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

zlne. II was about $50 O'Clock. and
dawn was breaking before the danger
seemed to be realized. Assistance was
then being sent to us from the port
and three other wsrships lying in the
harbor.
Just when the whole ships crew
seemed to have reached the boats In
The Liberte was hurled over on her
side. and the forepart. where the full
force OF the explosion was felt. lurched
forward heavily with an appalling
crash.
Lifeboats sanf-
Cries resounded on all sides. The
greater part OF the ships boats, with
the rsscuers and the men from the LII
berte. instantly sank. How ! escaped
from this frightful calamity do not
know. From that moment all was con-
scious or was being carried aboard the
Republique, where I was taken care or
When l had somewhat recovered my
senses they told me what had happened
After the explosion an enormous
fragment. detached from the bows of the
l.iberte. and other. pieces of iron Tell
on the Republique. smashing the bridge
and plunging between the decks. Ihs
bucler OF the Liberte was hurled
through the air from our Inflated snip
to the deck of the Republique. where he
was picked up badly hurt. In his hands
he sim held the bugle with which he
was sounding the alarm"
\ newspaper reporter. who was on
the quay Immediately after the disaster
the entire harbor. and the sun shone
red and lowering through the veil. on
the way out To the wreck he met a sloop
FROM the Patrie which was moored
close To- the I.iberte. The sailors We're
livid and shaking with emotion at the
horrible sight they had Witnessed.
Boats Engulfed IN whirlpool.
The work Of rescue was In full
swing" they said. when an immense
pillar of smoke rose slowly and the
flames spread fast. suddenly tongue
- a. e. NHHa
roar and debris OF all kinds rained down
upon our heads. All the boats which
surrounded the Liberte We're engulfed
In the Wnirlpools caused 10y the sink
ing ship. They vanished amid the de-
spairing cries Of the crew. We could
see nothing Of tbs Liberte. II disap-
peared In the dense smoke and the boil
ing waters"
on reaching the wreck. the reporter
found that the mooring buoy had been
blown a considerable distance. The bat
plating, ineNtricahly mixed with torn
boiler and broken machinery. puffs OF
smoke and steam darted iu aud out from
the vessels maugled carcass.
Petty OFFICER Leon, one OF the sur
vivors. Who was taken aboard the He
puhlique. said: Il was in my hammock.
and heard the shouts 20 up IN terror.
saw smoke ana flames all around me.
and / know nothing more"
Commander DE keraudrpn. Of the Re
pubhque. said that when the explosion
stem tuSteru.
Cause of Disaster.
II i now considered established that
the disaster was due to the defiacra-
tion Of b powder. as in the case Of
the lena. Tow ards ~. the watch
perceived a dense smoke coming from
the fnrepart 81 the ship. lie reported
this 10 the officers. who promptly ord
cred that the magazines be flooded as n
first preCautiOu. The men whose duty
10 was went TO open the valves com
muuiCatiuE with the sea. but returned
prtcipately saying that 10 was impos-
sible TO carry ont their orders on ac-
count Of tie thick poisonous fumes ris-
inE from the magazines. making IN" task
Of approaching practically impossible
some idea OF the violence OF the OK
ploSion may he had from the fact that
the officer commanding the gunneyy
scholarship FOudre. anchored three kifo-
metres G.~6 miles, from the IIberte.
was killed on his own quarter deck by 4
fragment of she'll hurled from the Lii
hertc. and two sailors standing beside
him were wounded