St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1917-12-15
THOUSANDS KILLED AT
HALIFAX.
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lief work. All available buildings
were turned into hospitals and many
people were put in tents. Provisions
and supplies are being rushed from
all quarters and the Red Cross is do
ing what it can. Z
In the Richmond section the
scenes enacted .defied description.
Men and women, injured seriously,
crawled from the wreckage of their
homes and lay in the streets until
they were removed to hospitals.
Those hurt less seriously aided those
injured more gravely. 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.
Halifax, N. S., Dec. "A binding
north country snow storm accom-
panying gale that at times attain
ed a velocity of more than 40 miles
al hour, has held this city of DESC
lation in it's grasp for the past twen-
ty-four hours, adding new terrors to
the awe-strlcken survivors Of Thurs
days disaster, and greatly impeding
the progress of relief trains hurry
ing here with their urgently needed
supplies.
With every building in Halifax and
Dartmouth more or less damaged by
the explosion and fire, men, women
and children huddled together as
best they could and passed night
of suffering. The chilling wind
whistled through broken windows;
there was scarcely enough blankets
to cover the wounded bodies, and
many were unable to obtain food
Fires were out of the question. and
the only lights obtainable were from
oil lamps or candles.
Out of chaotic conditions rich and
poor have rallied CALAMITY to their
duty of caring for the wounded and
homeless, and accounting for the
dead.
The citizens finance committee
estimates that there are 10000 des-
titute people in the devastated area.
the majority from the poorer classes.
Nearly 1000 dwellings were destroy
ed, the committee declares, and the
actual losses and the estimated cost
of temporary maintenance will ap-
proximate $30.000,000.
Perhaps the most serious of the
many problems is the food situation.
There is enough food for immediate
needs, but unless communication is
opened soon the city faces the posi-
bilty of famine. The energies OF To-
cal relief committees have been CEN
tered on the conservation of food,
and merchants have surrendered all
their available supplies for the COM
mon need. Milk is almost unob-
tainable and fears are expressed for
the lives of babies in arms.
In the greater task Of caring for
the living, no concerted effort Is be-
ing made at present to compile the
list Of the dead, but hundreds Of sol
diers. sailors, American 'jackies"
and volunteers are cropping under
the mass of wreckage searcing for
'OOuACo. AC uOl 6uCS dlO LllOhSu
with mangled bodies. Police ofici-
ais still estimate the dead at 1000
and the injured at 5000 or more.
At all hospitals, regular and i'm
provised, every available spot is oc-
cupied by the wounded. Doctors
and nurses have worked increasingly
since the first hours of the explosion
with little or no sleep.
The Academy of Music, the thea
tiers. and halls of fraternal organiza-
tons have been thrown open to the
homeless. Private citizens have
opened their homes and given their
extra clothing to the unfortnnates.
The newspaper Offices are clearing
houses for incarnation. and they have
been beseiged during the storm by
throngs of persons anxious for news
of relatives. The city clerks Of
fee is the official headquarters for
lists of the dead and missing.
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 promised from every
town in Nova Scotia and from all
parts of Canada Sir Robert Bor-
den, the prime minister, arrived here
yesterday and has placed all the re-
sources of the Dominion government
at the disposal Of the city.
The property loss was estimated at
between $25.000,000 and 100000
900, and the number of destitute ut
upward of 10000, in q statement
issued last night by Justice Harris.
chairman Of the citizens flnapce COM
1nittee.