Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-07
at this portion OF the harbor that e :
Ambassador Bernstorff and party
were held and examined on their way
from the United States to Germany.
BUILDINGS TORN TO PIECES.

BUILDINGS TORN TO PIECES.
a. John, N. B., Dec. 6.-The expio'
s,on at Halifax occurred in the harbor
when two vessels, one of them Loaded
with munitions of war including hleh
explosives, collided.
MANY buildings along the water
front were torn to pieces and many
persons are believed to nave pee'l
killed.
Other shipping in the harbor surfer,
ed severely and the crews or seVerai
are said to have been killed.
STORM CAUSES COLLISION.
At the moment of the explosion a
fierce storm was sweeping the harpor
and it is supposed that the collision
of the vessels was due to this.
SOLDIERS MAY HAVE DIED.
It was stated positively here that
there were several transports In the
harbor when the explosion occurred
Nothing as to the fate Of these was
obtainable. Neither is it known
whether the transports were tllled
with troops or occupied only by their
DRIFTS AGAINST PIER.
Tho ammunition ship was backing
from her pier preparatory to SAILING
when the accident occurred. The force
Of the collision started a fire aboard.
The crew was quickly called to quar-
ters and an attempt was made to ex.
tinguish the flames. This 1alled anu
as the fire approached the nous
where the explosives we're stored inc
captain ordered the seacocks opened:
But the vessel drifted toward one Oh
the piers and few moments later an
EXPLOSION occurred, tearing the snip 10
pieces. ..,w
When the decision was made to SINK
the steamer the crew was ordered 10
their small boats and so far as known
they escaped.
The conclusion of the explosion was
terrific Houses were shattered ana
manv completely demolished. Storage
sheds along the water front were lev
eled and the damage is estimated at
millions of dollars.
FIRE BEYOND CONTROL.
message over a telegraph line
which worked for short tins TINS
afternoon into Halifax said half of the
Richmond district, off which the dis
aster occurred, was flat and the IRE
still raging there. Persons were salh
to be lying dead in the streets. the
hospitals were filled with inquired
while scores unable to find accommo-
dations in the hospitals though badly
injured, were wandering helplessiy
along the streets.
IMPORTANT WARTIME PORT.
For many years Halifax has been
the chief British military and naval
station on the American continent. Its
harbor. one of the most spacious IN
the world, is large enough to float the
entire British navy and is strongly
fortified. In addition to the fortifi-
cations, there is a government dock
yard containing an immense dry dock.
DEPOT FOR SUPPLIES.
The city's population, according to
the 1911 census, is about $4,000. Hall
fax is the eastern terminus of the
Canadian Pacific railway and the Ca
madam government railways, Steam
ship lines operate between the port
and points in New Foundlai1d, Great
Britain, the United States and the
West Indies. Since the outbreak or
the war Halifax has assumed more
important position than ever, as it is
the principal port from which men,
munitions and supplies are transport
ed from Canada to the battlefields OF
Flanders and northern France.
GREAT AREA DESTROYED.
The area, which dispatches from
Halifax indicate, was wrecked by the
explosion, includes an extensive resi-
dental section, as well as numerous
institutions, banks and government
buildings.
Citadel Hill, the eminence which
dominates the entire city, is located
within the stricken territory.
The most important part Of the wa
ter front was in this section.
GOVERNMENT PROPERTY LOST.
Montreal, Dec. 6.-Sixty per cent Of
the city of Halifax is in ruins, accord
ing to reports to the Canadian gov
eminent railways. Among the build
ings destroyed are the new Deep Wa
ter Freight terminals Of the govern
ment railways at the north end of the
city.