The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-12-07
,een flooded to prevent more explo-

preserving order III HALIFAX lHiiue-
diately after the explosion, while
dense clouds of white smoke were
rolling over the scene OF devastation,
/ the Canadian troops were ASCENDING
each man ready for business. some OF
those who formed ranks were bleed.
ing from wounds. The detachment OF
American blue Jackets, which ar
rived some time after the blast, we're
(. of immense help.
| American relief workers from New
York, Boston and other points are I'M
derstood to be enroute here. they
have not yet arrived
| When surgical help from nearby
towns reached here last night, the
| injured were thronged around dress
ing stations, awaiting their turns.
Thousands who have not other hurts
are suffering from cuts received when
the air was filled with flying glass.
4 More bodies were found today IN
the debris Snow is rapidly cloakIng
some Of the more CHASTITY mounds OF
shattered wood and stone, where the
corpses can be seen under the rubbish.
/ A formal inquiry into the cause of the
collision between the French muni-
ton steamer Mont Blanc and the Bel
gian relief ship will be made. Wit
nesses believe, the Belgian vessels
stearing gear broke,
The most badly damaged area of
Halifax is from Gottingen street to
| the stock yards. The dry dock is
wrecked. st. Joseph's church Is in
ruins. Many big buildings We're un-
roofed, as if tornado had swept
4 over them.
/ The explosion gave warning OF Its
coming. 1t was preceded by a noise
like thunder; then came the terrific
smash that shook the earth, caved In
strong buildings; filed the air with
tdeatii-dealing fragments and knocked
| thousands of people off their feet.
Many families are believed to have
been annihilated.
| The blast played strange freaks.
Many doors were blown open, the
locks being ripped from their places
| in the woodwork. Live electric wires
+ lay in the streets. Nobody seemed to
know what had happened. Then the
fires began spreading.
| Freight sheds in Richmond were
pushed over like houses OF cards.
Many of the injured were removed by
| train to Windsor today.
| The city was in practical darkness
| all night. School sessions probably
will not be resumed for month.
1 Some wounded people were found
today lying where they had been
hurled by the explosion. Volunteer
Istretcher bearers gathered them up.
Some of those found dead today had
evidently died of wounds. BY their
tpostures it was apparent they made
desperate attempts to crawl into the
open before losing consciousness.
| The dead are being tagged as fast
as they can be identified Several
men, blinded, were found grouping
their way, calling for help.
Weeping children and women and
wounded men, grooming, made last
might a horror for all in the city.
! A special train bringing carloads OF
food. clothing and other much needed
supplies, arrived here this morning
from st. John, N b. Mayor Hayes
and the maiority Of surgeons of st.
John have also arrived
Big Liner In Vicinity.
NEW YORK. Dec. THE huge
Nieuw Amsterdam, crack ship of the
Holland-American line, with from 300
to 400 Americans aboard may have
Iheen in Halifax harbor at the time Of
the explosion OF the Mont Blanc.
Officials Of the line here today ex-
pressed fear for her safety.
The big liner was the first ship to
leave here after the embargo on Dutch
ships was raised. She put into Hall
fax for examination and since that
time has not been heard from. She
carried ten thousand tons Of corn for
Belgian war relief, besides large
passenger list.
The steamship which blew up was
of the French line She was under
oruers of the British admiralty, it was
stated, and none Of the officers could
tell anything of her movements. She
was single screw steamer Of 3121
tonnage and carried crew Of thirty.
five. ]. Slavery was her commander.
The limo was built for the White
Star line but now Is under Norwegian
registry. She was formerly known
rs the Runic. but changed her name
South Pacific Whaling company.
The limo carried a crew Of about
sixty men and was commanded by
Captain Throm. She was a four mast
ed iron vessel OF 5,043 tons.
Special Train Enroute.
BOSTON, Dec. IA special train
with doctors, nurses and supplies to-
day was speeding on its way to the
stricken city Of Halifax.
Among the party were Red Cross
workers. number of medical men
and civilians.
The special train carrying the party
of tl1irtv-one was despatched late last
night after Governor Mccall sent an
offer of any possible aid to the devas-
tated city
TeIerraoh Service Crippled.
NEW YORK, Dec. T.-Telegraph
service to Nova Scotia is still badly
crippled today. The Western Union
announced that service for points in
that province. for points south of
Truro will be Subject to delay, due
to wire interruption"