Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-26

Toulon, France, Sept. 25.--The bat
tleship Liberte was torn apart and to-
tally destroyed by an explosion of her
magazines today. Between $50 and 400
officers and men were killed. The bat
tleship Republique was badly damaged
and the battleships Democratic and
Verite suffered severely from the
masses of twisted iron and armor
plate which were hurled upon their
decks
This Is the greatest disaster that has
ever fallen upon the French navy and
in magnitude is almost without pre-
cedent in the annals of the worlds
lighting ships The grief which pros
trates the fleet and nation is made
more intense by the memory of the
Ireeent review here a notable display
of frances naval greatness. In this
the i'll fated ship was one of the finest
figures.
The explosion. which wiped out one
of frances newest and most powerful
fbattleships. occurred at 5.53 o'clock in
the morning. 1t was preceded by and
was the result of an outbreak of fire.
The flames spread rapidly despite all
efforts to master them and reached the
magazines before there was time to
flood them. The magazines exploded
with tremendous violence, spreading
death and destruction in every direc-
ton.
While the naval authorities estimate
the killed at 900, it is feared that this
Figure will be exceeded. 1t will be
necessary TO so through the ships
muster rolls task of some days, be-
fore a full list of the victims can be
prepared. \ number of men have al
lready been extrieated alive from the
torn and twisted debris which was
Ionce the Liberte and the hope Is
strong that there are others within the
broken hulk who can be reached.
From what cause or when the fire
lbroIxe out has not been definitely es-
ltabiished but 1t is believed it had
lsmeu!dered several hours. OF the yes
lsers full complement Of 742, Capt
lJaures. brother of the Socialist leader,
land the second officer in command
we're both ashore on leave, as well as
lt4n officers and men. The command
Of the ship devolved on the senior
lieutenant. who persisted.
The fire was first discovered at \. M.
and the bugles Immediately sounded the
alarm. The crew rushed to quarters ana
desperately fought the spreading flames
but it was soon evident that the fire had
gained Roadway. Signals of distress were
flashed to the other ships, and these dis
= patched steam pinnaces and launches at
full speed to assist in the work of ex-
tinguishing the flames and rescuing the
men But their services were of little
laval.
The position of the fire made it inlpos-
sble to flood the magazines; nevertheless
efforts to do so were made. Finally the
commanding officer, realizing that the
ship was doomed. ordered the buglsr te
sound the "Sauve qui peut" Qet him save
: himself who cam, and shouted to the
men to jump for their lives.
At SIS occurred the first explosion. il
1 was followed by three others at one
! minute intervals. Then came the final sx
l plosion, the terrific reverbsration of which
/ shattered the windows of the whole city
/ and was heard for a radius of many
| miles The Liberte was rent asunder; hel
bows were thrown high in the air, ant
| then the vessel slowly settled. In 10 min
utes nothing of her was visible but thu
1 topworks.
Those still on deck were hurled slkywart
amid shower of iron and steel. Int
boats of the rescuers were sunk and Sc
| rious damage was done to the Republicans
| which lay at anchor close by Two o
! her decks were stove in and one of tn
Liberties armor plates was hurled agains
the Republlques port side and demolishe'
the cabin of an absent ensign.
4 70. fexf aff he a=ta IL
sion heavy cloud of black smoke HOY
cred over the harbor. When it shifted
horrible spectacle met the eyes of tn
people of Toulon. who, awakened by tn
first explosions. had hurried to lie shore
The battered upperworks of the battle
ship We're protruding from formles
wreekage, among which struggled TIN
seainen of the rescuing boats which haC
been sunk by the flying debris or sucked
down In the maelstrom.
Late tonight the naval authorities
declared that the number of victims Is
greater than at first appeared. The of
fetal estimate is now given as be-
tweer $50 and 400 dead or missing.
The work of rescue was quickly be-
gun An ambulance station was In
# stalled in the arsenal and Admira
= Marin-Darbel, maritime project, Wen
~ out to the wreck and superintendec
4 the work of extricating those impros
I oned under the shattered steel. Up t,
I this evening 40 bodies have been TAX
i en- out and "a Injured have been trans
I ferred to the hospital.
This afternoon the Liberte appeared
\ az if her bow had doubled over ont'
= the stern. Men buried in that part o