WORSE THAN WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 97, 17 January 1918, Page 6

WORSE THAN WAR

THE HALIFAX DISASTER A WELLINGTONIAN'S DESCRIPTION. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) lias received a letter from an engineerlieutenant giving n graphic description of the recent terrible explosion and destruction to life and property in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He writes :— "You will be rather surprised to hear from me from this port of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Only for a lucky alteration in our plans and a. delay In berthing you would probably never liavo heard from me again. I have been through something on the Western front, and have seen destruction in life and property to a great extent, but the disaster here yesterday surpassed the lot. Happenings of the last iwo years I will never forget; certainly this calamity has been placed first in my memory. We left in the belief that it* was to'be the same as usual, but had not been out many days when we were ordered here. Had a smooth m>), although the weather was very dull and cold. On arriving here we anchored and started coaling, expecting to finish in time to be berthed on a certain day in the afternoon. We did not {.et alongside as intended, and just as well for us, as it was during the morning of this day that the disaster occurred. We were 'sitting at breakfast in the ward room when a ; loud explosion was heard, and the ship shook and heeled over. I had just time to think that a ship had collided with us, when another tremendous report, hundreds or times greater than the first, rent the air. Most of us were thrown- out ot our chairs, the thick glass ports were smashed, and everything movable was upset. I at once thought that a hostile submarine had sneaked in the harbour and torpedoed us. There was a rush from below to the deck, and then we saw a wonderful but awful sight. A huge, thick, white, rolling cloud of smoke was rising up, and debris was falling into the water wherever you looked. It was soon realised that an lawful explosion had taken place, but of what there was no telling. When the cloud disappeared it was seen to have happened in the vicinity of the dockyard and just near where we expected to be the previous day. All bands were mustered, and the.cutters wore soon away with every availab e man and officer. We had already made a signal asking if help was required, but the flagship did not immediately answer, probably owing to confusion and casualties aboard her. Fires were seen to be raging all over the town, and near the "scene of the . explosion everything was alight. Wo really went with the intention of fighting the flames, but found our job to be rescue "One part of the town was absolutely cut off by fires, and fortunately we landed here and were able to use our boats to convey wounded to a place where they could be taken away. J.ne wholo locality was demolished, and the scene was appalling. Hundreds >cr killed were lying about, and other poor beggars were pinned down amongst tne ruTns. How we did work and what awful cases we had to deal with! All conveyances were put into service, and it was very soon seen that the hospital could not deal with the injured. Other buildings were utilised, and even the ships in the harbour were used "-Yt first wo did not have time to think of the cause of the explosion or even what had gone up, but we eventually learned of it. It appears that a Trench steamer, laden with 4000 tons of explosives, and also a quantity or benzine on deck, was. inward bound, and she "ot into collision with a Uei<rian relief ship flying the' Norwegian fla" The benzine caught fire, and, of course, that was the end of it. lhe ship was blown to pieces, not a part of her remaining on the water, borne of her twisted plates are to be seen in the town, and her gun has been found three miles away. Shipping m the immediate vicinity suflered badly. A. number of vessels have disappeared altogether, while others have been stripped of funnel and all deck gear. Even the interior of some are just a mass of wreckage. .The casualties aboard them aro numerous; sill hands being killed in some cases. It was a pitiful sight to see the craft being towed out into mid-harbour outAof the danger zono. They had to do this, as there was a chance of the shore inagazino going up any minute. For the same reason all the remaining people were driven to the extreme opposite end of the town. Luckily the magazine did not go off, and it was soon made safe. "The huge fire raged all day and night, and to make matters worse the weather, which had been fine, turned to a nasty blizzard. The following day it blew and snowed without ceasing, but still the rescue work went on. We had tucker and relief parties sent from the ship, and we are still carrying on in this way. The fire is now out, but a tremendous number of people are still missing, nnd it moans shifting a lot of debris, to get the bodies. A few have been found alive, hut there is no chance for any more now. "The paper gives it out that they estimate the killed to be about 2000, while the injured will be about 5000 or 6000. Tho homeless number 20,000, so you can see what a dreadful thing has happened. Relief, is being 1 J sent from all quarters; special trains 1 bringing doctors, nurses, medical supplies, clothing, and food. Things have ! got more settled now, and it makes ! ono notice the plight of the people i more. One man tu-day was searching f amongst the niins of his house, and had a few charm' hones on a tray. • j He turned round and remarked that J that was all that was left of his fam- ' j ily of seven."