McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1917-12-14
4,OOO DIE At HALIFAX
FROM B|GEXPL0s|0N|
THOUSANDS INJURED AND SEC.
TON LAID WASTE BY MI
NITioN BLAST.
SHIPS COLLIDE IN AARsOR
Belgian Relief Steamer coIlIded With
Munitions vessel-Hzilfax Build
lnus Blown Down and Shock
Felt Sixty Miles.

Halifax.-Four thousand persons
were killed In the burning and de-
struction Of buildings resulting from
the explosion of a munitions ship In
the harbor, according to estimates by
officials. This estimate, higher than
any heretofore, was made after sur
vey of the devastated district Of Rich
mond, where acres of debris probably
will not be cleared for month.
The outstanding fact that has been
faced by the local authorities with
courage that challenges the admira-
ton of their .kinsmep from south OF
the border is that 10000 persons are
destitute, and Of the number perhaps
one out of seven is suffering from in.
juries which in many cases are bound
to prove fatal.
The disaster, which has plunged the
Dominion into mourning, probably will
rank as the most fearful that ever &C.
| CuIICu Ol tuO AhCiASdh
The flame-swept area covers. ap'
proximately two and half square
miles.
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 children.
Most of them were so charred that
they we're unrecognizable. Thousands
of persons seeking trace Of relatives
and friends have passed by the long.
silent rows, attempting, by the flick
ering light of lamps and lanterns, to
identify the ones they sought.
The work of organizing the various
relief units into a workable whole
with a general direction that would
avoid duplication of effort and tend to
the greatest efficiency was we'll under
way
Federal, provincial and Red Cross
aid, supplemented by volunteer units
from other cities and the United
States, were being utilized to the best
advantage.
Virtually every building in the city
which could be converted into 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
devastated Richmond district to the
relief station. An army of rescue
workers is searching among the ruins
for bodies and for those who have sur
vived amidst the wreckage left by the
explosion and fire.
The city was in darkness except for
the flames from the fires burning
in the wrecked buildings in the north
end. The electric light and gas plants
have been virtually destroyed and the
only light available are kerosene
lamps. BY them surgeons and doctors
toiled heroically caring for the injured
Soldiers, sailors and police patrolled
| the streets, and upon them fell the ma
| jor portion CT the burden of searching
for the dead and wounded. The Cana
dians were assisted in this work by
| sailors from an American warship in
| the harbor
Canadian officers who have seen
long service in France characterize
| the catastrophe as "the most fearful
| which has befallen any city in the
| world"
The collision, which resulted in prob.
| ably the worst disaster in the history
Of the Dominion, occurred near pier s,
in the narrows, leading from the har.
Dor to Bedford Basin. The munitions
ship was bound from New York for
| Bedford Basin, when the relief ship
limo, bound for the sea, crashed into
her.
The Mont Blanc was pierced on the
port side almost to the engine room
The other ship, which was only slight
/ ly damaged, backed away when flames
burst out on the munitions ship
and was abandoned by the crew. The
captain of the Mont Blanc also ordered
his crew to the boats, as he realized
an explosion was inevitable. The men
reached shore safely before the ire
mendous blast rs minutes later, which
blew their ship to pieces.
The business life Of the city had
just begun for the day when the towns
was shaken to its foundations by the
explosion. Persons in the streets were
| picked up bodily and hurled to the
ground. Occupants Of Off, Q buildings
covered under shower of falling