Norwich bulletin., 1917-12-07

the wreckage of their homes and lay in the streets until they were removed in ambulances and automobiles to hos pitals. Those less seriously hurt aided those more gravely injured. In the streets piled high with debris were found the shattered bodies of many women and children. Several children were crushed to death when they were hurled against telegraph poles by the force of the explosion.
 In scores of cases occupants Of houses who had escaped without in Jury or who were only slightly hurt were baff1ed by the flames in their search for members of their families and were forced to stand by impotent while what once had been their homes became funeral pyres for, loved ones.
 Narrowing Scenes.
 A government emp1oye named Mac Donald, who made all speed to reach his home after the explosion. found perished. His two year old daughter had been killed while playing in the yard of her home.
 Among those killed were the chief of the fire department and his deputy, who were hurled to death when a fire sngine exploded
 Scores of those who lost their lives were children in the pub4e schools in broken limbs and were rescued with difficulty from the ruined buildings. The teachers who escaped injury worked heroically to save the lives of the children under their charge.
 Lebaron Coleman manager of the Canadian Express company was kill ed when the roof of the North station collapsed.
 Hundreds Reported Missing. disaster 5000 persons had gatered on the Common and thousands of others had sought refuge in fields outside the city. Hundreds were reported missing by their relatives and it was not known whether they were alive or dead.
 Felt 75 Miles Away.
 The force of the explosion was felt at Truro. 75 miles away, where win dows were shattered. All telegraph and telephone wires were torn down and for several hours Halifax was completely isolated from the outside world.
 The concussion shattered the big gas tanks of the city. All power plants are out of commission and the newspaper offices have been so badly wrecked that publication is impossi- bIe.
 Confusion of Whistles. Blanc declared tonight that the col Hsion resulted from a confusion of whistles sounded by the Iona. He believes the fire which caused the ex- plosion was due to the fact that the munitions ship carried a deck load of benzine-
 Charles Prest, gasoline engineer on the steamer Wasper B., which had been in drydock. had a narrow es- cape from death.
 we had eighty gallons of gasoline in our tanks when a shell from the munitions ship struck us," he said. we nad Just left the drydock to go to Bedford Basin to get some plates when we saw the Ioma coming down from the basin and the Mont Blanc going up.
 .+T heard the Belgian steamers munitions ship was on fire on the starboard eide. We tried to turn back 10 warn the officials at the drydock. but before we reached there d shelf struck us. believe was the onIe one of the five on board the Wasper P. to escape as she was blown m. My son. who worked with the dry dock, was killed"
 Colonel Mackenzie Bell, who spent two years on the firing line in Elan anything on the battle front to equal the scenes of destruction he witness ed in Halifax today.
 Hotel Guests Safe.
 It was reported tonight that all inc guests in the hotels of the city are safe. Some of them were cut bv f1vS ing glass. but none was seriousiv in jured.
 Work of Rescue Begun.
 The work of rescue and relief was promptly organized. The Academy of Music and many other public build : ings were thrown open to house the homeless. Five hundred tents bsve been erected on the Common and these will be occupied by the troops, who have sur1 endered their barrack, to the women and children.
 Every nook and cranny in all avail able buildings was made ready within an hour to recieve the wounded. steady stream of ambulances and an tomobiles arrived at hospitals. which soon were filled to capacity with the