The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-06
All of Crews on Both Vessels
Are Killed Outright.
Wild RumOrs Leak Past Censor
as to Extent of Damage.
HEAR EXPLOSION 81 MILES
Telegraph instruments for 30
Miles Around, Destroyed.
Big Depot and Other Buildings
Collapse From Shock.

St. John, Dec 6.-As a result of the
explosion of the American munition
ship this morning, nearly one-haf of
the north end of the city of Halifax
has been destroyed, a great fire is
raging, the dead are lying thick in
the streets. all the hospitals are filled
to overflowing and many injured are
compelled to walk about untreated.
News that the disaster had reached
these proportions was received here
this afternoon when communication
with Halifax was established by the
Canadian Telegraph company. The
whole northern section of Halifax is
a mass of wreckage and fires have
broken out in dozen places, accord
ing to reports received here shortly
Report 500 Dead.
Truro, Dec. 6.-Three hundred dead
and many hundreds injured was the
estimate this afternoon of the casual
ties resulting when a large ammuni
ton ship rammed a passenger liner
near their piers at Halifax today.
Reports reaching here early this
afternoon said it was feared several
scores of people lost their lives when
the railway station at Halifax col
lapsed. Twenty-Five railway workers
were killed on the track near Rich
mond.
afternoon gave the number of dead
from the munition ship explosion at
800.
The advices further stated that the
ship which collided with the NUM-
ton vessel was a Red Cross liner.
Scores Killed on Docks.
St John, Dec. 6.-An unconfirmed
report received at 2 O. lock this after
noon said the fire at Halifax was un-
der control. The origin of the report
which was put on the telegraph wires,
could not be determined.
The last word received by wire from
Halifax regarding the explosion said
the military had taken charge of the
Canadian Pacific telegraph company
and had ordered all telegraph oper-
ators out of the building.
Only two operators in the office es-
capped injury. Scores of persons on
the docks were killed. The fire
started in the northern end of the city
which bore the brunt of the damage.
Supply Depot Blown Up.
The Queens hotel or Hollis street
near Sackville street marks approx
mately the southern limit of the dew
astated area it is reported.
The area of destruction covers sew
eral miles. The Canadian government
depot used by the Canadian Pacific
railway is described as having entirely
collapsed, while a big government re-
northwestern section of the city, is
wrecked.
Property Loss in Millions.
Halifax Dec. 6-via Havana.-Hun-
dreds of persons were killed and
thousand others injured and half of
the city of Halifax is in ruins as the
result of the explosion of a munition
ship in the harbor today. 1t is esti-
mated that the property loss will run
into the millions.
The north end of the city is in
flames.
Railwa- Depot CoIIapses.
Amherst Dec. 6.-Scores of people
have been killed, hundreds of build
ings destroyed and a portion of Hall
FAX set on fire by. an explosion which
occurred after the collision of an
American ammunition ship and an
other vessel at Rockingham, accord
ing to telephone messages reaching
here this morning. The explosion was
so terrific that it destroyed the in
stallation in the telegraph and tele-
phone offices for 80 miles around
HahfaX while it was heard at Truro.
81 miles distant
1t is reported that the American
munitiOn steamer was moving out
from her pier and was rammed
broadside by another vessel
Instantly there was a tremendous
explosion which destroyed the two
ships and killed their crews
The conclusion resulting caused the
roof of the railway depot at North
street to collapse. while all the ware
houses on the water front for mile
Continued on Page TwO)