Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-07

i
Truro. a manufacturing town of-s.ooo
| inhabitants. the nearest place OF I'M
portance to Halifax. was made center
\ of relief activities. This Is a leading
junction point Of provincial railroads
and on the direct line from Halifax to
New Brunswick. Quebec and points in
the United States. It was from here
I that the first doctors. nurses and labor
ers were sent to the stricken city.
Impossible to Care for All.
It was impossible to care for all the
injured persons in Halifax. where the
hospitals were quickly overburdened. and
a large number were sent to Truro for
treatment One train brought 200..-Ar-
rangements were hastily made to care
for these and to extend hospitality to
| the many homeless men. women and
children who came here as quickly. as
they could get away from Halifax.
Railway facilities were taxed to their
utmost.
Canadian government railway Of
ffcials and employees worked all night
and put into service every available
piece of rolling stock. Steps were taken
today to rush to Halifax all the food
that could be obtained. Refugees said
many people were without food and
that the need of a largo supply from
outside was urgent.
Homeless Thousands Suffer.
supplies Of clothing and blankets also
we're sent forward. Although the weather
remained fair the temperature was below
freezing and there was much suffering
Overnight among the thousands whose
thomes, had been. wrecked.
:, The work OF the railroad men Included
making arrangements to expedite the
movement across the peninsula of relief
trains from st. John. N. B., and other
points The relief train from Massa-
ohusetts cannot arrive before this even
Latest reports received here Indicate
the confiagration in Halifax was brought
under control last night, although fires
the city. Apparently the flames were
chiefly in the Richmond district. Fire
men from Truro accompanied by many
volunteers assisted in fighting the fires.
Thrown From Chair.
T. j. Soy. general officer Of tho Maple
Leaf Lumber Company. who reached this
city last night. told graphic story Of
his experiences in Halifax E
He was sitting in the Queen Hotel which
Is on the southernmost edge OF the ravaged
district, when he was thrown out Of his
Unto the street with hundreds of others,
he found all the street cars stopped, .as
Aheir power plants were wrecked. He said
the hotel guests were surprisingly cool.
1T Is an air raid" was the general
version. The possibilities of raid by
sZeppelins had been frequently talked
about and Sall had prepared them
selves for eyentualities. j
so much wreckage. Mr.. Soy said. but
no panic.
Going to the. North. street station, he
.fodnd the immense. glass roof had been.
that point. He thought the number
might reach twenty-five, but said it
was impossible to give an accurate
estimate. In the portion of the dis
trict he was able to penetrate he
thought the dead numbered at least
500, while 1000 were injured. but these
figures. he admitted. were incomplete.
Wreck Delays United States Aid.
BANGOR. Me-. December THE spe-
cial relief train sent to Halifax by
setts public safety committee passed
through here early today. 1t was due
to cross into New Brunswick at Vance
boro at 9 am. and should reach Hall
fax early tonight.
wATERvILLE, Me-. December T.
The relief. train sent to Halifax by Gov.
Mccall and thepstate. public safety COM
mittee of Massachusetts, was delayed
for more than an hour early today by a
railroad at Burnham Junction, thirteen.
miles from here. Freight cars had been
derailed just ahead of the train and the
tracks were piled high with. wreeka ge.:
Telegraph poles also had been knocked
down, cutting OF communication be-
tween this city and Bangpr.s d.. /;
BOSTON. December ITO the thou
sands of Nova Scotians and their rela-
tives living in this city. and its suburbs
news of the. terrible explosion at Hail.
fax brought many anxious hours. Tele-
graph companies, were ,swamped with
of inquiry as. to the fats Of
many Halifax families.
At least ona- Boston steamship is be-
lieved to have been in the .harbor at
Halifax at the time Of the explosion.