The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-12-11
Capt. Harrison Boarded the
Blazing Munitions Car
rier and Put Out Fire
OPENED SEA COCKS,
WATER RUSHED IN
Crew of Picton Lined Up on Deck We're
Watching Blaze en- Mount Blanc,
When Fragments Of Shell Killed and
Mangled All But Few.

HALIFAX, Dee 9.-The city of Hal
flax was saved from greater damage
by the bravery Of a former British
skipper today.
The British steamer Picton, heavily
laden with munitions, like the Mont
Blanc, was lying close enough to be
ripped and torn by the explosion. Near
" every member of the crew, inelud-
ing their commander, was killed. Lat
er, as fire started on the decks, those
Of the crew who had survived the
wreckago abandoned the ship. There
was no living man left aboard to stay
the spread of flames, which soon would
reach the cargo of high explosives in
the holds.
And then came an act of heroism
worthy of the best traditions of the
sea. Captain J. W. Harrison, marine
superintendent of the Furness- Witty
line at Halifax, knew that the Picton
had put in here several days before
with a broken rudder. She was pro-
ceeding from an American port when
she laid over for repairs. Harrison
knew of the cargo. From ashore be
could see little streaks of fame and
clouds of smoke rising from the deck
of the helpless ship. The vessel, moored
at the Acadian sugar refinery plant
was nearer to the heart of the city, and
if she blew up the shock would raz,
another part cf Halifax.
As his mind grasped the situation
the captain got into action II took
but moment to send a messenger
to direct hundreds of others about tn,
streets warning the people TO flee Il
the open They took heed and fed a.
if from an invading foe, not knowing
or stopping TO ask why.
1t took but few seconds more FOL
Captain Harrison to reach the blaz
ing ship. He cut the hawsers and SCI
her adrift. He went with her. The
fire was easily accessible. Attaching
a reel of hose, he played a stream or
the blaze and soon had it under con
trol.
The present position Of the Pieton
lying helpless on the Dartmouth shore
would indicate that Captain Harrison
opened the sea cocks and let in a fioot
OF water to prevent an explosion below
Regarding this, however, he declined
to make any statement and would not
in fact, discuss the incident at all. The
Pieton may be saved.
The explosion on the Mont Blanc
took place some time after the drt
started on her decks. The crew Of The
Picton lined up on the deck were watch
ing the blaze. Fragments of she'll shot
across the harbor, killing and man
Cling all but few Of those aboard.
The story Of the salvage steamer
Stella Naris, wrecked while proceeding
TO the assistance of the Mont Blanc
| was told today by one of the survivors
On the way out to Bedford Basin thu
vessel was ordered by naval officers L
anchor her tow and speed over to tht
Mont Blanc TO assist in fighting tn,
| flames. The Maris was close UP to tn,
Frcnchman and was preparing TO max,
| fast when the explosion took place.
The Maris was driven ashore anC
| torn to shreds. Captain Brannen anc
most of the members of the crew wer,
crushed to death under piles OF iunl
in the hull.
At the craving dock, from which tn
Maris started out, $50 men were a
work at the time of the explosion. s.
far as can be figured at present, 1876 o
them are missing The dock proper an
the caisson apparently are intact. Blu
the salvage outfit, the most extensiv
of its kind in Novia Scotia. is a crun
bling mase.