The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-26
Magazines of French War
Ship Liberte Explode,
Killing Hundreds.
FIRE, NOT AT FIRST CONSIDERED
MENAcING, WAS THE CAUSE or
LOSS CT LIFE MORE APPALLING
THAN WARS FIERcEsT CLASH
COULD HAVE WRoUcHT-THE
GREAT SHIP, RENT AsuNDER,
SINKS.

Toulon, France, Sept. 25.-Havoc OF
life more appalling than wars fercest
clash could have wrought, occurred on
the French battleship Liberte early to-
day when an incipient blaze grew into
sweeping flames and ate their way
into the fighting vessels magazines.
Terrific explosions that followed
killed $50 to 500 men.
Most or the death toll is confined to
the Liberties roster, but men and OF
ficers Of other French ships lying AZ
anchor off Toulon were killed when
they went to the rescue Of the doomed
Liberties tars.
to grow into one Of the most appalling
naval disasters in times of peace came
at & o'clock this morning when an
alarm OF fire was sounded on the
LibeFte.
Immediately water was turned onto
a blaze in the hold that was not con-
gidered nnenacing until some time after
its discovery. As the stubborn fire
ate It's way toward the magazines
there came n slight explosion. This
gave impetus to the blaze and In an
other moment there occurred a series
Of detonations.
The IRE was first discovered at -FOUR
O'Clock and Immediately at the SOUND
OF the alarm the crew rushed to quar-
ters and fought the flames, but the
FIRE had obtained firm hold. Signals
were Mashed to other ships, which sent
Assistance. but their services were OF
little avail. The position OF the fre
made Il impossible to food the maga-
zines, but efforts to do 50 were made
and nnaIlv the commanding officer,
realizing his ship was doomed, ordered
the bugler to sound "Sauve qui peut
(let him save himself who CAM, ana
shouted to the men to jump for their
SAILORS PANIC STRICKEN.
BY this time sailors, Danic-strlckeh
by their sudden realization that the
flames were kissing their way peril
ously close to the main magazines. Pc
gan 10 hfrl themselves from the side
Of the vessel Before many couiu
escape however. the fre broke through
the magazine vaults
There came an explosion that rent
the giant lighting ship in twain.
Great gashes were torn in her steel
arInor and from these assures bodies
Of officers and men were hurled for
great distances into the harbor's wa
ters-
Pieces OF armor plate. kissing
through the air amid corpses OF
stricken sailors, struck sister vessels
OF the Liberte. The Republique, hit
by a flying fragment, was forced TO
hurry to the Aocks for repairs.
The disaster to the Liberte Is
startling climax to a long series of ac-
cidents in the French navy.
RESCUE WORK BEGINS.
The work OF rescue was quickly be-
gun. UP to this evening forty bodies
had been taken out and ninety-four
injured transferred to hospital.
Electric shears to cut through the
Plates and a powerful floating crane
to lift the masses of steel are used In
hn nf
who are at work exploring the in
TWO HUNDRED ASHORE.
Two hundred Of the crew escaped
death owing to the fact that they
were ashore on leave. Commander
Jaures, brother Of the socialist dep
uty, was not on board.
The carnage in the explosions was
worse than could have ever occurred
in an actual naval engagement. The
first crash came when the crew was
for the most part dispersed in various
sections of the vessel. They were
without warning Of their danger
into the air, accompanied by great
fragments of frame work, armor.
bursting shells and the binding, suffo-
eating smoke of the powder.
Men below who had not yet been
awakened, were killed in their sleep.
Others. awakened by the explosion,
started to jump overheard and were
caught by the second detonation. The
crew was panic-stricken and rushed
w4.dlv about. cropping in the smoke. In
which many fell unconscious.
There were many vessels IN the har-
Dor at the time, including a number
OF warships. which have been maneu-
vering here since the first of the
month. The first explosion brought a
quick response from the nearby men
of war and from the shore. Dozens of
boats put of and picked up survivors
and floating bodies
There were three tremendous explo-
sions in quick succession after the fire
reached the magazines. One hundred
men saved themselves by jumping and
others would have escaped but for the
discipline which held them at their
posts. At the first explosion the men
below, suddenly awakened. tumbled
from their hunks and rushing to the
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