Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-09-26
FRENCH BATTLESHIP ExPLoDEs
Fearful Catastrophe in Harbor of
Toulon.

lOulOT, fTdHCe, sept. ZO.-f1dNOC VI
life more appalling than wars fiercest
clash could have wrought occurred on
the French battleship Liberte early to-
day when an incipient blaze grew into
sweeping flames and ate their way to
the fighting vessels magazines.
Terrific explosions that followed
killed from $50 to 500 men.
Most Of the death toll Is confined to
the Liberties roster, but men and off,
GERS of other French ships lying at
anchor off Toulon were killed when
they went to the rescue Of the doomed
Liberties tars.
First intimation Of trouble that was
to grow into one Of the most appalling
naval disasters in times Of peace came
at 5 o'clock this morning when an
alarm of fire was sounded on the
Liberte. Immediately water was turn
ed on to a blaze in the hold that was
not considered menacing until some
time after its discovery.
AS the stubborn fire ate its way to-
ward three magazines there came a
slight explosion. This gave impetus
to the blaze and in another moment
there occurred a series of detonations.
BY this time sailors, panic c-stricken
by their sudden realization that the
flames were kissing their way peril
ously close to the main magazines, be-
gan to hurl themselves from the side
of the vessel. Before many could es-
cape, however, the fire broke through
the magazine vaults.
There came an explosion that rent
the giant fighting ship in twain. Great
gashes were torn in her steel armor
and from these fissures bodies Of off,
GERS and men were hurled for great
distances into the harbor's waters.
Pieces of armor plate, kissing
through the air amid corpses of strick-
en- sailors, struck sister vessels Of the
Liberte. The Republique, hit by a fly
ing fragment, was forced to hurry to
the docks for repairs.
The disaster to the Liberte Is a
startling climax to a long series Of
accidents in the French navy.
The fire was discovered at o'clock.
1t first did not appear to be serious,
but somehow it gained a quick advan-
tage over the squad Of sailors sent to
extinguish It and suddenly, without
warning. 1t reached the magazines,
which had not been flooded on account
of the apparently trihing nature Of the
blaze.
The force of the explosions was ter
rifle. They shook the vessel fore and
aft, each one seemingly stronger than
that preceding, opening up great fis-
sures in the armor and framework OF
the vessel.
The vessel Immediately became a
mass of fire and smoke and soon, al
most demolished by the terrific de-
donations, sank to the bottom Of Tou-
Ion harbor.
At an early hour unofficial estimates
of the number Of dead ran as high as
500. Estimates by naval men varied
widely, but there was no doubt that
the loss Of life was more than 400.
Scores of seamen died in their berths.
A few dozen saved themselves by
jumping overheard. Many of those in
jured leaped into the water and were
drowned before the boats from the
other ships in the roadstead could
reach them.
Two hundred of the crew escaped
death owing to the fact that they were
ashore on leaves. Commander Juares,
a brother Of the socialist deputy, was
not on board.
The carnage in the exp osions was
worse than could ever have occurred
in an actual naval engagement. The
for the most part dispersed in various
sections of the vessel. They were
without warning Of their danger.
Scores of bodies were hurled high into
the air accompanied by great frag-
ments of framework, armor, bursting
shells and the binding, suffocating
smoke Of the powder.
Men below who had not yet been
awakened were killed In their sleep.
others, awakened by the explosion,
started to jump overheard and were
caught by the second detonation. The
crew was panic stricken and rushed
wildly about, cropping in the smoke In
which many fell unconscious.
There were many vessels In the har-
Dor at the time, including a number Of
warships which have been maneuver-
ing here since the first Of the month.
The first explosion brought quick re-
sponse from the nearby men, of-war
and from the shore. Dozens Of boats
put off and picked up survivors and
floating bodies.
There were three tremendous eXplo-
sions 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 hurled to their death those who
had not already escaped.
From 800 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 20 dead and
so 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 fleet by President
Fallieres on September 4.
Particular significance 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 the terms
upon which the republic offered to
settle the Moroccan dispute.
Today's disaster came with little
warning. The fire was discovered
about o'clock. A signal sounded
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 poured from the warship and
attracted the attention Of other ships
Of the squadron, which hurriedly dis
patched pinnaces with men and fire
apparatus to 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
could be heard ringing
across the water in the stiffness of the
clear morning. Scores of sailors leap
ed overheard and swan frantically for
safety but scarcely more than 100 had
into the water before the Sc
ries of minor detonatlons eliminated
i'm a terrific explosion. In the side or
the great vessel a giant hole was CASH
ed. then she listed and sank swiftly.
In moment dead bodies and debris
were floating about in the disturbed
waters that splashed around the upper
works. In a wide circle around the
spot where the craft had floated so
proudly a few minutes before, the sea-
men who escaped death were strug-
Cling desperately. Small boats were
picking up as many as they could
reach.