The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-12-15

Two Square Miles of the City
Wrecked by Blast From
MunitiOn Ship.
SEVERAL THOUSAND INJURED
Belgian Relief Steamer Crashes Into
French Vessel Carrying War Sup
PIies-AII Business Suspended.

Halifax, Dec. with the toll OF
dead steadily mounting, it was be-
ieYed early this morning that more
than two thousand persons persisted
in the explosion and fire which fol-
lowed a icollision yesterday morning
in Halifax Harbor between a NUM-
ton laden French ship. the Mont
Blanc, and the limo, vessel loaded
with supplies for the Belgian Relief
Commission
The disaster, which has plunged
the Dominion into mourning, probably
will rank as the most fearful that ever
occurred on the American continent.
Residents of Halifax and thousands
of volunteer relief workers who have
come into the city have been almost
dazed at the extent of the horror.
Bodies Thick in Morgues.
Temporary morgues have been es-'
tablished in many buildings to which
a steady procession of vehicles of all
kinds have been carrying for hours
the bodies of men, women and chill
dren. Most of them were so charred
that they were unacceptable.
of relatives and friends have passed
by the long rows, attempting by the
flickering light of lamps and lanterns
to identify the ones they sought.
Virtually every building in the city
which could be converted into a hos
pital is filled with wounded, many of
them so desperately injured that there
is no hope of their recovery. Scores
already have died in these temporary
hospitals.
Army of Rescue Workers.
An ever increasing number is being
taken from the devastated Richmond
district to the relief station An army
of rescue workers is searching among
the ruins for bodies and for those who
have survived amidst the Wreckage
left by the explosion and fire.
The city was In darkness tonight,
except for the flames from the fires
still burning in the wrecked buildings
in the North End. The electric light
and gas plants have been virtually
destroyed and the only lights available
are kerosene lamps. They furnished
the illumination by means of which
surgeons and doctors toiled through
out the night, caring for the injured.
Soldiers, sailors and police patrolled
the streets tonight and upon them
fell the major part of the burden Of
searching among the ruins for the
dead and wounded The Canadians
were assisted in this work by sailors
from an American warship in the har-
Dor.
Extent of the Damage.
The fIameswept area covers approx
imately two and one-half square miles.
1t begins at what is known as the
North Street bridge, extending north
to Pier Eight on the Richmond water
front and back to point running par
| allel with Gottingen street. Nothing
has been left standing in this section
of the city. Only pile of smoldering
ruins marks the spot where the great
building of the American Sugar Re.
filming Company stood. The dry dock
and all the buildings which surround
ed it were destroyed. The Richmond
school that housed hundreds of chill,
dren was demolished and it is report
ed only three escaped.
Canadian officers who have seen
long service in France characterize
the catastrophe as the most fearful
which has befallen any city in the
world
Red Cross Starts Relief.
Washington, Dec. Aid for the
stricken city of Halifax was started
forward tonight by the American Red
Cross. Immediately after news came
of the disaster the Red Cross began
plans for sending relief without wait
ing for a formal call for assistance
from Canada. Tonight this Telegram
was dispatched to the lord mayor o.
Halifax, the lieutenant governor o.
Nova Scotia, the Canadian Red eros:
at Toronto and the Canadian Patriotic
Fund at Ottawa:
Sending supplies by special trains
from New York and Boston to Halifax
and sending experienced disaster re
} lief workers from Boston They q
tonight at 10 o'clock. Hoping that al
may be of service, we wish to do every
thing desired and will appreciate def
mite requirements and information
: W. F. PERSONS,
J Director General Civilian Relief, Amer
lean Red Cross.