Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-12-07

were the hneSt OF their Kind IN the
world. into smithereens.
1t laid waste TO acre after acre of
resident and commercial districts.
Ii brought elevators tumbling to the
ground with roars that sounded like
the incessant rolling of thunder and
above all rose the cries and shrieks of
the dying and the injured.
Stricken in Moment
In n moment the entire city was
stricken as if by gigantic blast of
consuming earthquake.
Indeed, it is doubtful If an earth
quake could have done more damage.
Every telegraph wire. every cable
connection was put out of commission
by the shock. The entire lighting and
telephone system was disorganiZed.
For while Halifax was cut off COM
pletely from the outside world.
The area of destruction includes
numerous institutions, banks and gov
eminent buildings.
includes Citadel HILL
Citadel Hin. the eminence which
dominates the entire city, is located
within the stricken territory and the
most Important part of the water front
was in this zone.
In addition to n,~ny churches and
schools, the railway station, govern
mcnt dockyard, Wellington barracks,
Admiralty House (the official residence
of the admiral I'm command of the
North American British squadron). the
military hospital, post office, provision
al parliament building. city hall, the
ordauce department, most of the de-
partment stores, all of the telegraph
and cable offices and few hotels we're
located there.
Station coliapses.
The conclusion resulting from the
explosion caused the roof of the Cana
dian Pacific railway station Mt North
street TO collapse, while all the ware
houses on the water front for a mile
and half were damaged
The devastated district was the old
err part of Halifax and thckly popu-
lated
Rockingham, where the explosion
occurred, is Il suburban village about
three miles north of Halifax. 1t is sit
uated ON the west shore Of Bedford
basin. continuation of Halifax har-
Dor. Since the war II has been used
as an examining station for ocean
steamers.
1t was ut this portion of the harbor
;hat eX-Ambassador Bernstorn and
party were held and examined on their
way from the United States to Ger
many.
Richmond Wiped Out.
Amherst n. s. Dec. IA late dis
patch from Halifax said the fire was
under control. Richmond suburb of
Halifax, has been wiped out. not
building in the city escaping damage.
Pieces of Shrapnel blown from the
scene Of the explosion were found
three miles away.
Several hundred are reported killed
and thousands injured
The Queens hotel ON Hollis street,
near SackvilIe street marks approxi-
mately the southern limit of the deyas-
taicd area. it is reported
The berth of the Canadian cruiser
Niobe was near the area affected. but
no reports have reached here as to
whether the ship or her crew were in
iured.
Many Killed Outright by Shock
Many people were Killed outright by
the shock hundreds were crushed by
falling buildings ana debris and the
wounded were running about the
streets shrieklng. with nobody to ut
tend them. Even at late hour in the
afternoon dead and dying We're lying
about in scores.
The hospitals of the city were total
ly Inadequate TO cope with such dis
aster. and long after they had been
filed To Overlooking dead and dying
and wounded were being gathered in
by the ambulance corps and by hun
dreds of willing helpers, both Halifax
people ana volunteers from the coun-
try around.
Fortunately there were no Canadian
soldiers in the city or on transports
awaiting orders to sail. The only
military forces there were the perma-
nent garrison, and these did yeOman
service in helping TO restore order and
in succOring the dying and wounded.