HALIFAX DISASTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1918, Page 3

HALIFAX DISASTER.

THE TERRIFIC .EXPLOSION

GRAPH it DESOTU I’TION

The Mayor of Wellington (Mr J. P. Luke, C.M.G.) has received a letter from an engineer-lieutenant giving a graphic description of the recent terrible explosion and destruction to life and property in Halifax; Nova Scotia. He writes: i “You will he rather surprised to hoar j from me from this port of Halifax, j j; oVft Scotia. Only for a lucky altera--1 tion in our plans and a delay in berthi j jig you would probably never have ! heard from me again. I have been through something on the western front, and have seen destruotiin in life and property to a- great extent, but the disaster here yesterday surpassed the lot. Happenings of the last two years 1 will never forget ; certainly this calamity lias been placed first in my memory. We left in the belief that it VXIS to lie the same as usual, but had nohheen out many days when we wore ordered here. Had a smooth run, 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 get alongside as intended, and just as well for us. ah it was during the morning of tlii.q day that the disaster occurred. Wo were sitting at breakfast in the ward room, when a loud explosion was heard, and the qliip shook and heeled over. T had just time, to think that a ( ship had collided with us when another tremendous report, hundreds of times greater than the first, rent, the air. Most of us were thrown out of oftr chairs, the thick glass ports were smashed, and everything moveable was upset. lat once thought that. a hostile submarine had sneaked into the harbour and torpedoed us. There was a rush from below to the deck and then we saw a wonderful but. awful eight. A huge tf.i.ick, white rolling cloud of smoke was rising up and debris was falling into the water whoreevor you looked. Tt was soon-realised that an awful explosion had taken place, but of wliat there was no tolling. When fhe cloud disappeared it was seen to have happened in the vicinity

of the dockyard, and just near where wo expected to be the previous da.v. All hands were mustered and the cfittor s were soon away with every available man and officer We had already made a signal asking if help was required, but the flagship did not immediately answer, probably owing to contusion and casualties aboard her. Fires were seen to'be raging all over the town, and near the scene of the explosion everything was alight. We really \ven»t with the intention of (milting the flames but found our job to V rescue work.

“One part of the town was absolutely cut off by fires, and fortunately we landed here and were able to use ’ the boats to convey wounded to a "place where they could be taken away. The whole locality was .demolished, and the scene was appalling. Hundreds of killed " <Tc lying about, and other poor beggars were pinned do"'ti amongst the ruins. How we did work, and what awful cases wo.'had to deal with!' All conveyances were put into action, and it was very soon seen that the hospitals could not deal with tho injured. Other buildings were utilised, and even the ships in the harbor were useu.

“At first we 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 French stogmer, laden with 4,000 tons of explosive's and also a quantity of benzine on deck was inward bound, and she got into collision with a Belgian relief ship flying the Norwegian flag. The benzine caught fire. and. of course, that was the end of it- The ship was blown to pieces, not a part of her remaining, on the water. Some ol her twisted plates are to he seen in the town, and her guri has been found three miles away. Shipping in the immediate vicinity suffered 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 are numerous, all hands being killed in some cases. Tt was a pitiful sight t-o see the craft being towed out into mid-harbor out of the danger zone. They bad to do this, as there was a chance of the shore magazine going up at any moment. ‘For the snine reason all the remaining people wore driven to the extreme end ol the town. Tiiickiy *thc 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 nastjw blizzard. Tire following day it blew and snowed without ceasing, but still |,be rescue work went- on. Wo 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, and it- means shifting a lot of debris to get the bodies. A few have been found alive, but there i s no chance for any more now.

“The paper gives if out that they estimate the killed to he about 2,000, while the injured will he about 5,000 or 6,000. I’lie homeless amount to 20.000 so you can see what a dreadful thing has happened. Relief is being sent from all quarters. Special trains-bring-ing doctors, nurses, medical supplies clothing, and food. Things have got more settled now, and it makes one notice the plight of the people more. One man to-day was searching amongst the ruin s of his house ,and had a few charred bones in a tray. He turned round and remarked that that was all that was left of his family of seven.”