HALIFAX DISASTER.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13789, 18 January 1918, Page 3

HALIFAX DISASTER.

THE TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.

DESCRIPTION BY WEI. LINGTON RESIDENT.

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: —

"You will be rather surprised to hear from me from this port of Halifax,, Nova Scotia. Only for a lucky alteration in our plans and a delay in berthing you would probably never have heard from me again. I have been through something on the Western front, and have seen destruction In life and property to a great extent, but the disaster here yesterday surpassed the lot. Happenings of the last two years I will never forget; certainly this calamity has been placed first in my memory. We left in the belief that it was to be the. same as usual, but had not been out many days when we were ordered here. Had a smooth run, although the weather was very dull and cold. On arriving here we anchored and started coaling, expecting to be 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, as it was during the morning of this day that the disaster occurred. We were sitting at breakfast in the ward room when a loud explosion was heard, and the ship shook and heeled over. 1 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 our chairs, the thick glass ports were smashed, and everything movable was upset. lat once thought that a hostile submarine had sneaked in the harbour and torpedoed us. There was a rush from below to the deck, and then we saw a wonderful but awful sight. A-huge, thick, white, rolling cloud of smoke was rising up and debris was falling into the w T ater wherever you looked. It was soon realised that an awful explosion had taken place, but of what there was no telling. When the cloud disappeared it was seen to have happened in the vicinity of the dockyard and just near where we were expected to be the previous day. All hands were mustered and the cutters 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 confusion 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 went with the intention of fighting the flames, but found our job to be rescue work.

“One part of the town was absolutely cut off by fires,, and fortunately we landed here and were able to use our 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 were lying about, and other poor beggars were pinned down amongst the ruins. How we did work, and what awful eases w r e had to deal with! All conveyances were put into service, and it was very soon seen, that the hospitals could not deal with the injured. Other buildings were utilised,, and even the ships in the were used. “At first w 7 e did not have time to think of the cause of the explosion or even what had gone uj), but we eventually learned of it. It appears that a French steamer, laden with 4000 tons of explosives and also a quantity of benzine on deck, was inward bound, and she got into collision with a Belgian relief ship flying the Norwegian hag. The benzine caught lire, and, of course, that was the end of it. The ship was blown to pieces, not a part of her remaining in the water. Some of her twisted plates are to be seen in the town, and her gun has been found three miles away. Shipping in the immediate vicinity suffered badly. A number of vessels have disappeared altogether, while other 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. It was a pitiful sight to see the craft being towed out into mid-barbour out of the danger zone. They had to do this as there was a chance of the shore magazine going up any minute. For the same reason all the remaining people were driven to the extreme opposite end of the tow T n. Luckily the magazine did not go off, and it was soon made safe.

“The huge fire raged all day and night, and to make mattery worse the weather, which had been fine, turned to a nasty blizzard. The following day it blow and snowed without ceasing, but still the rescue work went on. We had tucker and relief parties sent out from the ship, and wo 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 got the bodies. A few have boon found alive, but there is now chance for any more now.

"The paper gives it out that they estimate the killed to be about 2000, while the injured will be about 5000 or 0000. The homeless amount to 20,000 so you can see what a dreadful thing has happened. Belief is being sent from all quarters; special trains bringing 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 to-day among the ruins of his house, and had a few charred bones on a tray. He turned round and remarked that that was all that was left of his family of seven.”