The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-09-29
Other Warshlps In HarbOr Of
TouIOn Also Damaged.
SALVAGE LAUNCHES SWAMPED
Bodies Of Victims Are Horribly
MutiIated-- All That Remains
of Liberte Is Mass of Twisted
Iron In HarbOr.

Toulon, France, Sept. 26.-While at
anchor in the roadstead here, the
battleship Liberte, one of the best of
Frances seafighters of the pre-dread-
nought type, was blown to pieces by
series of explosions in her maga.
zines. The number of killed is not
yet definitely known, but is variously
estimated at between 325 and 400
men and officers.
The cause Of the explosions re-
mains a total mystery. Whether the
fire was caused by the first of the
series or preceded it remains uncer-
tain, with conflicting testimony. No
body can tell whether the customary
order to food the magazines was
ever given, or, If given, was already
too late.
All that remains of the Liberte
above water is misshapen mass of
twisted iron work showing one of
the great steel turrets with two
! giant guns pointing toward the sky.
tie, it is reported, 20 were killed and
so wounded by flying fragments of
the wreck The battleship Repub-
lique, which lay close to the Liberte,
was badly damaged by the explosion
and there were several casualties on
board of her. Further, as soon as
an alarm was sounded on the Lib
| artn hna nc oh
and from the other warships went
alongside to give assistance. When
the explosion came many of these
were capszed or shattered and a
rain of projectiles fell upon the rest.
1t is Inevitable that many lives were
lost in this way
Ferry Passenger Gives Alarm.
According 10 one story told here.
a passenger on a ferryboat first
spread the rumor of fire aboard the
Liberte. The people soon began
rushing toward the harbor and soon
terrific explosion was heard which:
shook all the houses in Toulon and
shattered thousands of windows, The
people Immediately rushed into the
streets and workmen quit their jobs.
Everyone in the city was at fever
heat +3
The fire was making rapid progress
and signals were made to the other
warships in the harbor that the ves-
sci was on fire. Boats soon left the
sides of these ships and rushed over
TO the Liberte to assist In the work
| nf Of h.a
soon say the danger of an explosion
Of the magazines and began jumping
overheard. Many of these were pick
ed up by boats from other vessels.
There were several small explo-
sions when suddenly while the work
of salvage was very actively pro-
+ crossing and when 1t was thought
, that all would be saved, there was
( an immense gush of fame which was
, followed by a terrible sight. There
was tremendous explosion and pro
jectlles of all sorts and broken iron
were thrown towards the sky and In
. all directions, many falling en- the
= surrounding battleships and causing
!, serious damage to the battleshlp Re
!. publique. The I4iberte was blown
a hsunder and sank amid a tegriflc tur
!. moil, carrying down with her a mum
Der of small craft which had rushed
, to the rescue of the crew All disap
peared amid cries and shrieks OF de
y spair.
Launches Come to Rescue.
A number of steam launches anC
tugs soon gathered about the wrecl
of the battleship Liberte for the pur
y pose of cutting holes through deckl
y and side plates in the hope of rescu
h ing any men who might be eft aliv,
/. within the vessel Many dead bodie
"a have already been taken from below
;, the decks. One quartermaster wa
found dead and his body entirely dc
y nuded as result of the force of tn
+" explosion. His body had been blow
70 upward and had lodged on the ladde
II which leads up the mast. Many frae
" ments of bodies which will never b
,f identified were brought ashore wraI
/. ped in tarpaulins and were turne
over to the naval authorities TO
burial.
OF so sailors who were treated a
:, the hospitals ashore, 20 have a
!" ready dieG and more are expected /
III die, All We're terribly wounded.
n is reported that the crews OF ever
warship anchored in the barbor su