
The hundreds OF men below deck were
enshruuded in smoke, and while they
CROPPED their way toward exits they
became the prey OF the sunocatinl
fumes which caused many OF them e
fall unconscious
Shells and charges OF explosives II
tie magazines continued to explode
and masses OF metal were hurled int
the air and fell about the docks ant
arsenal. These flying missiles demol
ished the torpedo shed. the engln
works and the pumphouse nearby. AM
constituted a most serious menace Il
the lives Of those who made their wa
toward the battleship TO begin wor
Of rescue.
The Ship AfIame, Is Flooded.
The lena was aname from burstln
projectiles, and the FIRE prevented az
preach. II is declared that for 30 nil
utes the authorities were unable [
discover the keys with which to ope
the locks 10 food the drydock. an
submerge the ship. but when they dl
finally open the locks, the waite
rushed In onto the lena and the c,
plosions came TO an end. Then amldi
masses Of dense smoke the search Il
the dend and wounded was cor
menced.
The lower decks OF the lena were II
tered with the fragments of shatterC
and torn bodies, while the surroun
ing water was dotted with human fra
ments Many were completely blow
20 pieces. while others were incInera
ed.