The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-09
Bitterly Cold Wind From
North Halts Exhausted
Volunteer Diggers.
WINDOWS ARE NEEDED
Thousands of Destitute
Families Suffering in I'm.
heated Shelter.
BOSTON RELIEF ARRIVES
Narrows Gives Up 200 Bodies; /;
l.400 Freight Cars Burn;
Girl at Prayer Saved.
WINDOWS ARE NEEDED
BOSTON RELIEF ARRIVES

HALIFAX. N. g.. Dec s.--with the hor-
rer Of the explosion growing hourly as
the reports OF workers among the two
and q half miles Of devastated territory
come in city officials tonight were forced
to admit that the death total will reach
1000 persons. There are more than
5000 injured in the hospitals.
HSifax is covered by q sheet of ice
and a bitterly cold wind Is blowing from
the north. This has brought the work
OF digging in the ruins for the dead
virtually to a stSndstill. The fremen
Their places are being taken by soldiers.
As the workers get deeper into the
great masses Of fallen brick and stone
Grevsome sights are revealed. In many
cases soldiers have tainted at their work.
but so greatly are they needed that
upon being revived they are Immediately
nut back on duty.
So far 1000 bodies have been recov-
cred. Forty Of these were found to-day
in the hulk Of the Norwegian steamship
limo that rammed the munitions ship
Mont Blanc.
Only 400 Lead Are ldentiaed.
The. new estimate Of the number OF
dead is based on the fact that hun
drey1s. and possibly thousands, OF bodies
we're burned in the flames that swept
the ruins. In some cases it is known
hat entire neishborhoods were wiped
out, and It 10 admitted that the names
of all the dead probably will never be
known. SO far only 400 identihcations
have been made OF the bodies recovered.
The frsssin6 weather has intensified
the sufsripgs Of the destitute. and many
deaths by exposure will be added to the
list OF explosion victims.
The greatest need here is for window
slsss. Nearly tAsery window IN the cry
vas ehAttAfed by the blast when the
,nunition ship Mont Blanc was rammed
in the NArrows, and hundreds are shiv.
ArinG In houses where paper and cloth.
have been used In an attempt to shut
out the wind.
Boston Relief Train Arrives.
The arrival Of a relief train from
Boston brought thirty-eight physiciani
and nurses and fifteen baggage cars OF
all kinds Of supplies. This was the frs,
'pecial to srrive with any considerable
more, including the Red Cross special
from New York and another train from
Boston. are expected before noon to-mor.
io~. This will greatly relieve the stu
alton, which was most acute.
The Narrows gave UP q part <of iti
lead to-day when . dragging Of the
waters brought forth the bodies OF 200
soldiers. sailors and river front work
men.
The city officials were greatly cheered
by the reports that continue to come ir
from dozens Of cities and towns Of relief
work Of all descriptions that is being or.
caniIed for the Halifax sufferers. The
reports contain notices OF special trains
ships and Individual contributions oi
food. clothes and money.
Stories Of miraculous escapes from
death are told by those who have gone
nto the ruins to help In the rescue work
One Of the most remarkable was OF Lola
Burns the eight-year-old daughter OF
Jonn Burns a merchant OF Granvilie
street. The child was saying morning
prayer when the explosion caused the
house TO collapse.
The girl was hemmed IN by timberi
that crashed all around her. but when
found she was unhurt. The rescuers
when they pulled aside the wreckaSe
saw her on her knees still praying.
soldier Finds Baby Alive.
Private Henneberry Of the Sixty-third
Battalion, who recently returned home
from the front, rushed to his home wheH
the explosion occurred and found 1t q
mass Of ruins He dug with his bare
hands until he heard the moan OF child
fearful that he might loosen some OF the
debris SO that II might crush the living
one, he shouted for help.
Workers went to his aid and after
'areful digging came upon q kitchen
Stove. From beneath 1t came tiny
hahd which was eagerly graSped by
Henneberry. II proved to be that OF
his eighteen-months-old baby Olive. The
child was only slightly injured. The
minutes later when. further down In
the wrcclSage. the bodies Of his wife
shd five other children were fouu0.
Soldier searchers I'm the Richmond
district found beside some Of the bodies
fragments OF the Mont Blanc. These
missiles evidently caused instant death
and saved the victims the horrors OF
incineration.
A military hospital on one Of the piers
was demolished by twenty foot chain
from the Mont Blanc which had been
~
milo and half Steamships alongside
me wharves showed gsShed sides and
oeht funnels. while the paint seemed "a
nave been rubbed on their sides.
BOY Diewa ThresgA RsissD Uahusl
At the Richmond school. where hun.
dreds Of children arc belieysd TO have
neen killed, sithsr by concuasion OF
smothered beneath the falling roof and
walls. little boys was blown through
'ns ruins and was virtually unhurt
Aeutepant-C Commander James A
Murray. formerly captain, Of the EN-.
press Of Britain. but recently appointed
commander Of the convoys, With head
quarters herA Was killsd instantly ~
risr .. Ths body Of william Hayes
Who was fhs pliox q the Imo. was found
ne sus Rssss was' M. wttA 81
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