Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-07
CITY SHATTERED
SHIP BLOWS UP
coNrINuEp rRoM rA0G oNN

dead and wounded. Tho Canadians
1 were assisted In this work hy sA'lNts
from an American warshlp IN WV
/ harbor.
proximately two aud one-half square
/ miles IL begins at what IL known as
the North street bridge, eNtenoihs I
| north TO Pier No. on tho Richmohu
water front and running parellel WIN
/ Gottingen street. Nothing mas pvel'
| left standing In this section OF the viS,
| only pile OF smouldering ruins
| marks the spot where the great build
| ing OF the American Sugar Refining
| company stood The drydock ana al
| the buildings which surrounued IL Wpre
destroyed. The Richmond school tnat
| housed hundreds OF children was ue-
molished and IL Is reported only three
escaped
Canadian officers who have seen
long service in France characterize the
catastrophe as the most fearful which
has befnlen any city in the world.
Fire Chiefs Lose Lives.
chief of Police Hanrahan late last
night estimated the number killed at
TWO thousand and other city officials
expressed the belief that II would eN-
cced that number
Among the dead are Edward Con-
don. chief of tho fire department;
William Brunt deputy fire cher
Captain Peter Broderick of the fire |
department: the wife and son OF Rev
W. J. Sweatman of the Kaye street
/ Methodist church, and DR., Murdoch
Chisholm.
Three Distinct shocks.
Tho horrors OF an air raid pos |
, sessed the minds Of many when the
explosion on the Mont Blanc shook
this fortress town to its'very founda- ,
tions There were three distinct
shocks. First comparatively light
rumble like seismic disturbance
, startled the city. moment later
/, terrific blast made even the citadel
quake. Then crash OF glass thruout
I, n wide area completed the confusion
Thousands OF persons rushing into
the open saw a thick cloud OF gray
E smoke hanging over the north end OF
l the city. This strengthened their con-
4 viction Of an attack from the air.
II was feared that other explosions
would follow and as far as possible
I the frightened ones were herded in
= the southern part OF the city Great
n crowds assembled in open lots and
c remained there for hours until they
= believed all danger was passed.
S Systematic efforts were being made
4 tonight to identify the dead. but great
difficulty was encountered as num-
bers who were killed had suffered In
juries which made recognition impos-
sible.
Suffering by Homeless.
Notwithstanding the prompt and
& generous succor from nearby places,
there was much suffering among the
- homeless tonight. The temperature.
70 while not low for this district, held be-
g low freezing.
y Many of the fires were caused by
N overturned stoves and these generally
,r were in frame houses that lent them
i selves rapidly TO the flames.
The steamship Iona, which ap-
pcared to have escaped serious dam
Id age. was beached after the collision
ce as she too caught fire and seemed for
ne while in danger OF destruction. Her
OF crew escaped
a \ large Canadian steamer moored
Ir. at the north end ives torn from her
rh hpw scrs by the conclusion and set
a drifting in midstream.
Among the notable structures
wrecked was ST. Joseph's church and
ce the school building adjoining.
r. The immense cotton factory in that
,st district also was demolished.
" MANY Seamen Killed.
Many OF the men composing the
crews of the ships in the harbor were
among the killed and injured. on one
/ steamer. the Pictou, II Is reported 3S
! OF the crew Of AZ were killed. Bodies
II OF many seamcn have been picked up
l in the harbor. Rescue parties work
Ufluc among the ruins of buildings are
i removing bodies.
Tho collision occurred near Pier No
Is in the narrows leading from the
1 harbor to Bedford basin. The NUM-
tions Ship was bound from New York
/ for Bedford basin when the relief shii
Iona. bound for sea, crashed into her
The Mont Blanc was pierced on fhs
rort side almost to the engine room
Il Er,,o Nfbor shfp xrhiCh was only slight
lv damaeed, backed away when flame:
nurst from the munition ship and was
1 abandoned by the crew. The captair
of the Mont Blanc also ordered hi'
crew To the boats, as he realized an eN
GlploSiCn was inevitable. The mei
reached shore safely. before the tre
mendous blast IL minutes later blew
their shin TO pieces.
RusineSs had Just begun for the day
Persons in the streets were hurled Y
\ the ground. Occupants OF office buiid
ngS covered under shower or fail
ing glass and plaster. Houses in th'
Richmond section collapsed, burytni
their tenants.
In the main part of the city, where
the buildings are chiefly of stone o.
concrete. the damage was confined t
shattering OF windows and most cas-
ualties there were caused by fiyini
glass.
Most Damage In Northwest.
In the west and northwest ends III
damage was more extensive. Their
waus OF many houses were blown L
bits. IL was in Richmond. however
opposite the scene OF the explosion
that the havoc was greatest. Who'll
blocks OF dwellings. mostly OF franz
construction, were levelled. Man,
stood in ruins and the structures lef
standing were destroyed by fires whicl
broke out simultaneously in a score o
places and which II was impossible I
- check II is believed scores OF per
- sons injured by the collapse OF thei
. homes persisted in the flames; flame
4 from which they We're helpless 10 flee
The fires in this district still ar
smouldering.
Five minutes after the explosion tn
streets In all parts of Halifax wer
filled with frenzied thrones striving I
reach the outskirts In an effort 30 es
cape what they believed was raid b
GAr,,ap sloas HunHrsfia had hea