Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-25

Toulon, France, Sept. 25.-F1re broke
out today early in the ammunition hold
Of the battIeship Liberte. one of the
finest vessels in the French navy, and
explosions which followed wrecked the
ship and killed more than half OF her
crew Of 793 officers and men.
The fire. discovered at o'clock,
gained a quick advantage over the
sailors sent to extinguish IL, and sud
denly reached the magazines. which
had not been flooded on account OF the
apparently trifiing nature of the blaze.
SINKS TO BOTTOM OF HARBOR.
The force OF the explosions shool,
the vessel. fore and aft. opening up
great assures In the armor and frame
work Of the vessel.
The vessel Immediately became a
mass OF fire and smoke. and soon. al
most demolished by the terrific deton-
ations, sand to the bottom of Toulon
harbor.
An early unofficial statement Of the
dead ran as high as 500. Scores of the
seamen died in their berths. a few
dozen saved themselves by jumping
overheard. Many of those injured
leaped into the water and drowned be
fore boats from other ships could
reach the n. Two hundred of the crew
escaped death owing to the fact they
were on shore leave.
The carnage in the explosion was
worse than could ever have occurred
in an actual naval engagement. The
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 IN
the air. accompanied by great frag-
ments of framework, armor. bursting
shells, and binding, suffocating smoke
of powder.
SCORES DIE IN SLEEP.
Scores of men below were killed in
their sleep. Others. awakened by the
explosion. started to jump overheard,
and were caught by a second detona-
ton. The crew, panicstricken, rush
ed wildly about, groping through the
binding smoke, in which many fell
unconscious from suffocation. The
first explosion brought a quick re-
sponse from nearby men-of-war and
from shore. Dozens of boats picked
up survivors and floating bodies.
FOUR TREMENDOUS EXPLOSIONS.
There were four tremendous explos-
ions IN quick succession after the fire
reached the magazines. One hundred
men saved themselves by jumping, 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 rushing to the
sides of the vessel. were throwing
themselves overheard. when an order
calling them to their stations rang out
and held 10 their death those who had
not already escaped.
FLYING PLATE STRIKES CRUISER
\ piece OF armor plate blown from
the Liberje struck the cruiser Republic
on the port side with great force. dam
aging its plates II is reported 100
men from other warships which had
been sent to help extinguish the fire,
have disappeared
SMokE ATTRACTS SHIPS.
Smoke pouring from the Iiberte at !
tTacted the attention Of other ships
and they sent men TO her assistance. /
Presently minor explosions began
within the Lberte and many seamen
flung themselves overheard Chies Of
Save yourselves, Fire in the maga-
zines" could be heard and from every
side scores Of sailors leaped over
board and swan frautically for safety
Scarcely more than hundred had