, 1917-12-20
HALIFAX HORROR. -.
STUNS DOMINION
Disaster Probably Most Fearful
That Ever Occurred on the 4
American Continent.
TOTAL LOSS OF LIFE UNKNOWN
VIII Surely Be Numbered by Thous-
ands-stricken city one Of Great
eritaln's Important Military
Posts-lts Hlstory..ilH "hl'

The disaster at Halifax, which cost
the lives Of at least 1000 people,
though the exact number will never
be known, plunged the Dominion Into
mourning. 1t probably, ranks as the
most fearful that ever occurred on
the American continent. Residents of
Halifax and thousands Of volunteer re-
lief workers who came into the city
were dazed at the extent Of the hor-
ror. I'i |'liHH liitt. ~
The Belgian relief ship limo collided
with the French munition vessel, Mont
Blanc, loaded with 5000 tonsiofsT. m.
7. and a large quantity of benEine.I
The impact set fire to q deck loud
of benzlne on the French ship and the
flames quickly communicated with the
munitions, resulting in a practical
bombardment of the city. "
The zone Of destruction In Halifax
Itself extended from the North street
railway station as far north as Affiea
Vile to Bedford basin and covered an
area of about two square miles in the
section known IS Richmond. The
buildings which were o demolished
By the force of the terrific explosion
were destroyed by the fire which fol-
lowed. I'm Z
District Denseiy Populated. =
The devastated district was the old
er part of Halifax and thickiy popu-
lated, 1t contained, In addition ito
? Citadel hill, many churches and
schools, the railway station, govern
inent dockyard, wellington barracks,
Admiralty House (the official resi-
dence of the admiral inueommands Of
me North American British squad
ROM, the military hospital, post office,
provisional parliament building, city
nan, the ordnance department, most of
inc department stores, all Of the tele-
graph and cable offices. and a few ho-
tells.
The better residence district was al
most unframed. It lies southwark
from the Queens, ana includes most Of
Inc churches. including st. Mary,s Ro-
man Catholic cathedral.
In the 6re-swept section were the
parliament buildings, post office, three
newspaper offices, Royal Bank of Can
aua, Canadian Bank Of Commerce..
nahk or Nova Scotia, Bank Of British
Nofth America and the Bank Of Mon
treal.
Other structures destroyed are Dali
housie college, two Roman Catholic
converts, the Presbyterian Theological
Soiiege, the government technical col
g a. churches and so factories, In
Guiding Iron foundries. ibreweries, dis
u'Ieries and two sugar r~eflneries. ; un
FAMOUS FOR BEAUTY
one of the oldest of Canadian cities,
halifax also Is one of the most pic
.uresque. 1t has two principal beau
y spots, Point Pleasant park and
,he Public Gardens. The first lies
etwee the North Arm, a ford threel
miles long, and the iharbor. Eproper.
me North Arm is the cruising basin
size.
lWo hundred acres of land make
up Foint Pleasant park, and the woods
""'e been left In n wild state. The
souuS are splendid rTheylweref built
''F military purposes. The park has
: pair of magnificent iron gates given
70 the city by Sir William Young a
5Srmer chief Justice Of the province.
Ihey are set at the head of Young
avenue, one of the principal roads OF
the park. -1
a mile from Young avenue gates
r..