THE HALIFAX DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1917, Page 3

THE HALIFAX DISASTER

MORE BODIES RECOVERED. OTTAWA December 9. Two hundred additional bodies have been recovered. The total is approximately a thousand. Rescue work is proceeding mill iiulored. The weather is clear. Martf.al law prevails. Assistance from outside has increased. ARRESTED. deceived this day at 12.30 a.ro.) HALIFAX. Dec. 10. The survivor s of the Norwegian ship Ims, which collided with the munition ship, have been arrested by the British naval authorities. All non-residents not engaged in relief work have been asked leave, owing to the serious lack of accommodatio LATE PRECAUTIONS. f A1IST1! AM AN & N.Z. CABLI3 ASSOCIATION ] (Received This Dav at 9.50. a.m.) HALIFAX, Dec. 10. The military authorities are arresting wholesale, German residents who ha\ e previously been monthly reporting to the police. ’ - FURTHER DETAlLS(Received, This Da.v at 8.50. a.mA OTTAWA, Dec. 10. The Mont Blanc explosion in Halifax harbour caused a fire which threatened tho military magazine. The people fled from the streets in the noigbliour-

hood, expecting instant destruction of the entire city. An officer of the 72nd Ottawa 'Battery called for volunteers to assist to flood the magazine. Despite intense heat- every man of the battery responded and worked in the icy water waist deep untill the danger was averted. The Immo’s crew assort that the disaster was due to the Mont Blanc mistaking tho signals. The Immo turned to starboard, thinking that she would be able to pass, but the distance was too short, and the Immo rammed the Mont Blanc on the starboard side. Tho damage being apparently slight, the Mont Blanc headed for. tht City Piers and

the Immo towards shallow water in order to see the extent of her damage*. Then chemical flames were seen on the Mont Blanc’s deck, and the explosion that followed hurled the Tmmo ashore* on the crest of a tidal wave. The Immo’s captain hAd his head blown off, the pilot’s body was thrown ashoTe, the helmsman was found dead at his post. Every man of the crew aliove deck was killed, those below alone escaped, and were found later, dazed amongst the brushwod ashore. lYheni the explosion occurred the second munition ship, Picton, was set afire, and if it exploded it would certainly have wrecked the whole waterfront. 'Lie crew, however, extinguished the fire before it reached the cargo. Latest estimates of the known dead number 1,200, whereof 900 are identified. 2000 are missing, B*ooo injured, and 52,000 are homeless. The damage to property amounts to £5,000,000.