THE HALIFAX HOLOCAUSTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1917, Page 4

THE HALIFAX HOLOCAUSTS.

HUGE DEATH ROLL. HARROWING DETAILS. Ottawa, Dee. 7. Further details of the Halifax disaster Bhow that a Belgian relief steamer collided with a French steamer, loaded with three thousand tons of munitions, petrol, and tri-nitro-toluol, owing to oonluied signals. Fire swept the ship, cauiingithe explosion. Scores of people, including children, were crushed to death by Ming buildings. 1 Flames swept the rotas, two square itniles of the city being devastated. The chief of police estimates that there are two thousand dead, but other estimates are smaller. Special Bed Cross trains left New York and other cities. The war has made Halifax one of the most important porta of America and jge. harbor hi always filled with shinping. SNOWSTORM FOLLOWS FIRE. According to Halifax reports the death roll continues to grow. Some —Kwaffo place the number at 6000, but this is believed to be an exaggeration. It is impossible to secure accurate detail. A snowstorm followed the fire, the homeless people suffering gTeatly. Bluejackets from an American warship patrolled .the city in conjunction with British forces. The people, when the first shook came, concluded that an aerial bombardment was in progress. A Canadian steamer was torn from its moorings and sent , adrift. ANOTHER VESSEL DESTROYED Halifax reports that all the children except two were killed in a Protestant Orphanage. In one house a baby was wen alive pinned beneath wreckage, but the rescuers were unable to reach the spot before the flames consumed the wreckage. A shell hurled from the steamer Mont Blanc struck the gas tanks aboard tie steamer Wasper. The gasoline exploded, destroying the Wasper and killing Severji of those aboard. Many cases of blinded,people were sent to tho hospital. The windows and doors fell out of buildings, while other structures collapsed internally, thns starting Arts. Some of the wounded dragged themselves into the open and Tttnafced in the snow throughout the night before they were discovered. Eye-witnesses describe the corpses in tho streets as bektg in a worse condition than those by German bomfo. Confirmatory details show that the death roll exceed* two EXTENT OF CASHJAI/TIES. The Government has decided to appoint a judicial tribunal to investigate the Halifax disaster. Boston city is furnishing a hospital train for the relief of the Halifaxsufferers. The first official estimate of the cftsnalties is that tih'ey number 6000, 9080 being dead a 53. 3000 injured, trajiously. Thirty girls emptoyeAfflTOßie printing "works are dead. A LIVING matJi , TOWNS IfiO MILES AWAY EOOk LIKE EARTHQUAKE/ t | 1600 BODIES RECOVERED HELP FOR THE SUFFERERS. Received Deo. 9, 5.6 pjn. Ottawa, Deo, 8. The latest estimate of the dead in Halifax is 2800. The Mont Blanc contained 2800 tons of the most powerful explosives. Debris of shells and Bhip-plates was found in a five-mile radius. Towns ISO miles distant rocked like they would have in an earthquake. Ships fifty mileß at sea were similarly affeoted. The New York Times* special correspondent at Halifax sayß it was like a living hell. Many of the injured could not be rescued, and perished in the blizzard. To-night the town is in darkness, except for lanterns. Relief trains are stuck in the snow. It is estimated 1600 bodies have been recovered. . Washington, Dec. 8. Congress is to bo asked to vpte five million dollars for tho relief of the suf* ferers. , Reuter Service. Ottawa, Dec. !>. Sir Robert Borden has placed the whole resources of the Federal Government at the disposal of the Halifax munloipal | authorities^ |- The property loss is estimated at six million sterling. Four thousand dwellings were demolished, and 20,000 are destitute DEATH ROLL OF 4000 200 BODIES RECOVERED ON WATERFRONT., Reuter Service. Received Dec. 10, .12.50 ajn. Ottawa, Dec. 9 The death roll at Halifax is now estimated at 4000. The bodies of 200 sailors and workmen have been recovered from the waterfront. I The blizzard weather continues.