Battleship on Fire.

Opunake Times, Volume XXII, Issue 773, 15 September 1905, Page 2

Battleship on Fire.

Tokio, September 12. The battleship’Mikasa, while anchored at Sasebo, caught fire at midnight, and sank at 2.30 on Monday morning.

While efforts were being made to extinguish the flames, the aft magazine exploded, blowing a hole in the port side below the water line.

The casualties were 599, including rescuers sent from other ships. Admiral Togo was not aboard. The disaster has created a profound sensation and gloom amongst all classes in Japan. The fire origin ated at the base of the Mikasa’s rmaiumast, and it is believed was du e to an overcharge of electricity. The magazine exploded within an hour.

London, Sept. 13. The Times’ Tokio correspondent states that five are known to have been killed, while 551 are missing and 343 wounded.

The Tok # io correspondent of the Daily Express states that two-thirds of the crew and a majority of the officers avere lo’St. The sailors made desperate efforts to stop the progress of the flames. The Daily Mail correspondent says of 599 many were killed. The Daily News asks whether the disaster was accidental or the deliberate act of some fanatic dissatisfied with the peace terms. Newspapers express sympathy with Japan’s disaster at the opening of a glorious peace, “ and when the command of her own seas is acknowledged by the whole world.”