New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-09
Half of Bodies Recov-
cred After Canadian
Disaster Impossible
to Recognize
Sailors of u. S.
Aid in Search
Property Loss Over
Fifty Million; Month
Needed to Clear
the Ruins

HALIFAX, Dec. s.-Four thousand
5esd This is the new estimate to-
night OF the superintendent of
uorgues. whose duty it is TO assemble
and expose for Identification, if pos
sible. the bodies Of those who perished
by shock or ire when the ammunition
shin Mont Blanc blew up in the har-
Dor Thursday.
His estimate was based upon the rec
ords Of his district assistants, who late
tonight reported a total of 1000 bodies
recovered. They have figured on a GER
tain number for a prescribed area.
There appears TO be no other way OF
determining the loss. Hundreds. per
haps thousands, of bodies have been
consumed By the flames. and in scores
Of cases not only whole families but
whole neighborhoods have been wiped
out, and the names Of all their dead
may never be known.
w bbNifo hAhEhNu ~'0''NN
Late IN the day dredging parties
Eorking under the direction of naval
authorities dragged ashore 700 bodies
q sailors. soldiers and laborers re-
covered from the bottom Of the har-
Dor. Another searching squad report
ed having found forty bodies in the
tulk OF the Norwegian steamer Imo,
which collided with the Mont Blanc.
The work of relief was organized to-
DAY at meeting Of Americans and Ca
nsdians, officials and volunteers, who
are here with generous resources at
iher command TO restore, so far as
possible, the injured, and provide shell
ter food and clothing for the 10000
who are destitute.
Late tonight authorities in charge of
the various morgues announced that
about 400 of the 1000 bodies had been
identified.
Snow Impedes Rescue
TIE ultimate total Of lives lost may
never be known. But the outstanding
fact that has been faced by the local
authorities with a courage that chal-
lenges the admiration Of their kinsmen
from south Of the border is that 10000
Of the living are destitute, and Of that
number perhaps one out of seven j.
suffering from injuries which in many
cases arc bound to prove fatal.
Tonight the work # organizing the
various relief units into a workable
whole, with a general direction that
would avoid duplication o. effort and
tend to the greatest efficiency, was well
under way.
Federal, provincial and Red Cross
aid, supplemented by volunteer units
from other cities and the United States,
we're being utilized 70 the best advan-
'sge. The Massachusetts relief tram,
which had been stalled much Of the
night in snowdrifts near the Nova SEQ
tan border, arrived to-day. bringing
the first contingent Of physiciaAs,
nurses and supplies II was the first OF
several trains en- route from the Amcr-
can side
More than a foot OF snow fell last
night. To-day the storm passed and
he weather was clear and cold. Street
cars were stalled in the drifts during
the night. but to-day the service had
been partially restored. The day also
saw the lighting system renewed in
part, and after darkness fell the city
looked a little less black and forbid
ding Fortunately, the telephone ser
vice is good, but there IS Somore sig
nihesnce in the report OF so many
dead numbers.
The water supply IL causing the inos'
concern. Emergency repairs are Oelnt
made ~ fast as IL rs numanly poSslpIe
but the system was still seriously de'
lnged this evening.
The property loss, varlously estli q y
ed at from s20,O00,000 to S5O,OOo'o0o
probably will prove 70 be nearer inc
minimum figure.
Inquiries made in every quarter 20
day confirm first reports as TO th'
cause Of the explosion Of the frehci
munitions steamer. Many suspleion'
had been expressed, but the most thor
ough investigation, il is asserted, SHOWS
no evidence OF an enemy plot. .
The Frenchman, according 10 the OF
lcially accepted versions, which pr
vste inquiry tends 70 substantiate' wa'
coming into the harbor and passihi
through a channel not more than
third Of mile wide, when ne wa
,.smmed by the Norwegian relei shil
lno, outward bound
There was a mistake IN signals DG
iween the ships. and when the erasi
cane tanks Of benzine on the deck o
CIs Dn I0