Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-08

AhHtTsts \. -, Zee, S.-An eSlI-
mate OF 1000 persons dead in the
Halifax disaster, is contained in a
private telegram received from the
stricken city today by an UNDER
taking firm here. The message
asks that 1000 e0iIins be sent to
Halifax ut once.
Halifax, Dee. s.-A binding
north country sn0wst0rm. ac-
c0mpanying a gale that at times
attained velocity of more than
40 miles an hour, has held this
city oLyttesolatioilvSB its grasp for
the past "a hours, adding new ter
rOreto the aWe-strieken survivors
Of Thursdays disaster, and great
~ impeding the progress OF relief
trains Iiurrying here from the
United States and dominion cities
with their urgently needed sup
plies.
The Massachusetts relief traiI
which was due to arrive early thi
morning, was stalled in great sn01
drifts near Amherst late last nigh
and while snow plows were presse
into service to clear the tracks, tn
progress was so slow for a time tn
trains arrival here is problematica
Other rescue trains also are reporte
snowbound.
With every building in Halifax an
I Ia yFte q ad /,
the explosion and fire, men, wome
and children huddIed together as be-
they could and passed a night Of SUI
fering. The chilling winds whistle
through smashed windows; there WEI
scarcely blankets enough to cove
wounded bodies. and many were u
able to obtain food Fires were almof
out Of the question. and the only light
obtainable were from oil lamps {
candles.
Over 10000 People Destitute.
Out OF the chaotic conditions ric
and poor have rallied CALAMITY
their duty of caring for the injure
and homeless. The citizens ffnanC
committee. headed by Justice Harri
estimates that there are 10000 dest
tute people in the devastated area, Il
majority of them from the poor
classes. Nearly 1000 dwelling house
were destroyed, the committee d
clares, and the actual losses and Il
estimated cost of temporary maint
nance will approximate $30,000,000
Perhaps the most serious of Il
many problems to be met is the FOE
situation. There is enough food in Il
city for immediate needs, but unle
communication is opened soon the CT
faces the possibility Of famine Mi
is almost unobtainable.
Dead, 1900; Injured, 5000.
In the greater task OF caring Il
the living. no concerted effort is beir
made at present to compile a list
the dead, but hundreds Of soldier
sailors, American tackles" and yoluI
teers are cropping under the mass
wreckage searching for the dea
Morgues are choked with mangl,
bodies, many of whom probably new
will be identified. Police officials ST
estimate the dead at 1000 and the j
jured at 5000
Storm King Dominates.
Truro. Y. s., Dee. additional on
side relief for the suffering Thousand
in Halifax was dependent today upt
/ the weather. The great snowstor
dominated the situation.
Almost every hour brought word
relief train stalled by the hui
drifts piled up by the gale all aloI
the railroad lines between Moncto
IN b.. and Halifax One train. wi
doctors and nurses from the Unit
States on board. was caught at MeT
hancock Junction, 30 miles from Il
Nova Scotia border. Another viii
/ left st. John, n B., Thursday mig
with doctors. nurses and relief su
plies. ran into a tremendous sno
bank at Londonderry, 20 miles fro
Truro.
Somewhere between Amherst al
Truro the Massachusetts train W
! held up by similar conditions.
/ Word came from Halifax early {