Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-07
City Shaken to Foundations

large part Of the city
City Shaken to Foundations
Husiness Iife had jus, begun for the
Gay when the town was shaken to it's
foundations by the explosion Persons
IN the streets We're picked up bodily
aud hurled 70 the ground Occupants
II Office buildings covered under a
hover Of falling glass and plaster.
Houses IN the Richmond section crum-
BLEED up. burying their tenants.
In the main part Of the city where
The buildings are chiefly of stone or
concrete the damage was confined 70
The SCATTERING Of windows and most
OF the casualties in these sections were
"aused by flying glass. In the vest
and northwest ends the damage was
more extensive and there the walls Of
many houses were blown to atoms
Greatest Havoc in Richmond
It was in Richmond. however. opposite
the scene Of the explosion, that the havoc
VAS greatest. Whole blocks OF dwellings,.
mostly OF frame construction, were lev
cled. street after street ls in runs ana
the structures which were lett standing
by the explosion were destroyed by tires
which broke out simultaneously in a
score Of places and which it was impos-
sible to check until they had burned
themselves out. 1t is believed scores or
persons who had been injured bv the col
lapse Of their homes persisted in the
flames The fires in this district ere
still smouldering tonight.
Five minutes after the explosion the
streets IN al parts Of Halifax were filled
with frcuzi"d panicstricl;en throngs
STRIVING to reach the outskirts in an eff
fort "a escape what they believed was a
fad by German fleet Hundreds OF
them had been cut by the shower Of glass
winch f"ll"wcd the explosion
lu on" Richmond section seriously in
Grrd uru ana women crawled from the
wrcekarc 81 thor homes or lay in the
streets until they were removed IN am
balances and automobiles to hospitals
ThaHe .ozs seriously injured helped those
euoyousl, hurt Several children Were
,tusu'" f." death whom they were hurled
.@l.rs' .',eEraph poles by the force or
fa. rN,iaslou.
OBJ scores ~ cases occupants Of houses
v'" n1d ESCAPED without INJURY or VINO
v.t. ou. slightly hurt were bafled by
.., Hv..- .t their scar. n tor members o.
'.1a.N.- .ri were fqrrcd to stann
tault.ut while what once mad been
I,' homes bccame funeral pyres Tor
l.,.l oa,~
&"t' rnmeut cmploFc named Marpou-
.'" wr' Mate al speed ~ redch ms nom
a't,r tine explosion tound that MS VIE
."I Jour children had porIshed. HES two
'c.,r-"ld daughter had been killed wmI.
Il''lng in the yard OF her nome
Fire Chief Killed
Nuou- those killed were the chief
~ t'' IRE department and his deputy,
vho we're hurried T. death when a fire
,nG.ue exploded
Scores 81 those who lost their lives
won" children in the public schools in
Pr" north end. Many others suffered
broken limbs ana were rescued with
c,ni ul', from ruined buildings.
T'trhcrs who escaped injury worked
horoicallv to save the lives Of the chill
rrcr under their charge.
Lefiaron Coleman. manager Of the
canadian Express Co. WAS killed when
tho roof ~ the North Station cola pscd
IN less than half an hour after the
disaster 5000 persons had gathered on
Tho Common and thousands Of others
had sought refuge in fields outside the
CITY Hundreds were reported miss
ing 10y their relatives and it was not
known whether they were alive or
dead.
Rescue and Relief Work
Tho work of rescue and relief was
promptly organized The Academy of
Music and many other public build
inGs were thrown open to the home
loss. Five hundred tents were erected
IN tho Common for troops who have
surrendered their barracks to the wo-
men and children.
Every nook and Granny in all avail
able buildings was made ready within
an hour TO receive the wounded
steady stream OF amhulances and au-
'omobilcs arrived at hospitals which
soon were filled to capacity with the
injured
Doctors. nurses and volunteers tollea
ocaselessly iu the work OF succor Tner.
ranks soon were swelled by others VINO
arrived tn constantly increasing numbers
i''hii tf''A ~ Wv rs II was announced
t.forc u.ghtfaI that . OF the injured nal
ted
Those who we're only slightly injured
vcre sent To their own homes or 70 those
60 friends after their wounds mad been
treated. There were hundreds or cases
M serious injury. however. and il is ex-
re,ted me death LIST will be greatly in
,rcased ~ those VINO succumb to their
wounds Automobiles were still scurrylns
bout all sections Of the city tonight car
wing hianket-c clad burdens committee
~ citizens already has been formed AMI
s Il lance - asked from all outside points
Tic supplies most needed are glass, tar
. per. teaVcrbnard putty. bedding ana
Blankets The mayors OF all towns IN the
iroviuc. have been asked 10 RUSH sup
plies 20 Halifax.
Windows Shattered at Truro
The force of the explosion was feit al
Tsaru. - miles away. where windows
were shattered. All telegraph and tele-
phone lines were torn down and for sew.
craI hours Halifax was completely cur
~ from the outside world.
Tie concussion shattered the big
gas tanks Of the city. All power
plants are out of commission ana
Cd 1,nI