Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-13
THIRD BLIZZARD
STRIKES HALIFAX
All but Crushes Hearts of Work
ers Striving to Alleviate
Suffering.
CITY IN DARKNESS.
Housing and Fcedins Problem 30 Sc
rious That Embargo IL Issued
against Admission Of visitors.

Halifax, Dec. 10.-Figures officially given
out tonight Of the casualties In the NUM-
tions explosion disaster in this city fol-
low:
known dead 1,2so: identified $40: unac-
counted for 1920; wounded 5000; homeless
900.
Halifax, N. s., Dec. 1O.-A roaring big
xard, the third to strike this sorely
afflicted city since the blast from the
exploding munitions steamer made 5000
persons homeless four days ago. burst
from the northeast late to-day. Raging
with all the fury for which these north
ern winter storms are noted. 1t all but
crushed the hearts Of the brave band Of
workers struggling against overwhelming
odds to alleviate suffering.
For O. while the contingents Of the
Canadian army stationed here toiled dog
gedly amid the ice shrouded ruins for the
unrecovered dead, but when the wind
veered suddenly to the southeast and
blew with redoubled force the soldiers
were obliged to withdraw. Pungs bear
ing hospital supplies and food to the
numerous relief stations were storm
bound. The crippled lighting system broke
down again, leaving the city in darkness.
Burial parties who had volunteered their
nounced that the recovered dead must be
disposed Of at once were driven to cover.
From the devastated area Of two and q
half square miles hundreds of men and
women patiently seeking their dead gave
up their task for still another day and
sought shelter provided for them in build
ings where every pane Of glass had been
| shattered by Thursdays explosion.
Relief trains bringing workers and sup.
plies reached the city In the height OF the
blizzard, but those so eager to help found
themselves helpless and knew not which
way to turn in the confusion Of the storm
the unlighted city and the wreck OF
familiar landmarks.
So serious is the problem of housing and
feeding those already In the city that 9
strict embargo was issued tonight against
the admission of all persons not connected
with relief or reconstruction work. Mill
tary guards we're detailed to stop new
corners at Truro. Among the first to fee
this stringent but necessary step wert
many Americans who were halted at st
John.
! The cargo Of window glass, hospital
supplies and warm clothing which the re.
lief committee had expected did not ar.
rive tonight on the steamer Calvin Aus.
tin as expected. The ship left Boston
yesterday but tonight was driven into
Yarmouth by the storm. Her commander
wired that she would arrive tomorrow
night and begin discharging her supplies
early Wednesday morning
| The numerous agencies, those put into
operation by the citizens Of the city d.
rectly after the explosion, and those
reaching here in large numbers since
were organized to-day under one head
with A. Handheld Whitman, a prominent
business man, as chairman. All the worl
both on the ground here and in securing
supplies from the outside. will hencefortf
be systematized, with Halifax peopl,
themselves in control of the situation.
A great nervous strain was lifted from
the city to-day. when the ammunition
steamer Picton was towed to sea ant
sunk. Almost hourly rumors have beef
flying about the city that munition ship
were aflre in the harbor and since tn
Mont Blanc blew up Thursday after beinI
rammed by the Belgian relief steame
limo, the steamer Picton has been re
garded with much apprehension. 1t wa
known that she still held in her hold
enough explosives to cause much damage
Twice yesterday nre started on he
decks. Last night when the flames wer
discovered for second time Halifa,
rifemen boarded her regardless of per
sonal danger and tossed the burning dec
cargo overheard.
Accepting without reservation the nav
statement that no other munition liner
are In port. the people breathed easie
tonight.