The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-12-07
TWO SQUARE
CONTINUED from page one,

itself extends from the North street
railway station as far north as Afric.
Vile, to Bedford 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 explosion
were destroyed by the fire which fol-
lowed.
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 Eslifax is in
darkness tonight. All hospitals and
many private houses ar, filled with in
;iured. Temporary hospitals and
morgues have been opened in school
city. j
The damage along The water front
cannot yet be estimated Many of the
men composing the crfws Of the ships
in the harbor were killed and injured.
On one, steamer, the Piftou. 1t is report.
ed that SO of the crew Of AZ were killed
I Bodies Of many seamen have been pick.
ed up in the harbor. Rescue parties
working among the ruins of buildings
are removing the bodies of the dead.
The collision which resulted in prob.
ably the worst disaster IN the history
OF the Dominion occurred near Pier s
In the Narrows, leading from the har.
Dor to Bedford basin. The munitions
ship was bound from New York for
Bedford Basin, when the relief ship
loT,a, bound for sea. crashed into her.
The Mont Blanc was pierced ca the
port side almost TO the engine room.
The other ship. which was only slight.
ly damaged. backed away when flames
burst out on the munitions ship, and
vas abandoned by the crew. The cap.
tain Of the Mont Blanc also ordered his
| crew t. the boats as he realized an eS-
plosion was inevitable. The men reach.
ell shore safely before the tremendous
blast seventeen minutes later which
Flew 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.
Tlosion. 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 Rich.
mond section crumpled up and col.
apsed burying their tenants.
In the main part of the city where
tie buildings are chiefly of stone and
concrete the damage was confined to
the shattering Of windows and most OF
the casualties in this section we're
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 bits. 1t was in Richmond. however,
opposite the scene Of the explosion,
mat most havoc was created. Whole
blocks of dwellings. mostly Of frame
construction, were levelled.
street after street is in ruins and
the structures which were left stand.
ing by the explosion were destroyed
by fires which broke out simultaneous,
~ In a score Of places and which II was
impossible to check until they had
burned themselves out. It is believed
scores OF persons who had been in.
lured by the collapse Of their homes,
perlshed In the flames from which they
were helpless to flee. The fires Ia this
district still are smouldering tonight.
rive minutes after the explosion the
streets In all parts Of Halifax were
iiiled with frenzied. panic.sricken
tnrongs striving to reach the outskirts
IN an effort to escape what they be.
!ieved was raid by German fleet
hundreds Of them had been cut by the