The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-12

\ ''S " WV c"poSioh were ueStrOycu
by fire which broke out simultaneous
~ i'm score Of places and which il
was impossible to check until they
had burned themselves out. 1t Is be
ieved scores OF persons who had been
injured by the collapse OF their homes
perished I'm the flames. The fires i'm
this district still are smouldering to-
night.
Five minutes after the explosion
the streets in all parts OF Halifax
were filled with frenzied. panic strick &.
EN- throngs striving to reach the out
skirts To escape what they believed
was raid by German fleet. Hun
dreds of them had been cut by shat
tered glass.
In the Richmond section the scenes
enacted defied description. Seriously
injured men and women crawled
from the wreckage of their homes and
lay in the streets until they were re-
moved TO hospitals. Those less Sc
riously hurt aided those more grave
ly injured. In the streets were found
the shattered bodies of many women
and children. Several children were
crushed to death when they were
hurled against telegraph poles by the
force OF the explosion.
In scores of cases occupants OF
houses who had escaped without in
jury were baffled by the flames in
their, search for members Of 'theic
families and were forced to stand by
impotently while what once had been
their homes became funeral pyres for
loved ones.
government employee who made
all speed TO reach his home after the
explosion found that his wife and four
children had perished His two year
old daughter had been killed while
playing i'm the yard of her home.
Among those killed were the chief
of the fire department and his depu-
ty. who were hurled to death when
fire engine exploded.
Scores OF those who lost their lives
were children i'm the public schools
In the north end. Many others suf-
fered broken limbs and were rescued
with difficulty.
lie Baron Coleman. manager of the
Canadian Express Company. was kill
ed When the roof OF the North sta
tion collapsed.
The work of relief was promptly
organized. The Academy of Music
and many other public buildings were
thrown open to house the homeless
Every nook In available buildings
was made ready within an hour to re-
ceive the wounded. A steady stream
OF ambulances and automobiles ar
rived at hospitals which soon were
filed to capacity with injured. Doc
tors. nurses and volunteers toiled
ceaselessly in the work Of succor.
Their ranks were soon swelled by
others who arrived in constantly i'll
creasing numbers from nearby towns.
II was before nightfall that $50 of
the injured had died. Those who were
only slightly injured were sent to
their own homes or to those of
friends. There were hundreds of
cases Of serious injury. however, and
II is expected the death list will be
greatly increased.
Assistance is asked from outside
points.
The supplies most needed are glass
tar paper, beaver board. putty, bed
ding and blankets The mayors of all
towns In the province have been ask
ed to rush supplies to Halifax.
The force of the explosion was fel,
AZ Truro, rs miles away, where win
dows were shattered All telegranll
and telephone wires were torn down
and for sevral hours Halifax was
completely isolated from the outside
world.
The conclusion shattered the biz
gas tanks OF the city. All power
plants are out of commission and
newspaper offices have been so bad
'y wrecked that publication Is impos-
sible
Frank Mackie. pilot of the Mont
( Flame. declared the collision resulted
from confusion of whistles sounded
/ ny the lmO. He believes the fire
which caused the explosion was duo
to tho fact that the munitions shi,
carried "a deck load of benzine.
ARNiISTiCE HELD Up.
lNUisiicN'ki Announces That NcgOtin.