Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-16
DISASTER ON
FRENCH WARSHIP
Magazines Blow Up. killing Many
and IDjuring Hundreds.
MEN HURLED THROUGH AIR

Toulon. March ia terrible disas
ter occurred here The powder maya
zines on board the French battlesh.p
lena blew up and as a result Captain
Adieard. the commander OF the battle
ship. Captain Neruer. chief OF STAFF OF
the Mediterranean squadron. and from
40 % so biuejackets are dead. many
being blown TO pieces. while Rear
Admiral Manccren and hundreds OF
other men are suffering from injuries.
some OF them horrible in their extent
Naval circles are aghast. and the pub
lie is stunned by the appalling catas-
tr0phe
The entire after part Of the lena
was blown to pieces. The bodies OF the
victims were hurled through the air
by succession of explosions. and the
panic-stricken workmen az the arsenal
fed from the vicinity of the dry dock
for their lives. Scores Of men who
were on board the lena jumped either
overheard or onto the stone Quays
and sustained serious injuries.
The primary cause of the accident
was the explosion OF a torpedo What
caused the explosion ifs not known.
The crew was in its fuI strength be
ms composed of the rear admiral. "a
other officers and ESQ men. The maya
zines had been renlenished recently.
and contained many tons OF both
smokcless and black powder. as well
as a number of charges for torpedoes.
The explosion came without warn
.H-a
violent and shook the vessel fore and
art It was followed Instantly by other
shocks. The crew were thrown into
condition OF panic. They rushed wild
IS hither and thither about the deck
The men forward who had been attend
ing lecture clambered over the bull
warks and jumped down. some OF them
into the dock and others TO the stone
quay Many of the men who jumped
sustained fatal injuries.
The hundreds of mon below deck
were in a fearful position. They were
enshrouded in binding smoke, and
while they CROPPED their way toward the
exits they became che prey of sunocat-
Ing fumes which caused many OF them
TO fan unconscious.
In the meantime the detonations had
become more frequent. and the entire
after part OF the lena. which was vlrtu-
ally blown 90 pieces. caught fire. Shells
and charges of explosives in the maya
zines continued 90 explode and masses
OF metal were hurled into the air Co
fan everywhere about the docks and
the arsenal Those flying missiles de-
molishod the torpedo shed. the engine
works and the pump house near boy and
constituted a most serious menace 70
the lives OF those who made their way
toward the batueship 20 begin the work
OF rescue.
The lower decks Of the lena were
Uttered with the fragments of shatter-
ed and torn bodies. while the surround
ing water was dotted with human frae-
mcnts.
Captain Nertier occupied a cabin near
the after turret over the magazine I'm
mcdiateiy after the explosion he tried
20 ger out but the door OF his cabin
was blocked with debris and the only
means OF exit was impossible The
flames then broke out and Captain Yer
Ter died a horrible death. After tho
fire had been eXtinguished the rescuers
found his Moderated body. as we'll as
the terribly burned bodies Of several
other officers who had been caught IN
the after cabin