The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1911-09-26
EXPLOSION WRECKS uBERTE::
/ DART. ORDINARY
IBE IWEEN j0U AUU 0UU AILLtU
Three Terrific Explosions Follow Blaze,
Hurling Victims to Atoms--Quick
Response Of Vessels IN Harbor
Prevent Death List From
Being Sti II Larger.

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- Dozens of boats put of
and picked up survivors and floating
bodies.
There were three tremendous ex-
plosions in quick succession after the
FIRE reached the magazines. One hun
dred men saved themselves by jump
ing 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 berths and, rush
ing to the sides of the vessel, We're
throwing themselves overheard when
an order calling them to their sta
tions rang out and held to their death
those who had not already escaped.
Loss Report Grows.
From 300 to $50 Of the crew Of the
Liberte and about 100 men from the
other warships, which had been sent
to help extinguish the fire disappear
ed. The Democratic lost twenty dead
and fifty injured
A piece of armor plate blown from
the Liberte, struck the cruiser Repub-
lique on the port side with great force,
damaging her plates.
The Liberte was anchored in the
roadstead, where she had been since
the review of the feet by President
Fanieres on September 3.
Particular signifcanc is attached
to the review, the most imposing in
the history of the French navy, as 1t
was made on the very day that France
communicated to Germany tie terms
upon which the republic offered set
tlement of the Moroccan dispute.
Today's disaster came with little
warning. The fire was discovered
about 5 O'Clock. A signal sounded
throughout the vessel, summoning the
crew to fire quarters. Immediately the
order was given to flood the holds, but
the inrushing water failed to check
the rapidly spreading flames.
Smoke Attracts Other Ships.
Smoke poured from the warship and
attracted the attention of other ships
of the squadron which hurriedly dis
patched pinnaces with men and fire
apparatu the aid Of their sister
ship.
Presently minor explosions began
within the Liberte and many seamen
flung themselves overheard.
Cries of Save yourselves, fire near
magazines" could be heard ringing
across the water in the stiffness of
the clear morning. Scores of sailors
leaped overheard and swan frantical-
ly for safety, but scarcely more than
100 had plunged into the water before
the series Of minor detonations cul-
minated in the explosions. In the side
Of the great steel vessel a giant hole
was gashed, and she listed and sank
swiftly.
Dead Bodies Float.
In a moment, dead bodies and de-
bris were floating about in the dis
turbed waters and swirled about the
upper structure of the vessel. Boats
rushed to the spot where the Liberte
had proudly foated few minutes be-
fore, and where now many seamen
were struggling In the water. Small
boats were picking up as many as
they could reach.
AS the battleship went down, sew
eral Of her guns discharged a requiem
salute.
The Liberte had complement Of
700 men. OF these 140 were away on
shore leave, so that $50 were aboard
when the shock occurred. An esti-
mate of the number of those who
jumped overheard is between $50 and
200. 4se3zt
The rumble Of the explosion was
heard throughout the city.
Other Vessels Damaged.
The latest estimate this afternoon
placed the number of missing from
the Liberte at $50.
To these must be added 100 men
from the other ships who were killed.
Several small boats which had gone
from other warships to the aid Of the
Liberte sank when the final explosion
occurred. t.sxa i @iSMEa