The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-07

sand persons are dead, 5000 or more
of Halifax is in ruins as the result of
an explosion in Bedford Basin, north
of town, when the Iona, a Belgian re-
lief ship, collided with the French mu-
milton ship Mont Blanc.
The pilot asserts that the collision
was due TO a confusion of signal whis-
ties.
The collision occurred on the water
front off Rockingham, a suburb on the
opposite shore of the harbor from the
City of Halifax, shortly before $50
a. m.
The Mont Blanc, which arrived at a
United States Atlantic port on Novem-
Der 8, was laden with 5000 tons of
munitions for France. She was in
bound from New York when she was
rammed broadside by the Belgian re-
lief ship Iona.
Impact Ignites Benzine.
The impact set fire to a deck load of
benzine on the French ship. The
ships crew was quickly called to quar-
ters and an attempt was made to ex-
tinguish the flames. This failed, and
as the fire approached the holds where
the explosives were stored the captain
ordered the seacocks opened, and the
crew took to the boats, rowing for their
lives.
The burning vessel drifted toward
one of the piers and shortly afterward
an explosion occurred, tearing the
Mont Blanc to pieces.
All of the members of the crew of
the Mont Blanc are safe
The crew of the Iona likewise es-
have escaped serious damage, was
beached after the collision, as she, too
caught fire and seemed for a while in
danger of destruction.
Members of crews of ships in the
harbOr were killed and injured. On
one steamer, the Pictou. it is report.
ed that 13 of the crew of 42 were
killed. Bodies of many seamen have
been picked up in the harbOr.
Fire Threatens City.
Fire following the explosion, and
which early threatened to wipe out the
entire city, caused property damage
which will run into millions.
The force of the explosion wrecked
telegraph installation for miles in
every direction.
Virtually all the north end of the
city was laid waste and the property
damage will run far into the millions
Fire Adds to Horror.
The burned district covers an area
of two and a half square miles. Moth
ing has been left standing in the Rich
mond section of the city. Only d pile
of smo1dering ruins marks the spot
where the great building of the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining company stood
The drydock and all the buildings
which surrounded it were destroyed.
The Richmond school, that housed
hundreds of children, was demolished
and it is reported only three escaped.
Sixty per cent of the city is a heap
Of ruins, partly the result of the devas-
tating force Of the explosion and part
ly from hundreds of fires that followed
the blast.
Sailors Aid in Rescue Work
Of the 1000 dead not all bodies
have been recovered.
Soldiers, sailors and police patrolled
the streets, and upon them fell the ma
tor portion of the burden of searching
among the ruins for the dead and
wounded. The Canadians were assist
ed In this work by sailors from an
American warship in the harbor
An army of rescue workers is
searching among the ruins for bodies
and for those who have survived
amidst the wreckage left by the eX.
plosion and fire.
The disaster which has plunged the
dominion into mourning probably will
rank as the most fearful that ever oc
Cured on the American continent
Residents of Halifax and thousands
of volunteer relief workers who have
come into the city have been aImos,
dazed at the extent Of the horror.
Three Distinct Shocks.
There were three distinct shocks
felt when the explosive cargo of the
Mont Blanc "let CO." First compare
lively light rumble like a seismic dis
turbance startled the city A moment
later q terrific blast made even the