THE TOULON MAGAZINE EXPLOSION

West Coast Times, Issue 11278, 28 April 1899, Page 4

THE TOULON MAGAZINE EXPLOSION

EXTRAORDINARY EFFECTS.

The Lagoubran Naval magazine, between La Seyne and Toulon, blew up at half -past two on Sunday morning, March sth, and a large number of soldiers and civilians were killed and wounded, while the damage to property was immense. The explosion occurred in Bay No 1 of b. 3 magazine, which, it is said, contained 50,000 kilogrammes of black, powder. The city on Monday was in mournin". All the flags were at half-mast and tied with crape. The vicinity of of the scene of the i explosion looked as if a volcanic eruption bad occurred, and the country for a radius of nearly two miles was swept almost bare. Houses were razed to the ground and trees overturned or bent and distorted to the most extraordinary shapes. The fields were devastated and covered with stones and fine impal pable black dust. Pouie of the stones were enormous. One weighing neaily 50 kilogrammes fell in the suburb of Pont de Las. Signs ef the explosion were evident in all the suburbs, and also in the city of Toulon. Even at St Jean da Yar, a place five miles off, windows were shattered and doors battered in, and. theje, a]s.o everything waa soverei

with black duat. Peasants said that they found a zinc tank completely flattened in the fields three kilometres from, the magazine. It was stated at first that every soldier on duty at the magazine bad been killed, but this proved to be not qnite accurate. Of seven scmtriea on guard, at the time four were killed outright and others were severely injured. The corporal in charge was scalped, the skin being completely detached from the upper part of his head and hanging ohia face like a veil.

It was supposed that chei*; iCal de:om> position occurred in a b*»;. x of amo^^ powder which, b^co'^'ing ignited., caused the ex^^on o f 100 tons, o f pow der in No 1 magazine. No. S magazine, which was close by, and \eas filled with powder and loaded projectiles, escaped with slight damage to the roof and broken doors. The Milod magazine, situated a little moie to the east, was also untouched. The direction of the explosion was northerly. The contents and material of the magazine — powder and loaded pro jectiles — were discharged with an appalling report as from a mitrailleuse, and worked terrible havoc. The displacement of air was so violent and sudden that it brought about a remarkable atmospheric change. At tho time of the explosion the sky was clear and the stars were shining, but shottly after the .disaster there was a slight fall of rain. By Monday 51 corpses had been recoVered from the debris. A relief fund was promptly organised. President Loubet and M. Dupuy each sent 500f as a first contribution for the families of the victims, and M. Lockroy, Minister o£ Marine, 3eut 10,000f M and a csedit of 200,000f was introduced in the i Chamber of Deputies on Monday, , The medical men noted sacAe strange pathological conditions in several o£ their i patients. There were cases where the • muscular tissues were torn without any j [ outward mark of hurt, the surrounding > flesh being absolutely uninjured. There [ were also patients who, while only slightly . cut and bruised, received such a shock to the brain that they were in a state of de t lirium, which seemed to be but the preliminary phase of actual dementia. A I little girl of 10 was afflicted with a facial ( contortion extremely distressing to bet hold. ; The funeral of the victims took place |. on the Tuesday, in the presence of a large d and respectful crowd. The funeral procession was nearly two miles long. Twelve , funeral cara contained the 51 coffitiß. M. t Lockroy and- all the authoiities were among the mourners. Numerous wreaths j were laid on the graves.