Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-08
RESCUE WORKERS
FORCED TO STOP
ALL OPERATIONS
Plight Of Survivors Little
Short of Des-
pCratc.
IMMENSELY OF DISASTER
GROWS AS DAY WEARS ON
Spectcr of Famine Abroad, I'M
less Aid From Outside Ar
rives Without Delay.
FIRES NOW UNDER CONTROL
NJ Ecason to- Change Estimate OF
1000 Dead and 5000
Injured.
FIRES NOW UNDER CONTROL
NJ Ecason to- Change Estimate OF
1000 Dead and 5000
Injured.
rEv .A.sociatcd rrcss l

llAl.lf.NN. y. 3. December T.
Stricken Halifax was swept tonight
by u raging blizzard. So fierce was the
storm that rescue workers We're forced
10 suspend their operations in the
devastated section. IT rs believed Ger
tain that all tho injured buried under
the ruins OF shattered buildings have
persisted OF cold and hunger.
Battered by Il biting wind and blind
ing snow. tn. plight OF the survivors Of
yesterdays holocaust is little short OF
desperate. The windows and doors OF
virtually every house in the city were
shattered by the explosion which
wrecked the Richmond section and
devastated Il large part of the water
front lmproviscd barricadcs of boards
give little protection against the cle-
mcnts. and attempts TO heat buildings
into which the snow is steadily drift
ing are hopeless
The city is again in darkness to-
night except for the illumination af-
fordcd by scauty supply Of oil lamps
and unless they are carefully screened
they are rXtinguiShcd as soon as
! lighted by the -alc which whistles
! through the crude shutters. only n
small percentage of the buildings have
even this Slight protection from the
storm.
The suIfernGs %: those who escaped
injury have been Increased by the fact
that every available hiankrt. quilt and
comfort has hc"r rcquisitioued for the
hundreds of injured in tho hospitals
Many OF these are 50 gravcly wounded
their only hove ll"s in tn. best of care
SERIOUS fears are felt that cold. shock
and exposure vii, rcsul: In an out
break OF pneumonia.
SINGLE. TEi.I.GHtI'iI WIRE:
KEEPS WORLD IN TOUClI
single telegraph wire, bending
dangerously III tho storm. offered Hall
itN only rr"carious means Of coui-
munication with the outside world and
1t was feared momcntarily that this
line would snap. y, best. il gave only
a haltin% connection with other points
Telegraph and telephone companies are
making desperate efforts TO provide 4
mak"shift service. but the work is be-
set With great dinicul;y
While many generous offers of ma
tcral relief have been received and
irainl"ads of supplies are on the way,
the Spcctnr of famine WAS abroad to-
night. for II the storm continues il may
seriously Interfere with railroad traffic
Thcrc is enough food on hand for ni-
mediate needs. hut il viii last only
short time unless additional supplies
arc received.
As the day wore on iu" immcnsity OF
The disaster inrrea ID rtiher than di-
niuishcd. Iiuudro,i~ or bodies were
taken 10 the morgucs and rescue squads
We're constantly HuG 'ng new victims
buried under tons "c debris until the
hilHZaU forced incm To cease work
There * every rcaso- To believe that
many more Will he recovered
No concerted effort has been made as
Yet TO compile a list IT the dead. as
every effort is being made 10 identify
those who pcr!shcd lhc condition OF
many Of the bodies makes this exceed
inEly difficult and q large proportion
Of those who lost their lives will he
buried as ''uImclcss dead" There is
no reason. however, 10 change the esti-
mate OF 1000 dead and 1000 injured.
CRY No LONGER MEA AGED
Wy CONELtGRATIOS
The fires which had been raging for
twenty -four hours in the north end
were brought under cont IL early to-
day and the city is no longer mcnaced
by a comilasration.
While soldiers. sailors ANA volunteers
We're searching the ruins OF the north
end to-day bWsine:S was ontirely sus-
renGed. The leading citizens devoted
thcir Efforts to orga n.ziug work OF re-
lief. and substantial progress was made
ii ;hs respect
Inrideu'S are coming 10 light every
hour which emphasizes the fact that
lie and death go in hand. Deaths too
horrible 20 describe occurred simu,-