Luxemburger gazette. [volume] (Dubuque, Iowa) 1871-1918, 1917-12-13

HALIFAX. Dec. S.-TwO-thirdS OF this
city are in ruins, over 1000 persons are
dead, and more than five thousand per-
sons are seriously injured as the result
of a collision OF the French munition
ship, Mt. Blanc, carrying 1000 tons OF
I. n. T. explosives, with a Belgian re-
lief steamer. Twenty thousand per-
sons are destitute, and of these one in
every seven is suffering from In
juries. many Of which are fatal. The
hospitals are crowded and bodies by
the score lie in streets and under the
wreckage Of the buildings. The total
number Of dead and wounded will not
be known for days. The entire water
front is in ruins, and enormous damage
has been done to shipping supplies at
the dock. Fires following the explosion
caused damage running. into many
millions.
While the munition ship was pass
ing through the narrows it was rammed
by the Belgian boat, limo, a big fire
being the consequence. The collision
was due to confusion Of signal whistles.
The crew of the Mont Blanc made des-
perate efforts to overcome the flames
but finally abandoned the vessel, which
drifted for q little while and then
blew up with a roar that was heard
for a distance Of sixty miles. The con-
cussion raj so tremendous that IL
killed telegraph operators four miles
away and broke windows in Truro.
sixty miles of. Heavily loaded freight
cars were blown Off the track and
nearly every building for two and one
half miles along the thoroughfare from
Union Station to Queens Hotel col
lapsed. The great ocean terminals,
which cost over $35, OOO, 600 and were
the finest in the world. were shaken
into smithereens. Acres Of the resi-
Dental and commercial districts were
laid waste. Vast quantities Of food
stored on the docks and large supplies
of munitions awaiting shipment were
destroyed. The flames were brought
under control at six o'clock last even
ing after tive square miles Of buildings
had been laid waste. Also the military
hospital containing 500 wounded was
wrecked. Halifax is a city of 4 1900
Inhabitants.
Federal, provincial. and Red Cross
aid, supplemented by volunteer units
from other cities and the United States,
are being utilized to the best advan-
tage. The Massachusetts, relief train,
which had been stalled much of the
night in snowdrifts near the Nova SEQ
tan border. arrived today, bringing the
first contingent Of physicians, nurses,
and supplies. 1t was the first of sew
eral trains en- route from the American
side.
zard and 30 below zero weather. Never
thnlx0. tho hDh&NN~ ~yt~w~. ka- k-nx
partly renewed, and the telephone sys-
tenn is in operation. The water sup
ply Is causing concern. The finding Of
bodies goes on ~methodically, and hun
dreds are exposed In temporary
morgues, through which thousands con-
tinue to file. The property loss ia esti-
mated at V 20,O0O.OOO. The relief
committees have asked for $4,000, 900.
Worse Than Battlefield.
st. John, N. B., Dec. THE battle
fields Of Europe do not provide a eara!-
lei to the scenes witnessed at Halifax,
in the opinion Of Duncan Grey. He
was engaged In inspecting shells In a
shed on the water front when the de-
vastation began and barely escaped.
Rescuers tell narrowing tales Of their
experiences. Houses In most instances
simply settled down, story on story,
crushing everything within. 1t was
necessary to remove the wreckage layer
by layer to rescue the inmates.
New York, Dec. special trains for
Halifax carried GOO men, together with
$4,000 worth Of tools, 81 $4,000 worth
OF lumber, 1000 portable houses, and
% motor trucks, q special salvage
corps under twenty expert engineers,
who will restore whatever houses can
be saved. 1900 pairs of socks and 1904
pairs Of bed socks, 10.0SD sweaters.
1882 pieces Of mems, womeI's and
children's clothing. 10000 blankets,
10000 pounds Of bandages, 1913 cots,
ond a carload Of foodstuffs.
Boston. Dec. Gov. Mccall an
nounced at noon that $100.OO0 already
had been subscribed to the relief fund.