The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-09-29

Ing WIN DOdt NOOK.
This evening 10 bodies had been
taken out and 94 injured had beer
transferred to hospitals.
At Work on Hull.
Electric shears to cut through tho
! plates Of the Liberte and powerful.
floating crane to lift the masses OF
steel were used in conjunction with a
crew Of divers who are at work eN-
ploring the interior of the hull. This
afternoon the Liberte appeared as If
her bow had doubled over on to the
stern. Men buried in that part OF
the wreckage above the water could
be heard groaning and screaming for
help which often the rescuers we're
unable to give. The lower deck was
an Internal sight. One man had his
foot held under a mass Of steel weigh
ing tons. After three hours of vain
effort to lift the mass a surgeon am
putated the foot. Through a hole IN
the armor portions of bodies, comfort
ed and piled together, could be per
ceived, all of them charred by the
flames.
One of the survivors, a warrant Of
fcer, who came out of the hurricane
of fire with only slight cut on the
forehead, telling of the disaster to-
night, said:
Fire Among Oil Cans.
s'The fire broke out in the general
store, among cans of oil, turpentine,
paint and other infammables. In
spite of every effort the flames reach
ed the coal bunkers and after that it
was difficult to prevent them gaining
the powder magazines. It was about
$50 o'clock and dawn was breaking
before the danger. seemed to be real
lied. Assistance was then being sent
to us from three other warships lying
in the harbor.
"Just when the whole ships crew
seemed to have reached the boats in
safety there was a terrific explosion.
The Liberte was hurled over On her
side and the forepart, where the full
force of the explosion was felt, lurch-
ed forward heavily with an appalling
crash. Cries resounded on all sides.
The greater part of the ships boats
with the rescuers and the men from
the Liberte instantly sank. How I
escaped from this frightful calamity
I do not know. From that moment
all was conscious Of was being car
ried aboard the Republique, where i
was taken care of. When I had some
what recovered my senses they told
me what had happened.
Rain of Steel.
after the explosion enormous frag-
ments detached from the boats Of the
Liberte and other pieces of iron fell
on the Republique, smashing the
bridge and plunging between the
decks. The bugler of the Liberte was
hurled through the air from our ILL
fated ship to the deck Of the Republi-
que, where he was picked up badly
hurt. In his hands he still held the
bugle with which he was sounding the
alarm"
"While walking with my family this
morning about $50 o'clock I saw little
flames darting out from the sides OF
the Liberte. Having heard a rumor
that the vessel was afre, said to my
wife: 1T will be better to go home.
there is sure to be an explosion
Hardly had I spoken the words
when the most appalling report ever
heard in my life almost threw US to
the ground. A great sheet Of flames
suddenly appeared, Illuminating the
entire roadsted. Then looking up at
the sky I distinguished black speckE
whirling through the air, then falling
back into the sea. It seemed only a
moment SO rapidly did the ghastly
scenes pass-and the Liberte had van
ished, leaving in the place Of the great
battleship a shapeless mass on the
waters"
Smoke Obscured Scene.
A newspaper reporter, who was or
the quay, Immediately after the dis
aster occurred, said the smoke OBJ
scured the entire harbor and the Sun
shone red through the veil. On the
way out to the wreck he met sloop
from the Patrie, which had been moor
ed close to the Liberte.
"The work of rescue vas IN full
swing" said sailors Of the slocp,
! If cnnDl<e