The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-12-06
EXPLOSION
KILLS HUNDREDS
Continued from page l..

Dor of Rockingham, suburb or tnat
| city, completely destroying the Aarpor
front and killing many persons.
| Wires are aown.
/ Many buildings are reported DioWn
/ to bits. The explosion was heard
hundred miles away.
i Reports from the scene are meagre.
At the Western Union orfice In Hall
fax many o. the operators We're inJnr-
ed by the nying debris and the once
was reported wrecked.
The city in the vicinity of Rocking
ham is said to be in flames and nre
lighting apparatus from the surround
ing points had been called In to as.
sist fighting the fire.
All Wires Down.
NEW YORK, Dec. 6.-The explosion
at Rockingham, near Haligan, y. s., IN
which many persons are reported
dead, was caused by the collision OF
two transports loaded with munitions
in the harbor, according to word re-
ceived by cable officials here today.
All communication with Halifax by
both land and sea failed at 1910 a.
m, the officials said.
IGlSDlOlS saw 60
wires were down TO Halifax and the
city was utterly isolated. Efforts to
get in touch with the city by Canadian
Pacific telephone and telegraph wires
were likewise fruitless.
At Rockingham Bay.
NEW YORK, Dec. 6.-Telegraph
and telephone wires into Halifax are
down as result of the explosion at
Rockingham bay, the Western Union
Offices here declared today. Reports
received at that office said the front
OF the Western Union office in Hall
fax was blown in by the force OF the
explosion and that several employees
there were injured.
Hospital Trains Rushed.
MONCTON, B. c., Dec. 6.-Four
hospital trains with nurses, surgeons
and supplies, are being rushed TO
Halifax and another is enroute there,
carving fire fighting equipment, an
official of the Canadian governm ent
railway declared this afternoon.
British Cruiser Responsible.
NEW YORK, Dec. Ga British
cruiser crashing into an American
munitions ship caused the terripie
explosion in Halifax, according to re-
ports received here this afternoon
by cable officials.
Forty or Fifty Dead.
TRURO, N. S., Dec. 6--Forty or
fifty persons are dead in the Hail
fax munitions explosion, according to
fragmenratS reports received here
this afternoon There is no estimate
of the number of injured.
Doctors and nurses. fire fighting
equipment and supplies are being
rushed to- the Canadian naval port
from every port within sixty miles.
The northwestern portion OF the city
is burning. From messages received
here it is evident the explosion came
when an American munitions steamer
was ranmed amidships by an incom-
ing vessel.
Buildings three miles from the
scene we're damaged. The roof of
the Halifax railway station was torn
off. So terrific was the explosion
that the report was plainly heard
here. sixty miles from Halifax. 1t
probably will take several days to
restore telegraphic communication.
War Department interested.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The war
department is making inquiries and
e.deayoring to get information as to
the explosion at Halifax. Before
noon nothing had been received aside
from press dispatches.
All inquiries by the department
are being made by cable. Wireless
will not be called into play unless
this is found to be the only means OF
communication. owing to the desire
of keeping any information that
might be of value to the Germans out
of the air where 1t might be picked
up.
The shipping board intimated that
several American munition ships
have recently left United States ports
for Italy, France and England. In
til the name of the Halifax vessel is
learned, the board said it could not.
give details of crew. cargo and des-
tination.
Presumably the destroyed ship car
ried the usual naval gun crew guard,
who probably lost their lives.
Failing to get immediate response
to its inquiries by cable. the navy
department tried to get in touch with
Canadian officials by long distance
telephone this afternoon. Naval OH.
Gals expressed concern over the fate
of the American munitions vessel
and are extremely anxious to obtain
full details of the collision
Two Hundred Bodies Located.
NEW YORK, Dec. "a private
message received here from G.. T.
Bell of the Grand Trunk in Montreal,
saws two hundred bodies have been
located in the North street station,
Halifax.