The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-09-26

TOULON. France. Sept 25-The
battleship Liberte was torn apart and
totally destroyed by an explosion OF
her magazines today. Four hundred
OF the crew are dead or missing.
The battleshIp Republique was badly
damaged, and the battleships Demo
cratic and Nerite also suffered Sc
verely from the masses OF twisted
iron and armor plate that were
hurled upon their decks
This is the greatest disaster that
has ever fallen upon the French
navy. and in magnitude is almost
without precedent in the annals of
the worlds fighting ships The grier
which prostrates the fleet and nation
Is made more intense by the memo
ry OF the recent review here. a no.
table display of Frances naval great
ness, in which the doomed ship was
one OF the finest figures.
Fire Preceded Explosion.
The explosion. which wiped out one
of Frances newest and most power
ful battleships. occurred at sos
O'Clock in the morning II was pre-
ceded aud was the result OF an out
break of fire. The flames spread
rapidly i'm spite Of all efforts to mas
ter them. and reached the magazines
before there was time to food them
The magazines exploded with trr-
mendous violence. sowing death and
destruction in every direction.
While the naval authorities estt-
mate the killed az 300. il Is feared
that this figure will be exceeded. it
will be necessary TO go through the
ships muster rolls. "A task OF some
days. before full list OF the victims
can be prepared. A number OF men
already have been eXtricated alive
from the fantastically torn and
twisted mass of wreckage which
once was the Liberte. and the hope
Is strong that there are others with
IN the broken hulk who can be
reached. Exactly from what cause
or when the fire broke out has not
been established. but II is believed
that it had smouldered for several
hours. or the vessels full compile.
ment OF 142. Captain Jaures. brother
Of the Socialist leader and the sec
ond officer in command. were both
ashore on leave. a. well as 40 Off
GERS and men. The command Of the
ship devolEed on the senior Heuten-
ant, who persisted
Crew Fights for Life.
The fire was first discovered al 8
m. and the bugles Immediately
sounded the alarm. The crew rushed
10 quarters and fought desperately
the spreading flames but IL soon was
evident that the FIRE had obtained "A
firm hold. Signals OF distress were
flashed TO the other ships. and these
dispatched steam launches az full
speed 10 assist in the work OF extin.
gushing the fames and rescuing the
men. But their services we're OF
Ittle\avail. Tho position Of the IRE
made 30 impossible 10 flood the mag.
azines. nevertheless efforts ~ do 90
we're made. and finally tho command.
iEg officer. realizing that thr ship wa 4
doomed. ordered tho bugier 10 sound
Tho Sauvc qui pcut' Oet him save
himself who cam and shouted 20 the
men 10 jump FOR their lives
Frs, Explosion.
~ 't@' the hr7t explosion occurred
II was followed hv three others az
1ne minute interval Then came rho
fnal terrific defamation RhIch shat.
tered the window of th,. entire r.fv
and VA heard f1r a radius of many
-n.Ir2 Tho Ifnerfn vas ROM ar.f-.
d.r har lns. aere flrrsr t.sf i-
mo sir. and fHnr fhr trs.f| .Iugfs
.r''''i frfr ard .r nineteen r.r.ft.
r'''frr s visible f. fE. Con
TIr.s H rr r.-E ar-.
l..I.I .tr..rI ovid .n.s.r ..
ir0r arf .fr rht fnr+. rf tr.
a.r l.. nrT ..rr.a dam
trs I.r.h. ...
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