The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-08
CITY OF DESOLATION Is
HELD IN ICY GRASP
New Terror is Added to Thousands OF
Hungry Homeless.

HallfaX, n. D, sDsc. q piiHuihs
north country snowstorm,' accompany
ing a gale which at times attained
velocity of forty miles an hour, has
held this city of desolation in its grasp
for the past forty-eight hours, adding
new terrors to the awe-stricken sur
vivors of Thursdays disaster and great
ly impeding the progress of relief trains
hurrying here from the United States
and Dominion cities with their urgent
ly needed supplies.
The Massachusetts relief train was
stalled in great snow drifts near Am
herst last night and while snow plows
were used, the progress was so slow
the time of the trains arrival here is
problematical Other rescue trains are
reported snowbound
With every building in Halifax and
Dartmouth more or less damaged by
the explosion thousands of women
men and children huddled together as
best they could and passed night of
suffering. The wind whistled through
smashed windows There were scarce
ly blankets enough 10 cover wounded
bodies and many were unable to obtain
food. Fires were almost out of the
question and the only lights obtainable
were from oil lamps or candles.
Rich and Poor DO Duty.
out of the chaotic conditions rich and
poor have rallied gallantly to their duty
Of caring for the injured and homeless
and accounting for the dead. The citi-
zens' finance committee, headed by JUS
tice Harris. estimated there are 10000
destitute people in the devastated area,
the majority of them from the poorer
classes.
Nearly four thousand dwelling houses
were destroyed. the committee declares.
and the actual losses and the estimated
cost of temporary maintenance VIII ap-
proximate s30000.O00.
Perhaps the most serious of the many
problems TO be met is the food situation.
There is enough food sn the city for
immediate needs. but unless communi
cation is opened soon. the city faces
the possibility of famine. The ener
gies of the local relief committees have
been centered on the conservation OF
food. and merchants have surrendered
all their available supplies for the COM
mon needs. Milk almost is unobtain-
able. and fears are expressed for the
lives of babies in arms unless an ade-
uuate supply is assured from outside
sources.
Hundreds Search for Bodies.
In the greater task OF caring for the
living. no concerted effort is being made
at present to compile list of the dead.
but hundreds of soldiers. sailors, Amer
ican "jackies" and volunteers are CROP
ing under the mass of wreckage search
ing for bodies.
The morgues are filled with mangled
bodies. many of whom probably never
will be identified. Police officials still
estimate the dead at 2.0o0 and the in
jured at 5000 or more. At all hos
pitals, regular and improvised, every
available spot is occupied by the
wounded.
The spontaneous action of the United
States in offering aid has awakened
a new bond OF sympathy between the
two peoples. Relief also has been pro-
missed from every town IN Nova Scotia
and from all parts OF Canada. Sir
Robert Borden. the prime minister. ar
rived here yesterday and has placed
all the resources OF the Dominion gov
ernment at the disposal of the city.
American Navy Gives Aid.
Washington. Dec. s.-Secretary Dam
iels today offered the Red Cross a guam.