The ship listed over, and simultaneously there was a thunderous explosion. It was obvious that the cruiser was sinking; within a quarter of an hour motorboats were arriving from harbours in the vicinity but no assistance was needed; apart from three men who had been killed by the explosion itself the whole crew managed to save themselves, and the Jules Flambeau sank five minutes after her captain, as the last man aboard, had abandoned ship with the memorable remark: ‘That’s that, then.’
