DISASTROUS EXPLOSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1917, Page 4

DISASTROUS EXPLOSION.

MUNITION SHIP EXPLOSION. OWING TO COLLISION", GREAT FIRISS CAUSED. Ottawa, Dec. n, An American munition' ship collided with another vessel in the harbor at Halifax. The munition' ship exploded and the crews of both vessels were killed. The city waterfront was partly wrecked, and great fires are raging, which have caused scores of deaths ashore. Several transports were in Halifax harbor, but their fate is unknown owing to telegraph communication being interrupted. The latest reports state that the explosion caused the buildings on 1 the waterfront to collapse, and destroyed telegraph and telephone installation* within a radius of thirty mile?. The roof of the railway station collapsed. The death roll is stated to be flfty. The firei are still raging. No trace remains of the munition ship. The concussion threw railway cars off the tracks several miles away. HALIFAX IN FLAMES. A DEATH ROLL OP 300 Ottawa,' Dec. 8. Telegrams from Amherst, Nova Scotia, state that the whole northern section of Halifax is in flames, and fires are raging in a dojen quarters of the city. Rescue tiaina have be<y dispatched carrying nurses and doctors, The latest direct advices from Halifax place the death roll at 300. * HALF THE CITY DESTROYED, New York, Dec & It is reported that half Halifax htl been destroyed by the fire. v HALF HALIFAX DESTROYED. HUNDREDS PERISH. THOUSANDS WOUNDED. Received Dec. 7, 5.5 p.m. Ottawa,' Dec. A, Montreal telegrams Btate that the railway and telegraph companies report that half of Halifax is ruined, and that the bodies are lying in the street. There were no troops awaiting embarkation. The Richmond district of the city was destroyed. The wounded number thousands, and there is not a house in thecity that hat escaped damage. The fire is under control. The new Government railway freight .termintu was destroyed. FURTHER DETAILS. The latest account states that a French munition Bhip wag leaving her moorings when she collided. The force of the im- , pact staited a fire, which spread, and the ammunition exploded. Not a, trace oi the ship was left. The crew, seeing the fire approach the hold, took to the boats, and it is believed they escaped. The concussion threw down buildings ashore, and fires broke out. the, whole o( the north section of the city biiog afire, It is reported that several hundred perished.