Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-12-12


when the French munition ship Mont
Blanc blew. up in Halifax harbor af-
ter collision with the Belgian relief
steamship Iona, at 9 o'clock this
morning. Thousands we're injured,
and 1t is expected many of them will
die
twenty-five wagons loaded with
bodies had arrived at one morgue
early tonight.
Virtually all the north end of the
city was laid waste, and the property
damage will run far into the mil
lions. A part OF the town Of Dart
mouth, across the harbor from Hall
fax, also was wrecked Nearly all
the buildings in the dock yard there
are IN ruins.
The zone Of destruction in Halifax
extends from the North street rail-
way station as far north as Afrlcville,
to Bedford Basin, and covers an area
Of about two square miles In the Sec
ton known as Richmond The build
ings which were not demolished by
the force Of the terrific explosion
were destroyed by fire which fol-
lowed.
Scores OF persons were injured by
the collapse Of the railway station,
arena, rink, military gymnasium,
sugar refinery and elevator.
All business has been suspended
Armed guards Of soldiers and sailors
are patrolling the city. Not street
car is moving, and part Of Halifax is
in darkness tonight. All hospitals
and many private houses are filled
with injured. Temporary hospitals
and morgues have been opened in
school houses in the western section
Of the city.
Many OH Ships Killed.
The damage along the water front
cannot yet be estimated. Many Of
the men composing the crews Of the
ships in the harbor were killed or in
. iured. On one, steamer, the Pictou,
it Is reported that 33 Of the crew, of
AZ were killed. Bodies Of many sea-
!. men have been picked up in the har-
3f6or. Rescue parties working among
tho ruins OF buildings are removing
the bodies of the dead.
The collision which resulted in
probably the worst disaster in the
history of the Dominion, occurred
near Pier 8, In the narrows leading
from the Harbor to Bedford Basin.
The munitiOn ship was bound from
New York for Bedford Basin when
the relief ship Iona, bound for sea,
crashed into her.
The Mont Blanc was pierced OH the
port side almost to the engine room.
The other ship, which was only
slightly damaged, backed away when
flames burst out Of the munitions
ship, and was abandoned by the crew.
The captain Of the Mont Blanc also
ordered his crew to the boats as he
''ealized an explosion was inevitable.
The men reached shore safely before
the tremendous blast, II minutes
later, which blew their ship to pieces
and wrecked a large part Of the city.
The business life Of the city had
just begun for the day when--- the
town was shaken to its foundations
by the explosion. Persons in the
streets were picked up bodily and
hurled to the ground. Occupants of
Office buildings covered under
shower Of falling glass and plaster.
Houses in the Richmond section
crumplcd up and collapsed, bnrying
their tenants.
Blocks of Dwellings Leveled.
In the main part OF the city, where
the buildings are chiefly Of stone or
, concrete. the damage Vas confined to
the shattering Of windows, and most
OF the casualties in this section we're
caused by flying glass.
In the west and northwest ends The
damage was more extensive, and
there the walls Of many houses were
blown to bits. 1t was In Richmond,
however, opposite the scene Of the
explosion, that the havoc was great
est. Whole blocks Of dwellings,
mostl! Of frame construction, we're
leveled.
Street after street is in ruins and
tho structures left standing by the
explosion were destroyed by fires
which broke out simultaneously in a
score Of places and which it was i'm
possible to check until they had
burned themselves out It Is bel!ey-