The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-12-28
ORDER ARREST OF
SHIPS CAPTAIN
Inquiry to Fix Blame for Ex.
pl0si0n on Munitions Yes
sci In Halifax Harhor.
NO AMERICANS WERE KILLED
Several thousand Killed and Wound
ed-Relief Rapidly Coming In,
is Report of u. S. Consul
Vice Consul Hurt.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dec. 10
Acting Chief of Police Hanrahan has
announced that officers have been
sent out to arrest and hold for ad-
miraity hearing, Capt. Lamedoo of
the munition ship Mont Blanc and
Pilot Mackny. who was bringing the
vessel in when it was rammed by the
relief ship Imo.
The limo survivors were removed
to a British cruiser in the harbor and
held for the admiralty investigation
OF the government, which began to-
day. The number in custody was not
made known.
No Americans we're killed in the
explosion, according to reports re-
ceived by Ethelbert Watts, American
consul general. Theodore Fisher, vice
consul, was cut badly about the head
by flying glass, but otherwise was I'M
hurt.
Mr.. Watts has received a number
of kilograms from the state depart
ment asking about the situation, es-
pecially regarding the safety Of
Americans, and while answer were
promptly filed, apparently they never
reached washington.
Department regrets it Is still with
out information in regard conditions,
needs and injury to Americans Sec
rotary Lansing wired. Your tele-
graph report a~nxiously awaited
In reply, Mr.. Watts SEN this mes
sage to the state department:
Consulate and staff safe. No cas-
ualties among American citizens here,
excepting Vice Consul Fisher slightly
injured. Several thousand killed and
wounded. Relief rapidly coming in"
A torrential rain flooded Halifax at
daylight. Accompanied by a fifty
mile gale. it added greatly to the suf-
ferings of thousands of persons who
had found none too sure shelter after
the destruction of their homes.
Systematic search for the dead in
a two and a half square mile area, in
which the entire available population
was expected to take part, was held
up. Throughout the devastated zone
the rain turned three feet of snow
into slush knee deep at points. but
Notwithstanding these conditions, men
and women went early to the scene
to continue their own hunt for mem
bers of their families lost in the dis
aster. Toward noon the wind shifted
slightly and the skies were brighter,
but not clear. The temperature has
dropped sharply.
No additional estimates were forth
coming as to the number of dead. The
officials do not agree. Wagons car
ried to the morgues a score OF bodies
found in unexpected places and it
was said many of the injured had
died during the night.
Sunday services were suspended in
the churches. BY orders of the may
or, Sunday was not observed as a
holiday and the stores which supply
food. fuel and clothing remained open.
Workmen wandered about the streets,
but traffic conditions were de%plorable
and slow progress was made toward
restoring normal conditions.
After reports from committees
which are ~endeavoring to handle a
situation almost beyond them, the
mayor issued this ] defamation:
"On account OF the serious lack of
accommodations and scarcity OF food
supplies. all non-residents at present
in the city not on relief work, or bust
ness of extreme emergency, are re-
relief committee by leaving the city
as sOOn as possible"