Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-12-08
Worst and Most Destructive
Holocaust Since San Fran
cisco Fire Of 1906.
VISIONS OF GERMAN RAID
Hundreds Of Children while
in School are Trapped
by Falling Walls.

AidiiidA, ~ De- Dec. I.-Wtn the
toll OF dead steadily mounting, il is
now believed that more than 1000
persons persisted in the explosion and
fire which followed the collision We'd
nesday morning in Halifax harbor
between a munitions laden French
ship and another vessel loaded with
supplies for the Belgian relief COM
mission.
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.
The city was in darkness tonight
except for the flames of the fires
still burning in the wrecked buildings
Of the north end. The electric light
and gas plants have been virtually
destroyed and the only lights availa-
BILE are kerosene lamps. They fur
nish the elimination by means of
which surgeons and doctors toiled
heroically throughout the night car
ing for the injured.
Soldiers, sailors and police patrol
ed the streets tonight and upon them
fell the major portion of the burden
of searching amongst the ruins for
the dead and injured.
The flame-swept area covers ap-
proximately two and a half square
miles. Nothing has been left stand
ing in this section. Only a pile of
smouldering ruins marks the spot
where the grent building of the
American Sugar Refinery stood. The
dry-dock and all the buildings which
surrounded it were destroyed.
The Richmond school, that housed
of children, was demol-
shed and it is reported that only three
escaped.
Canadian officers who have seen
ong service in France, characterize
he catastrophe as 'the most fearful
which has befallen any city in the |
world"
Chief of Police Hanrahan late last
hight estimated the number of killed
It 1000. Other city officials expressed
he belief that it would exceed that
lumber.
Virtually all of the north end of
he city was laid waste and the prop
'rty damage will run far into mill
ons. A part of the town of Dart
mouth, across the harbor from Hall
ak, also was wrecked. Nearly all
Il the buildings in the dock-yard
here are in ruins.
The collision occurred near pier 8,
n the Narrows leading from the har-
or to Bedford Basin. The munitions
hip was bound from New York for
'edford Basin when the relief ship,
ound for sea, crashed into her.
The Mont Blanc was pierced on the
ort side almost to the engine room.
he other ship, which was only slight .
damaged, backed away when
ames burst out on the munitions
nip and was abandoned by the crew.
The captain Of the Mont Blanc also ;
rdered his crew to the boats as he !
allied an explosion was inevitable. 4
be men reached shore safely before {
70 tremendous blast, seventeen min J,
es later, blew their ship to pieces
I'd wrecked large part of the city. I,
The business life of the city had I,
st begun for the day. Persons in s.
e street were picked up bodily and is
lrled to the ground. Occupants Of Il
ice buildings were covered under Il
overs OF falling glass and plaster. a