The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-09
Exact Extent of Human Toll
Probably Will Never Be
Determined.
DREDGERS RECOVER
MANY FROM HARBOR
Work of Relief for 10000
Destitute Pushed; Har-
rowing Scenes.

sand dead. This is the new estimate
tonight of the superintendent OF
morgues whose duty il Is to assemble
and expose for Identification if pos
sible the bodies of those who perished
by shock or fire when the ammunition
ship Mont Blanc blew up in the harbor
Thursday.
His estimate that startled even those
who had lived through three days of
honor here, was based upon the rec
ords of his district assistants. who late
tonight reported a total of 1000 bodies
recovered. They have figured on q
certain 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.
200 Bodies Taken from Harbor.
Others think this estimate too high,
but all admit that the superintendts
way of figuring is as good as any.
Late in the day dredging parties
working under the direction of nava'
suthoIlties dragged ashore 200 bodies
of sailors. soldiers and lahorers re-
covered from the bottom of the har-
bOr. Another searching squad reported
having found 40 bodies in the hulk of
the Norwegian steamer limo, which
collided with the Mont Blanc.
The work of relief was organized
today at meeting of Americans and
Canadian officials and volunteers. who
are here with generous resources al
their command to restore as far as
possible. the injured and provide shell
ter, food and clothing for the 10000
destitute.
Late tonight authorities in charge O.
the various morguNs announced tha
about 400 of the 1000 bodies had
been identified.
Relief Work Under Way.
various units into a workable whore
with a general direction that would
avoid duplication of effort and tend
to the greatest efficiency, was wei
under way.
Federal, provincial and Red Cros,
aid, supplemented by volunteer units
from other cities and the Unitet
States. We're being utilized to the bes
advantage. The Massachusetts relic
train. which had been stalled mucl
Of the night in snow drifts near tht
Nova Scotia border. arrived today. /
was the first OF several trains enrout'
from the American side.
Weather Clear and Cold.
More than a foot of snow fell las
night. Today the storm passed ant
the weather was clear and cold. Stree
cars were stalled in the drifts during
the night, but today the service hat
been partly restored. The day ais
saw the lighting system renewed II
part. Fortunately the telephone serv
ice is good. but there Is a sombre sig
nificance in the report of SO man,
dead numbers.
The water supply is causing tn
most concern. Emergency repairs ar
being made as fast as 1t Is humanl
possible, but the system was still seri
ously deranged this evening.
The property loss. variously esti
mated at from S20,0O0,0O0 to $4,000,
900. probably will prove to be neare
the minimum figure.
ssarehsrs Work Frantieally.
The search for bodies goes o.
methodically and hundreds are expose
In temporary morgues through whicl
thousands continue to file, thoug
| there have been but few identified
tions. The clearing Of the streets b.
| the removal of wrecked homes, facil
itates the recovery of bodies. Thos
| engaged in this work are having man
| depressing and some heartening ex
/ periences.
Little Girl Found in Prayer.
When the blow fell. little Lol
Burns. the S-year-old daughter q
John Burns of Granville street. wa
on her knees by her cot saying he
morning prayer. The house collapsed
1 Hours later Lola was found in tn
midst OF the wreckage. hemmed In b
broken glass. but quite unharmed. sti
on her knees and praying ferventl!
In a cellar at Richmond. a soldier
uniform was seen digging franticall
It was Private Henneberry, who ha
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