The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-09-25
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Toulon. France, Sept. 25.-Fire broke
out early today in the ammunition hold
of the battleship Liberte one of the
finest vessels of the French navy and
explosions which followed, wrecked the
ship and killed more than half of her
crew of 1893 officers and men.
The fire was discovered at o'clock
and gained a quick advantage over
the sailors sent to extinguish IL, and
suddenly reached the magazines which
had not been flooded on account of the
apparently trlning nature of the blaze.
Vessel Soon Goes Down.
The force of the explosions shook
the vessel fore and aft, opening upI
great assures I'm the armor and frame
work. The vessel Immediately become
n mass of flames and smoke and soon.
almost demolished by the terrific de-
donations. sank to the bottom of Tou-
lon harbor.
dead ran as high as 500. Scores of
seamen died I'm their berths. A few
dozen saved themselves by jumping
overheard. Many of those injured
leaped into the water and drowned
before boats from other ships could
reach them.
200 on Shore Leave.
Two hundred of the crew escaped
death, owing to the fact they were
ashore on leave.
The carnage I'm the explosions was
worse than could ever have occurred
in an actual naval engagement Thel
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.
Scores of bodies were hurled high I'm
the air. accompanied by great frag-
ments of framework, armor. bursting
shells and binding smoke of powder
Many Killed in Their Sleep.
Scores OF men below were killed In
their sleep. others awakened by the
explosion, started to jump overheard
and were caught by the second deton-
alton. The crew, panic stricken, rush-
ed wildly about cropping through thei
binding smoke I'm which many zen
unconscious from suffocation
The first explosion brought quick
response from nearby men-of-war ana
from shore. Dozens of boats picked
up survivors and floating podles'
There were four tremendous expio-
sions I'm quick succession after the
fire reached the magazines.
Discipline Holds Men to Posts
One hundred men saved themselves
by jumping and others would nave 60
caped but for the discipline whicn
held them at their posts. Al the hrs'
explosion the men below suuuehiS
awakened. tumbled from their berths
and rushed TO the sides OF the Vesso'
and were throwing themselves over
board when an order calling them w
their stations rang out and helu W
their death those who had not aireauy
escaped.
Man From Other Ships Perish
A niece of armor plate blown from
M
the Liberte struck the cruiser kepup-
Iiaue on the port side with great ioroe,
damaging her plates, II Is repor'eo
that a hundred men from other war
ships. who had been sent 10 he'p
tinguish the Are. have dlsappea'0''
Little Chance For Men,
Smoke pouring from the Liberte "
tracted the attention OF other s"'p'
and they sent men to its assls,anc
Presently minor explosions pcs''"
within the Liberte, and many seoi"o"
flung themselves overheard.
Cries of "save yourselves; hrc nea
the magazines" could be heard irop,
every side and scores Of sailors leapeu
overheard and swan franticaiy io
safety. Scarcely more than hunu'.'
had plunged into the water pe'o
there was a series of detonations' cur
minating in terrific explosion 'na'
eeemed IN tear out the side Oi th' /.