The Cairo bulletin., 1907-03-13
SAILORS AND OFFICERS MEET
AWFUL DEATH WHEN Ex.
PLosloN WRECKS lena.
VICTIMS TORN TO BITS
And Hurled Into the Sea While Those
Who Escaped Instant Death Suf-
fered the Nest Horrible
Injuries.

tpWiDH, MdFcH lG.-~A IefflDIB dis
asfer occurred here this afternoon
when the powder magazines on the
French battleship lena blew up and
iaa a result Captain Adigard. com
mander Of the battleship, Captaia
NerticZ, chief of staff of the Mediter.
ranean squadron, and 10 to so blue
| jackets are dead While Rear Admiral
| Manceron and hundreds of CHER
men suffered from injuries; some of
them horrible IN their extent.
Naval circles a.e aghast and the
public stunned by tho appalling
catartrophe, coming SO soon after
the loss of the French submarine
boat Lutin in which 16 men met
DEATH
The entire after part of the lena
was blown to pieces. Bodies OF the
victims were hurled through the air
by succession of explosions and
panic stricken workmen at the ar
SERIAL fled from the vicinity of tho
dry dock for their lives. Sores of
those on board the lena jumped over
board into stone quays and sustained
serious injury.
Torpedo ExpiosiontheP Primary Cause.
The primary cause of the accident
was the explosion Of torpedo. What
caused the explosion is not known
but the powder magazines were st
afire and their contents, IN exploding.
practically destroyed what was con
The lena had just undergone a
final inspection preparatory to join
ing the squadron tomorrow The
crew was ia its full strength being
esmpast1ls of dsJ~arftfccrs and ,neu.
The magazines had been replenished
recently and contained many tons of
both smokeless and black powde as
well as number Of charges for tor
pedoes.
The crew had finished their midday |
meal only short time before the
explosion and had dispersed To the !
various parts of the vessel.
Death Came Without Warning.
The explosion came without warn |
ng The first shock was extremely |
violent and shook the vessel fore and |
aft. II was followed Gstantly by |
,ther shocks. The crew rushed wild |
~ hither and tjither about the deck
rhe men forward clamorcd over the
lulwarks and jumped down, some of
hem into the dock aud others 10 the |
stone quays. Many who jumped sus
aimed fatal injuries.
Hundreds of men below decks were |
Il fearful positions They were en-
shrouded in smoke and while they |
,ecame a prey Of the suffocatlng
times which caused many to fall I'M
conscious
Decorations Become Frequent.
Meantime the detonations had be-
.ome more frequent and the entire
Ifter part of the lena. which was VIZ
ually blown TO pieces caught fire.
shells and charges of explosives in
he magazines continued to explode
md pieces of metal were hurled into
he air TO fall every where about the
ecks and arsenal.
These flying missiles demolished
he torpedo shed. engine works and
lump house near by and constituted
he most serious menace to the lives
Il those who had made their way to
ward the batlleship to begin the work
If rescue. The lena was instantly
fame from bursting proiecti'es and
ire prevented approach.
II is declared that for 81 minutes
he authorities we're urable 30 dis
over the keys with which TO open
he locks to food the dry dock and
nbmerge the ship. but when they
iii finally open the locks the water
ushed in en- he lena and stopped
he explosions
shsstIy Scenes When Search Starts.
Then amidst masses of dense
moke the search for the dead and
sonnded was commenced The
over decks of the leaa were lit
cred with fragments of shattered
nd torn bodies, while the surround
ng water was dottel with human
fragments.
II will be impossible TO ascertain
he exact number killed and wounded
ntil tomorrow when roll cali will be
eId. as many OF the men were blown
o pieces while others were incin-
rated