TERRIBLE MARINE DISASTER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 35, 26 September 1911, Page 5

TERRIBLE MARINE DISASTER.

HUNDREDS OF SEAMEN PERISH.

''By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) United Press Association.) (Received 26, 12.25 a.m.) Paris, September 25. A fire occurred in the ammunition hold of tiie French battleship Libcrte, at Marseilles. A series of terrible explosions followed. • it is feared that five hundred of the crow perished. The first explosion occurred at five o’clock in the morning, the second and third an hour later. About a hundred of the crew sprang into the water,* and wore mostly ali rescued. The last explosion broke the Liberte in halves. The vessel sank in nineteen minutes. OVER 500 LIVES LOST. MANY MEN INJURED. OTHER SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. (Received 26, 9.30 a.m.) Paris, September 25. Little danger was first apprehended from the fire on the Libcrte, but then the gained and readied the fore ammunition hold, and an explosion followed, and 100 men on deck jumped overboard. The rest of the crew wore awakened and rushed on deck; they wore about to jump overboard, but were ordered to their stations. Four explosions followed tiie first in quick succession. The vessel forward was wrapped in a sheet of flame, which was rising to a considerable height. With the fifth explosion the vessel sank like a stone. Men were hurled in the air, and ware dead when they reached the water. ■ Whom the smoke cleared, part of the hull was seen still above water, surrounded by a tangled mass of spars and wreckage. Many ot those injured were clinging to the wreckage. assistance from other warships was promptly sent. Commander Jaures, brother of the Socialist leader, was absent on furlough. Captain Joubort was in command wnen tjie disaster occurred. Smoke from the burning battleship enveloped the roadstead. Three hundrad and fifty men are missing from the Libcrte; IUU men from other ships, and rescuers wore also lost. A large hole was made in the battleship Republique by flying debris, and she also lost fifty men. The Democratic and Write were also badly damaged, losing twenty killed and fifty injured. The Reppblique was hurriedly docked.