Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-12-07
Thousands of Persons Injured,
Many of Whom viii Die,
Thus Swelling the Calamity
List,
MANY SEAMEN ABOARD
OTHER SHIPS KILLED
Just as Business Life Begins
own Is Shaken to Founda-
tons BY Crash; Disaster
Greatest in Dominion History
10y Aosslne JoussAl srsc,Al lx.s.p was,


Halifax, N. S., Dec. Twin tho
toll of dead steadily mounting. II was
believed early this morning that 1000
persons perished In the explosion and
| lire which followed the collision yess
+, terday morning in Halifax harbor OF
French munitions laden ship and
another ship filled with supplies for
the Belgian relief.
The disaster which has plunged the
Dominion into mourning probably
VIII rank as the most fearful that ever
occurred on, the American continent.
Residents of Halifax and thousands of
volunteer relief workers who have
come into the city have been almost
dazed at the extent of the horror.
Temporary morgues have been
established in many buildings to
which steady procession of vehicles
OF all kinds have been carrying for
hours the bodies of men, women and
children. Most of them were so char
red that they were unrecognizable
Thousands of persons seeking trace
Of relatives and friends have passed.
by the long silent rows, attemp ing by
the flickering light of lamps and
lanterns to find the loved ones they
sought.
Ci.y One Vast Hospital
Practically every building in the
city which could be converted into a
hospital is filled with many desperate
Ay wounded for whose recovery no
hope is held out.
Scores have already died in these
temporary hospitals. An ever-increas-
ing number Is being taken from the
completely devastated Richmond dis
trict to the relief station. An army OF
rescue workers Is searching among
the ruins for bodies and those who
have survived amidst the wreckage
left by the explosion and fire.
Burning Buildings Only Light.
The city was in darkness tonight
except for the flames from the fires
still burning in the wrecked buildings
in the north end. The electric light
and gas plants have been virtually de-
stroyed and the only lights available
are kerosene lamps. They furnished
the illumination by means of which
surgeons worked practically through
out the night caring for the injured.
Soldiers, sailors and police patrol
led the streets throughout the night
and to them fell work of searching
the ruins. The Canadians were as
sisted in this work by sailors from
an American warship in the harbor
The flame-swept area covers ap-
proximately two and one-half square
miles. 1t begins at what Is known as
the North Street bridge, extending
north to pier eight on the Richmond
waterfront and back to a point run
ming parallel with Gottingen street.
Nothing has been left standing in this
section of the city. Only pile of
ruins marks the spot
where the great building Of the
American Sugar Refining company
stood. The drydock and all the build
ings which surrounded 1t were de-
stroyed. The Richmond school that
housed hundreds of children was de-
molished and 1t is reported only three
escaped.
Fearful Catastrophe,
Canadian officers who have seen
long service in France characterize
the catastrophe as "the most fearful
which has befallen any city in the
world
Chief of Police Hanrahan late last
night estimated the number of killed
at 1000 and other city officials. ex'
pressed the belief that 1t would ex-
ceed that number.
Among the dead are Edward Com
don, chief of the fire department.;
william Brunt, deputy fire chief:
Captain Peter Broderick of the fire
department.; the wife and son of Rev
w. J. Sweatman of the Kaye Street
Methodist church and DR.. Murdoek
Chisholm.
Thought 1t Air Raid.
The horrors of an air raid possess
I'd the minds of many when the ex-