Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1917-12-13
HALIFAX ALMOST DESTROYED
Most Fearful Disaster That Ever oC
Cured On The American
Continent

Halifax, y. S.-With the toll OF
dead steadily mounting it was believ-
cd that more than two thousand per
sons persisted in the explosion and
fire which followed the collision in
Halifax harbor between a munitions
laden French ship and another vessel
loaded with supplies for the Belgian
relief commission.
The disaster, which has plunged the
Dominion into mourning, probably will
rank as the most fearful that ever oc-
Cured on the American continent
Residents of Halifax and thousands of
volunteer relief workers who have
come into the city have been almost
dazed at the extent of the horror.
Temporary mOrgues have been es-
tablished in many buildings, to which
a steady procession of vehicles of all
kinds have been carrying for hours
the bodies of men, women and chill
dren. Most of them were so charred
that they were unrecognizable.
Thousands of persons seeking trace
of relatives and friends have passed
by the long, silent rows, attempting
by the Pickering light of lamps and
lanterns, to identify the ones they
sought.
Virtually every building in the city
(which could be converted into a hos
pital is filled with wounded, many of
them so desperately injured that there
is no hope of their recovery. Scores
already have died in these temporary
hospitals
An ever-increasing number is being
taken from the completely devastat-
ed Richmond district to the relief
station. An army of rescue workers
is searching among the ruins for bod
les and for those who have survived
amidst the wreckage left by the eX-
plosion and fire.
The city was in darkness except for
the flames from the fires still burn
ing in the wrecked buildings in the
north end. The electric light and gas
plants have been virtually destroyed
and the only lights available are ker-
osene lamps. By them surgeons and
doctors toiled heroically throughout
the night caring for the injured.
Soldiers, sailors and police patrolled
the streets, and upon them fell the
major portion of the burden of search
ing for the dead and wounded. The
Canadians were assisted in this work
nv sailors from an American warship
in the harbor.
The Richmond school that housed
hundreds of children was demolished
and It is reported only three escaped.
Canadian officers who have seen long
service in France characterize the ca
,tastrophe as the most fearful which
has befallen any city in the world
For many years Halifax has been
the chief British military and naval
station on the American continent. Its
harbor, one of the most spacious IN
the world is large enough to float
the entire British navy and is strongly
fortified. In addition to the fortlti-
cations, there is q government dock
yard containing an immense dry dock
The citys population, according to
the 1911 census, is about $4,000. Hall
fax is the eastern terminus of the Ca
radian Pacific railway and the Cana
dian government railways, Steamship
lines operate between the port and
points in New Foundland, Great Brit
ain, the United Sttaes and the West
Indies.
Since the outbreak of the war Hall
fax has assumed a more important po-
sition than ever, as it is the principal
port from which men, munitions and
supplies are transported from Canada
TO the battlefields of Flanders and
northern France.