The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-12

ttontaxs bec. fs-Witn the Toll or
death steadily mounting II was believ-
ed early this morning that more than
s.e0o persons perishcd in the explo-
sion and fire which followed the col
lislon yesterday morning i'm Halifax
he rbor between munition laden
French ship and another vessel
loaded with supplies for the Bel
gian relief commission.
The disaster which has plunged the
Dominion into mourning probably
Will rank as the most fearful that ev-
or occurred on American continent
Residents OF Halifax and thousands
o. volunteer relief workers who have
come into the city have been almos.
dazed at the extent of the horror.
Temporary norgues have been es-
tabiished In many buildings in which
n steady procession OF vehicles of all
kinds have been carrying for hotfvs
tho bodies OF men. women and chill
drcn. Most Of them were so charred
that they were unrecognizable. Thou
/. sands OF persons seeking traces of rel
atives and friends have passed by the
long. silent rows. attempting. by the
nickering light OF lamps and lanterns.
to identify the ones they sought.
Virtually every building i'm the city
which could be converted into a hos
pita 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 num-
Der Is being taken from the COM
plctely devastated Richmond district
TO the relief stations. An army OF
rescue workers is searching among
the ruins for bodies and for those
who have survived amidst the wreck.
age left by the explosion and fire.
The city was in darkness tonight
except for the flames from the fires
still burning in the wrecked build
ires In the north end. The electric
hSht and gas plants have been vir
tts,lly destroyed.
Sohliers. sailors and police patroll-
ei the streets tonight and upon them
iell the major portion OF the burden
OF searching for the dead ard wound.
ed.
The flames swept area covers ap-
proximately two and a half square
niles IL begins ut what is known as
the North Street bridge extending
rorth TO Pier s on the Richmond wa
ter front and back to point running
rrranel with Gottingen Street. Moth
Ing has been left standing In this Sec
uon OF the city. Only a pile of
smouldering ruins marks the spot
where the great building OF the Amer
lean Sugar Refining Company stood.
The dry dock and all the buildings
which surrounded IL were DESTROYED.
The Richmond school that housed
hundreds OF children was demolishe Ell
and IL Is reported only three escaped.
'anadian officers who have seen long
aesrice in Franco characterizes thu
'siastrophe "a the most fearful
which has befallen any city in the
world"
Chief OF Police Hanrahan late last
n'sAt estimated the number OF killed
a. 1000 and other city officials ex-
dressed the belief that itwould exceed
tho, number.
The collision which resulted IN
prohably the worst disaster in the his.
i"ry OF the dominion occurred near
Ter In the narrows leading from
ne harbor TO Bedford Basin. The
.unltion ship Mont Blanc was bound
irom New York for Bedford Basin.
when the relief ship limo. bound for
sea. crashed into her.
The Mont Elanc was pierced on the
port side almost TO the engine room.
The other ship. which v.as only slight
iy damaged. backed away when
fames burst out on the munitions
shin and was abandoned by the crew
The captain Of the Mont Blanc also
ordered his crew TO the boats as hc
real.zcd an explosion was inevitable
Ih" mon reached shore before the tre-
inendous blast IL minutes later which
Dew the snip TO pieces and wrecked
large part of the city.
The business life OF the city had
Ju>i begun FOR the day when the town
vas shaken to it's foundation by the
"' ploF'on. Persons in the streets wcr,
picked mp bodily and hurled To tn
ground.
Houses I'M the Richmond section