New-York tribune., 1917-12-09

the Monte Blanc were broken open, and
il is supposed that the liquid ran down
+ into the engine room.
The government pilot, officers and
men realized instantly what would hap
pen. Escaping in their small boats.
they reached the Dartmouth shore and
ran. and were still running toward the
woods when they were knocked down
By the force of the explosion.
Experts declare that had the same
amount Of explosives been let loose on
land every living thing within a radius
/ Of ten miles would have been killed.
/ The crew Of sn American vessel that
was fifty miles at sea reported that the
smoke that shot heavenward was seen
/ exactly seventeen minutes before trey
/ heard a mighty roar.
/ The search for bodies goes on
methodically, and hundreds are ex-
posed in temporary morgues, through
which thousands continuously file,
though there have been but few identi-
fcations. The clearing of the streets
by the removal Of wreckage Of homes
facilitates the recovery Of bodies.
Those engaged in this work are hav-
ing many depressing and some hearten-
ing experiences.
Worse Than War Ruins
Through roads three feet deep IN
snow a correspondent OF The Associated
Press to-day went over strip of Hall
fax more utterly demolished than any
section of Belgium or France. The
ruin is complete. The Richmond dis
trict, in the north end, where the poorer
people resided, extends along the mar
rows, a channel rightly named. II was
in these waters that the Mont Blanc
was rammed.
How this crash, not Of itself serious,
ripped open on the decks tanks Of ben
zine that trickled down to the engine
room and started a blaze that wrecked
part Of Halifax, never will be explained
10 the satisfaction of the people here,
who are still dazed by the terror of the
/ giant blast that came when tons of high
explosives sent a wild roar far out TO
sea. shook the very foundation Of an
area Of two and half square miles, and
stripped it bare.
... No Chance to Escape
Nearly every house in the district
fell with a crash. In nearly all Of these
I fires started, and men, women and chill
! dren-mostly children-were crushed
70 death or msngled under the debris
which a moment later was roaring
fame.
( There was no chance of escape. The
horror surrounding the burning to
death of hundreds who were unable
I 10 move is realized here, but this town
( has not yet awakened TO the enormous
loss Of life. Estimates of fifteen hun
Gred dead, accepted heretofore as nigh,
seem far below the mark after travel
/ ling over the Richmond district, where
( the brunt of the blow fell.
. Some idea Of the powerful havoc OF
/ the explosion was gained as the CORE
spondent viewed scores OF trees, burly
I OF trunk, that literally were snapped
/ IN Two ten feet from the ground Big
/ brick structures came down with
smaller ones of frame, but IL was in
these modest dwellings that the great
est loss Of life occurred.
Fortunately. it happened before hun
dreds Of children had gathered at the
biz school in the heart Of the district,
which was wrecked. But most Of these
same youngsters were caught while
playing about their homes.
Right in the heart of this area fires
starting Thursday night blazed tonight
like bonfres.
The flames leave little trace, and
this, taken into account. may give sub
stance TO the new official estimate of
1000 dead. There vas no accurate