The Washington times., 1917-12-07
Halifax NOW
BEING SWEPT
SNOWAND
NEW FIRES
tContlnued from First PaSel
Then the air was nIIed with flying

tContlnued from First PaSe.l
when the air was oiled with flying
glass.
A formal inquiry into the cause OF
the collision between the French
munition steamer and the Belgian
relief ship VIII be made. Witnesses
believe the Belgian vessels steering
gear broke.
The most badly damaged area OF
Halifax is from GOttIngen street to
the dock yards
The dry dock IL wrecked. st. Joseph's
Church Is in ruins. Many big buildings
were unroofed, as II a tornado had
swept over them.
The explosion gave warning OF its com
ing. II was preceded by a noise like
thunder. Then came the terrific smash
that shook the earth, cAved In strong
buildings, filled the air with death deal
ing fragments. and knocked Thousands Of
people on their feet Many families
are believed to have been ennihilated.
The blast played strange freaks. Many
doors were blown open. the locks being
ripped from their places IN the wood
work Live electric wires lay In the
streets. Nobody seemed to know what
had happened Then the fires began
spreading. Freight sheds in Richmond
Removed To Windsor.
Many Of the injured were removed by
train to Windsor today. The city was
in practical darkness all night School
sessions will probably not be resumed
for a month. Some wounded people
we're found today where they had been
hurled by the explosion. Volunteer
sretcher bearers gathered them up.
eome OF those found dead had evidently
died OF their wounds BY their posture
f. was apparent they made desperate at
eempts to crawl into the open before los
ing consciousness.
Every hour brings additional rescue
Worilers-nurses and doctors with aInbu-
1ances and surgical supplies. Long lines
Of sobbing men and women began early
to-day 10 file past the rows Of blAnket-
covered dead Women shriGkod a. they
drew aside a blanket and recognised
Q loved one.
sch Over BSAtes.
Women sobbed over the bodies OF
shildren. Yhus Othsrs, white faced
and hAgEard. stunned by the catAs-
trophe, fingered triRkSts or bits OF
clothing on mangled and burned bod
ies, hoping to establish their Identity.
The most pitiful was the row OF little
figures that represented the children
who were yesterday struck dead In
their schools, on the streets. even
while playing on their own doorstepA
There was one tiny, Eolden-haired
girl OF about four yearG She showed
no surface wounds, and abe lag among
the Others, . dilapidated rag doll By
her eide. II was found In her hand
liant haIn On fdanffAna
ton
Early this morning this little body
was claimed by a sobbinE girl mother.
She was wrapped in an old overcoat
In the common are other still forms
covered with blankets. Many are
burned beyond recognition, and others
are mangled. Some probably never
VIII be identified. Today a slowly
rising pail OF smoke hangs over the
devastated suburb Of Richmond. and
while soldiers and sailors patrol the
wrecked streets, the work OF digging
out the mAngled and burned victims Il
Eoing on
Many Hover Near Death.
Hundreds OF wounded are in hos
pitfalls in and near the city, many how
sring near death. Others, covered
with white bGndagss. limpinE or
being carried in automobiles are
going into nearby towns and villages
OF the thousands OF homeless, many
are still too dazed to know what 10
do. The Euddenness Of the death that
overwhelmed the city has left them
dumb in their grief and suffering
Every available vehicle has been
pressed into service. and literally
WaEonloAds OF bodies are carried
away.
A special train bringing carloads OF
food. clothing, and other much needed
supplies arrived here this morning.
Mayor Hayes and the majority Of
the surgeons OF St John have ar
rived also.
The dead are being tagged as fast
as they are identified.
Several men, blinded. were found
cropping their way calling for help.