Many Buried In Debris

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1947, Page 5

Many Buried In Debris

Red Cross officials state that the known dead now total 714 and the injured over 3000. In addition to the 714 dead counted to date, 200 are believed to be buried in the debris along the waterfront. The police are patrolling the area and say that ho looting has been reported. Feeding the homeless is the major task of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Some of the heroes of the earlier blasts did not survive the later ones. Heroic Priest Father Roach, of St Mary’s, ignored workmen’s warnings and went to the dockside to minister to the dying and was killed by an explosion. Among many weird details is the story of a naval lieutenant who did rescue work yesterday and well into the night. He told his men he had better call his wife and tell her he was all right. As he turned to leave

the waterfront, the High Flyer blew up and a piece of flying steel sheared off his right leg. A Red Cross spokesman said the exact death toll may never be known, because many were blown to pieces and there were many migratory workers registered by name only, and it is doubtful whether their own relatives even knew they were in Texas City. “Not Out of Woods” The deputy Mayor of Texas City said: “We are not out of the woods yet.” He expressed the opinion that no more major blasts would occur and added that the main problem was fire fighting and policing, and the biggest worry was possible new oil fires. Asked why the High Flyer was not moved out to the open sea, he replied that the delay resulted from unfounded rumours that the ship was loaded with T.N.T. with the result that the tug crews refused to take their craft near the High Flyer.