The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1917-12-21

is not completed yet. AS far as we
could see not whole pane of glass
existed, doors were as curtains be-
fore the average wind, literally blown
off.
took ten men and bunch Of first
aid bandages, and started out. After
visiting a hundred homes or more,
sending the worst cases to the hospi-
tai, the lesser ones to field dressing
stations and bandaging the bleeding.
That work continued until noon, when
| joined a party Of a couple of hun
dred on their way to Richmond, the
suburb of Halifax, directly opposite
the explosion. Here the windows
were not only broken but the houses
were not there. Such a wrecked area
| never saw, and by the time we got
there it was all afire, acres of burn
ing wreckage We worked continu
ously until midnight, pulling over the
wreckage and fighting fire. At the
point of explosion on the Halifax side
were located the freight yards. They
occupied a strip some hundred yards
wide, from here the national valley
started. The side where we were was
very steep and at least fifty feet
above the waters edge.
1t was very plain that the water
was found to the top of the bank tax
ing down with it the fences etc., pill
ing it on the raidroad, that is what
little there was left of it. There are
hundreds of scenes that | can call to
mind if | should describe them would
give you the jim jams for months to
come. All told there have been about
two thousand bodies recovered and it
is estimated that there are at least
five hundred burned and as many yet
to be rescued. Stories of all kinds
have been told about men being
blown half mile, others about pull
ing out wreckage and finding clocks
ticking and talking machines on the
go but of course there would be
peculiar things happen The relief work
is now the big item for there
are thousands of people practi-
cally homeless and who depend
entirely upon the generous public for
their existence. The timely assist
ance of the Dominion and the u. S.
is a fortunate thing for this city.
The loss Of this city alone runs far
into the millions.
Volumes could be written upon this
one occasion, but / must call it off
for now and as the visions become
fainter it will take less to tell about
it. We probably will not be going
overseas for a while, due to this
accident.
There are a good many things for
which | am thankful, the chief one be-
ing that we were not rooming in Hall
fax. Secondly that | am perfectly
alive. Thirdly, that | can say that
| was present at the time of what
will be known for years to come as
the most disastrous explosion ever
known in the history of explosions.
Too, / am thankful that | am SOL
der, for you know a soldier is never
homeless. All he needs is two kit
bags and the starry canopy of Heaven
and you will always find him at home.
Now, you need not worry, for
am well on the road to recovery and
have not stopped once, even though
my one hand has been tied up, the
other one has done double duty, for
three hours is the longest period Of
sleep ] have had yet.
/ am still in charge of the rations
and each and every night | dish meals
to guards, patrols, and civilians to
the extent Of about three hundred
men. Each day / take on a few hours
guard to help the boys out, for the
weaker ones are giving out. | have
nice cold, and when | get to cough
ing | make the boards rattle. ! woke
up one morning to find my bunk full
of water. / was that near all in that
] knew nothing until / was soaked.
One could drive a mule through the
roof of the hut that my bunk is
and if a cat was to be thrown out
it would come down a hard mass Of
violin strings for tonight it is exact
ly two above.
Hoping that the supply of German
ammunition depended upon the cargo
of the Imo and that the war will be
over before many months, / hope that
the stray cargoes will be exploded at
sea and not around women and
children.
Bidding you farewell again / must
close for the boys are beginning to
string along for a cup o. tea.
Ever your loving husband
Art.
p. S. Please pass the good word on
to father and mother as | may not
have a chance to write again for a
few days.
Corporal A. M. Scott
73rd Battary Overseas Draft
Halifax
Nova, Scotia, Canada
[Note-The telegram referred to al
the beginning of this letter was never
received, and this letter was five days
in arriving.