New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-26

fOr helm ana SfOdllls.
The lower deck was an internal sight
one man had his foot held under mass
Of steel weighing tons After three
hours spent in vain efforts TO lift the
mass surgeon amputated the foot
Through hole I'm the armor portions
~ bodies. contorted and piled together
could be perceived. all Of them charred
by the flames.
one Of the survivors. a warrant officer,
who came out Of the hurricane of hre
with only a slight cut on the forehead
telling OF the disaster tonight, said:
"The fire broke out in the general
store. among cans OF oil. turpentine'
paint and other infiammables. In spite
OF every effort the flames reached the
coal bunkers. and after that it was diff
cult 10 prevent them gaining the pow
der magazine.
Danger Not Realized at First.
III was about $50 o'clock and dawn
was breaking before the danger seemed
TO he realized. Assistance was then be-
ing sent to US from the port and from
three other warships lying in the har-
Dor.
lust when the whole ships crew
seemed 10 have reached the boats IN
safety there was terrific explosion.
The Libert6 was hurled over on her
side. and the fore part, where the fun
force OF the explosion was felt, lurched
forward heavily with an appalling
all eli
The greater part Of the ships boats
with the rescuers and the men from the
Liberte instantly sank. How ! escaped
from this frightful calamity III never
know. From that moment all I was
conscious Of was being carried aboard
the RepubliqUe. where I was taken care
Of When I had somewhat recovered
my senses they told me what had hap
pened
After the explosion an enormous
fragment detached from the bows Of the
Liberte and other pieces OF iron fell on
the Republque, smashing the bridge and
plunging between the decks The buglec
Of the Liberte was hurled through the
air from our Inflated ship 10 the deck
or the Republique, where he was picked
vi badly hurt In his hands he still held
the bugle, with which he was sounding
the sauve Qui peut.'
4 citizen Of Toulon who witnessed the
disaster saws: While walking with my
family this morning. about $50 o'clock,
distinctly saw little flames darting out
from the sides Of the Liberte. Having
heard q rumor that the vessel was atirc
I said to my wife. IT will be better TO
70 home: there is sure TO be an explo-
sion
Hardly had ! spoken the words when
the most appalling report I ever heard
IN nv life almost threw us 70 the
ground A great sheet Of fame suddenly
appeared. Illuminating the entire road
stead Then, looking up at the sky, !
distinguished little black points whirling
through the air. then falling back into
the sea II seemed only moment-so
RAPIDLY did the ghastly scenes pass-and
tho Iiberte had vanished leaving IN
place Of the great battlcship the shape
less mass ON the waters.
Sailors Tremble with Emotion.
A newspaper reporter who was on the
quay Immediately after the disaster,
saws that smoke obscured the entire
harbor and that the sun shone red and
lowering through the veil. on the way
On. 10 the wreck he met q sloop from
the Patrie. which was moored close to
the Libert4 The sailors were livid and
trembling with emotion at ne horrible
sight they had witnessed
The work Of rescue was in full
swing" they said. when an immense
pillar Of smoke rose slowly, and the
flames spread fast suddenly tongue
Of FIRE shot up there was a doafening
roar. and debris Of all kinds rained down
upon our heads All the boats which
surrounded the Liberte were engulfed in
the whirlpool caused by the sinking
ship.
- They vanished, amid the despairing
N cries Of the crew. We could see nothing
~ Of the Liberte She disappeared in the
dense smoke and the boiling waters"
ON reaching the wreck the reporter
found that the mooring buoy had been
blown considerable distance. The bat
teship itself was a mass of bucked
plating inextrcably mixed with torn
boilers and broken machinery PuTs Of
smoke and steam darted in and ont from
the vessels mangled carcass.
Smoke and Flame All Around.
Petty officer Leon one Of tie sur
,iyors. who was taken aboard the Re
rub.ique said. II was in my ham
mock and hearing the shouts sot up
in terror. saw smoke and flame all
around me and I know nothing more"
Commander dc Keraudren of the Re
pIbHqus said that when the explosion
occurred his vessel was shaken from
stem o. stern.
Fire" he said was first observed
soon after O'Clock We received sig
rails Tor help. and at $50 sounded the
FIRE alarm and Immediately sent two
boatloads Of men with hre fighting APP
raratus.
presently other boats were ordered
out % the rescue Of the sailors OF the
Libertt. who We're jumping into the
water
The flames. il was easily seen, were
gathering headvay and a deep, roaring
explosion occurred. AS we watched the
Llberte nearly hidden in the smoke,