The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-12-22


sand persons are dead, 5000 or more
injured and fully one-hnlf of the City
If Halifax Is In ruins ms the result of
an explosion In Bedford Basin, north
IF town, when the Iona Il Belgian re-
lief ship. collided with the French mu-
milton ship Mont Blanc.
The Mont Blanc was blown to pieces,
but the crew escaped by the ships
boats before the explosion.
The pilot asserts that the collision
was due to confusion of signal whis-
ties.
Many Seamen Lost.
The Mont Blanc was pierced on the
The Ioma which was only slightly
damaged, backed away when flames
burst out on the munitions ship, and
vas abandoned by the crew.
The captain of the Mont Blanc also
oIdered his crew to the boats as he
realized an explosion was inevitable.
The men reached shore safely before
die tremendous blast II minutes later.
which blew their ship 10 pieces.
Members Of crews Of ships In the
harbor were killed and injured. On
, one steamer, the Pictou. It is report
I'd. that - of the crew Of ~ 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
..ity was laid waste and the property
damage will run far into the millions.
Dartmouth AIso Hit.
a part of the town OF Dartmouth.
across the harbor from Halifax, nlso
vas wrecked. Nearly all the buildings
in the dockyard there are In ruins.
The zone of destruction in Halifax
itself extends from the North street
Galway station rs fur north rs Afric-
vile to Bedford basin and covers an
area of about two square miles in the
district known as Richmond.
The buildings which were not de-
abolished by the force Of the terrific
explosion were destroyed by the fire
which followed.
Persons Injured in Collapse.
Scores of persons were injured by
The collapse of the railway sutton
Arena rink, military gymnasium. SUI
gar refinery and elevator. All business
has been suspended. Armed guards OF
soldiers and sailors are patrolling the
city. Not n street car is moving and
part of Halifax was in darkness last
night.
The collision occurred on the wa
ter. front off Rockingham, II suburb OF
the opposite shore Of the harbor from
the City of Halifax, shortly bcfor,
$3.50 O'Clock In the morning.
Tons Of Explosives.
The Mont Blanc, which arrived al
a United States Atlantic port on No
Ivember 8. was laden with 1900 tons oi
. munitions for France. Az She was
leaving her berth, preSuinhably Tor tn,
outward voyage across the Atlantic
She was rammed brondsidc 10y the Bel
lgian relief ship.
The impact caused the ammunition
IN the French ship to explode. scttin.
the vessel afire. The flames spread I,
!the' piers and adjoining buildings
many of which had been wrecked by
the.explosion.
Try to Fight Fire.
phe ships crew was quickly callct
to quarters and IN attempt was mad,
70 extinquish the flames. This failed
and as the fire approached the holds
where the explosives were stored tn,
captain ordered the sracocks opened
and the crew took TO the boats. rowing
for their lives.
But the vessel drifted toward one ~
the piers and few moments LATER M
explosion occurred, tearing The Mon
Blanc to pieces.
Overwhelming Blast.
What happened after that can onl,
he cOnjectured In large measure
Everybody seems duzcd by the result
The conclusion must have been posi-
lively overwhelming.
1t killed telegraph operators ut theft
desks four miles away.
1t broke windows in Truro. II blew
heavily laden freight trucks OF the
railway lines.
II caused the collapse or partial col
lapse of nearly every building along
~ miles OF thoroughfares from the
Union station to the Queens hotel.
II sent the harbor shed and wharves
80 wreck and ruin.
Destroys Terminals
II shook the magnificent new ocean
terminals at ths lower end Of the bar