The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1911-09-27
5OOSA|L0RS ARE LOST
Magazines on French Battle
ship Liberie Exploded.

Disaster Also Suffered Many Casual
ties - Twenty Wounded Have Al
ready Died Of Those Taken to Hoe
pitfalls For Treatmentb-Waters OF
Harbor Covered With Wreekase Of
Small Boats and Parts Of Destroyed
Battleship.
Toulon, Sept, 26.-The first class
Lattleship Iiberte, one of the finest
In the French fleet blew up and sank
while at anchor in the roadstead yes
terday morning. 1t is estimated that
$50 sailors were killed aboard the Lib
erte and 20 killed and 80 injured
aboard the Democratic. There were
also many casualties aboard the 9TH
er the explosion 274 answered roll
the Vorite and Republique. The lat
ter was 30 badly damaged that she
had to be towed in to dock.
The Liberte had a crew of III
men, of whom 140 were on leave. Aft.
er the explosion 274 answered roll
call, leaving 3O3 missing. The com.
mander of the Liberte, Captain Jaures,
a brother of the Socialist leader, Jean
Leon Jaures, was absent on shore at
the time. Besides the dead on the
Liberte twenty were killed and fifty
wounded on her sister ship, the DEM
ocratie. which was lying at anchor
close by. These were killed by shells
and flying debris.
Fatalities on Other Vessels.
There were also a number Of fatali-
ties on the battleships Vorite and Re-
publiQue. These vessels are also OF
the same class as the Liberte. The
Republique had her armor plate torn
by projectile from the Liberte.
Many of the seamen from the sur
rounding vessels which went to aid
in putting out the fire when it first
started on the Liberte, are also among
the dead.
1t appears that the fire started in
the ammunition hold of the Liberte
shortly after midnight and the crew
at once began a hard fight to con.
Quer it: At the sound of the alarm
from the ship, men from the other
vessels Of the fleet came to help in
the fight. Shortly before o'clock,
however, the first of series Of explo-
sions occurred, which shook the sur
rounding country for miles away.
There were FIVE explosion In ALL
and with each one was a great mass
of fire filled with shattered steel arose
from the warship.
Nearly every one in the city was
asleep at the time and the terrific
roar awakened them; and sent hun.
dreds hurryirS to the water side.
Those, who saw the scene from the
shore say the sight was terrifying.
The vessel was one mass of smoke
and fire..
After tite fifth explosion the vessel
seemed to break into two pieces and
10 minutes later sank like stone.
After she had gone beneath the water.
part of the hull rcappeared, apparent.
ly because Of the way in which the
different parts crashed together.
Sank In 30 Feet of Water.
Men could he seen clinging to the
wreckage. Part of the stern was still
visible when the shattered warship
settled down. The water where she
sank was about 30 feet deep.
With the noise of the explosion
boats began to dart out from the
ships of the fleet and other craft in
the harbor. The harbor was strewn
with wreckage.
The dead, part of whom were found
floating on the surface of the water
and others who were taken out of the
sunken ship, were brought ashore by
the score.
All Toulon was transformed into a
hospital. Launches brought the dead
and wounded ashore every few min. |
utes- There were heartrending scenes |
when women and children clamored |
to see the bodies In order to learn IL |
their husbands, sons or brothers were
among the victims. There is conster-
patton also at various other ports, es-
pecially Brest, from which nearly all |
Of the crew of the Liberte came.
A number of steam launches and
tugs were gathered about the wreck
Of the battleship Llberte for the pur.
pose of cutting holes through the
decks and side plates in the hope of
rescuing any men who may be left
alive within the vessel. Many dead
bodies have already been taken from
below the decks.
Body Denuded by Explosion.
One Quartermaster was found dead
and his body entirely denuded as a
result of the force OF the explosion.
lis body had been blown upwards
md had lodged on the ladder which
eads up the mast. Many fragments
If bodies which will never be identi.
led were brought ashore wrapped in
arpaulins and they were turned over
o the naval authorities for burial. OF
70 sailors who were treated at the
hospitals ashore 90 have already died
md more are expected to die. All
we're terribly wounded