Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-13

Halifax, N. s., Dec. 6-More than 1000
persons were killed, according to careful
estimates tonight. when the French NUM-
lions ship. Mont Blanc. blew up in Halifax
harbor after a collision with Belgian
relief steamship Iona at nine o'clock this
morning. Thousands were injured and 1t
Is expected many of them will die.
Virtually all the north end Of the city
was laid waste and the property damage
will run far into the millions. A part of
the town Of Dartmouth, across the harbor
from Halifax, also was wrecked Nearly
all the buildings in the dock yard there
are in ruins.
RICHMOND SECTION IN RUINS.
The zone Of destruction in Halifax itself
extends from the North street railway
station as far north as Africville to Bed
ford Basin and covers an area Of about
two square miles in the section known as
Richmond. The buildings which were not
demolished by the force Of the terrific ex-
plosion were destroyed by the fire which
followed.
BIG BUILDINGS COLLAPSE.
Scores of persons were injured by the
collapse Of the railway station. Arena rink.
military gymnasium. sugar refinery and
elevator.
All business has been suspended. Armed
guards of soldiers and sailors are
patrolling the city. Not a street car Is
moving and part Of Halifax is in darkness
tonight. All hospital and many private
houses are filled with injured. Temporary
hospitals and .morgues have been opened
In school houses in the western section of
the city.
SHIPS CREWS KILLED.
The damage along the water front cannot
be estimated. Many Of the men composing
the crews Of the ships in the harbor were
killed and injured. On one steamer. the
Pictou, 1t is reported that SO of the crew
Of u were killed Bodies of many seamen
have been picked UP in the harbor. Rescue
parties working among the ruins of build
ings are removing the bodies Of the dead.
The collision which resulted is probably
the worst disaster in the history Of the
Dominion occurred near pier eight In the
narrows leading from the harbor to Bed
ford basin. The munitions ship was bound
from New York for Bedford basin when
the relief ship Iona bound for sea, crashed
into her.
MONT BLANC CREW ESCAPES.
The Mont Blanc was pierced on the
port side almost to the engine room.
damaged. backed away when flames burst
out on the munitions ship and was aban-
doned by the crew. The captain of the
Mont Blanc also ordered his crew to
the boats. as he realized an explosion
was inevitable. The men reached shore
safely before tho tremendous blast II
minutes later which blew their ship to
pieces and wrecked a large part of the
city.
The business life Of the city had just
begun for the day when the town was
shaken to its foundations by the ex-
plosion. Persons in the streets were
picked up bodily and hurled to the
ground. Occupants of Office buildings
covered under shower of falling glass
and plaster. Houses in the Richmond
section crumpled up and collapsed. bury
ing their tenants.
In the main part Of the city where
the buildings are chiefly of stone or con-
crete the damage was confined to the
shattering OF windows and most Of the
casualties in this section were caused by
flying glass. In the west and northwest
ends the damage was more extensive and
there the walls of many houses were
blown to atoms. 1t was in Richmond,
however. opposite the scene of the ex-
plosion. that the havoc was greatest
81
frame construction. were levelled.
STREET AFTER STREET RUINED.
Street after street Is in ruins and
the structures which were left standing
by the explosion were destroyed by fires
which broke out simultaneously in a
score of places and which 1t was impos-
sible to check until they had burned
themselves out 1t is believed scores
of persons who had been injured by the
collapse of their homes persisted In the
flames from which they were helpless tc
flee.
The fires In this district still are smoul.
dering tonight.
PEOPLE PANIC STRICKEN.
Five minutes after the explosion the
streets in all parts of Halifax were filled
with frenzied panic stricken throngs
striving to reach the outskirts in an effor,
to establish what they believed was Q
raid by German fleet Hundreds OF
them had been cut by the shower OF
glass which followed the explosion.
In the Richmond section the scenes
enacted defed description. Seriously in
jured men and women crawled from tho
wreckage of their homes and lay in the
streets until they were removed In ambu
lances and automobiles to hospitals
Those less seriously hurt aided those
more gravely injured In the streets
piled high with debris were found tn,
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 ex
plosion.
FAMILIES BURN IN HOMES.
In scores OF cases occupants of housei
who had escaped without injury or wht
were only slightly hurt were bafflet
by the flames In their search for mem
Psrs OF their families and were forcet