A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION

Taihape Daily Times, 7 December 1917, Page 4

A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION

IN HALIFAX HARBOUR. A MUNITION SHIP COLLIDES AND EXPLODES. BOTH CREWS KILLED. WATERFRONT WRECKED. GEEAT FIRES RAGING IN CITY.. HEAVY DEATH ROLL. FEARED. Received 9.10. OTTAWA, December 6. An American munition ship collided with another vessel in the harbour at Halifax. The munition ship exploded and both crews were killed. The city waterfront was partly wrecked, and great fires are raging. The explosion caused scores of deaths ashore. There were several transports in the harbour at the time, and their fate isunknown, owing to telegraphic communication being interrupted. The latest reports state the explosion caused buildings on the waterfront to collapse, and destroyed the telegraphic and telephonic installations within a radius of thirty miles The roof of the railway station collapsed. The death roll is stated to be 50 The fires are still raging. No trace of the muntion ship remains. The concussion threw railway cars: off the railway tracks several rniles. away. LATEST PARTICULARS. NORTHERN SECTION OF HALIFAX IN FLAMES. DEATHS TOTAL THREE HUNDEED. EESCUE PAETIES BEING SENT Eeceived 10.5. OTTAWA, December 6. Telegrams from Amhirst in Nova Soctia state the whole northern section of Halifax is in flames. Fires are raging in dozen quarters of the city.

Eescue trains are being dispatched, carrying nurses and doctors.

The latest direct advices from Halifax placo the death roll at 300.