The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-06
Hundreds of Buildings
Along the Waterfront
Are Wrecked
ALL COMMUNICATION
HAS BEEN CUT OFF
Half the City is Reported to
Be In Ruins, With
Fire Raging
IRv Associated Press.l

GES S9UuhB I've 6sg 1&@s WIS
result OF the explosion Of the
morning nearly ous-hRlf Of the
north end Of the city of Halifax
has been destroyed, a great fire
is raging, the dead are lying
thick in the streets, all the hos
pitaIs are filled TO oVerflowinG
and many injured are compelled
to walk about untreated.
News that the disaster had
reached these proportions was
received here this afternoon when
communication with Halifax was
established by the Canadian
Telegraph company. The number
killed is estimated at 300.
Halifax, Dec. S. via Hayana.-
Hundreds of persons were killed and
a thousand others injured and half
Of the city Of Halifax is In ruins as
the result of the explosion OF a mI1-
milton ship in the harbor today.
It Is estimated that the property
loss win run into the millions. The
north end OF the city is in flames.
Amherst, n. s., Dec. 6.--ScOres Of
people have been killed, hundreds Of
buildings destroyed aud q portion of
Halifax set on fire by an explosion
which occurred after the collision OF
an American ammunition ship and
another vessel at Rockingham, ac-
cordinK to telephone messages reach
ing here this morning. The explos-
ion was 30 terrific that IL destroyed
the Insulation in the telegraph and
telephone offices for thirty miles
around Halifax while II was heard
at Truro. sixty-one miles distant
II is reported that the American
munition steamer was moving out
from her pier and was rammed
broadsids by another vessel.
Instantly there was tremendous
explosion which destroyed the two
ships and killed their crews.
The concussiOn resulting caused
the roof of the railway station az
North street TO collapse, while all the
warehouses on the water front for a
mile and a half were damaged. The
premises affected in many places
The force of the concussion was
so great that freight cars were blown
of railway tracks along q stretch OF
nearly two miles.
CalI for Assistance.
Messages asking for fire engines
and fire fighting apparatus. doctors
and nurses. hospital supplies. etc.
were received from Halifax BY
number of localities in Nova Scotia
Special trairB were made up wa
everything required that could be
procured.
At Truro. Windsor and here the
city councils met this morning and
decided to take immediate steps 20
render aid to the afflicted people at
Halifax. IL is understood that large
quantities Of food were destroyed and
that the citizens Of Halifax may soon
be in danger of starving. IL was
decided that carloads OF food must
be despatched at once.
The damage done 10 the Western
Union and Canadian Pacific Tele-
graph companies and Nova Scotia
Telephone company Is so complete
1t is likely to be days before wire
communication with points outside
Halifax can be restored.
Rockingham is located well within
Halifax harbor. at the mouth Of Bed
ford Basin. It Is az the northwest
portion of the harbor and since the
war has been used as an examining
station for ocean steamers. 1t was
at this portion OF the harbor that
Bernstorff and party
were held and examined on their way
from the United States 10 Germany.
Fire Follows Explosion.
st. Johns. N. f., Dec. IA large
part OF Halifax, N. s., Is in flames
following an explosion in the harbor
this morning. Two vessels. one Of
them loaded with munitions OF war
including high explosives, coilided.
Many buildings along the water
front were torn 70 pieces and many
persons are believed to have been
killed.
Other shipping in the harbor suf-
fered severely and the crews Of sew
eraI are said TO have been killed
Wire communication between this
city and Halifax was interrupted
soon after the explosions and before
more than fragmenkary reports had
been received. The munitions ship
blown up was said 20 have been
American.
At the moment az the explosion d
fierce storm was sweeping the haFb0r
and it is supposed that The collision
OF the vessels was due 20 this.
Fifty Lives Lest.