Dave - 10-21-2008 at 10:15 PM
I'm reading this book about the Halifax Explosion, that i had bought a few months ago, everyone who is from here would know about this, of course.
but for those of you who haven't heard of this historical event.
During the First World War, Halifax harbour was crowded with wartime shipping traffic. On December 6, 1917, a Norwegian ship, the Imo, collided with a
French munitions ship, the Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc caught fire and, about twenty minutes later, exploded. The explosion was the greatest known
man-made explosion until the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945.
The Imo, behind schedule, rushed out of the Bedford Basin, bound for Belgium, while the Mont Blanc entered the harbour. At the entrance to The Narrows
(the narrowest part of Halifax Harbour), after a series of ill-judged manoeuvres, the Imo struck the Mont Blanc. It was about 8:45 a.m. Fire
immediately broke out on the Mont Blanc, which was fully loaded with explosives. The ship drifted and came to rest against a pier located in the north
end of Halifax. Unaware of the danger, many people gathered to watch the burning ship.
Just before 9:05 a.m., the Mont Blanc exploded. Many churches, houses, schools, factories, docks and ships were destroyed in the initial blast.
Fragments rained on the surrounding area. As debris landed on hot cooking stoves and furnaces, fires broke out throughout the city. A large wave,
caused by the blast, ravaged the shoreline. By nightfall, a vicious snowstorm set in and continued into the next day. By the time the whole ordeal
came to an end, there were more than 1,900 people dead, 9,000 injured, hundreds blinded by flying glass and thousands homeless.
Survivors quickly formed rescue crews. Hospitals and shelters were soon overcrowded. Word went out to the surrounding areas. Help poured in from all
over Canada and many parts of the world, especially Massachusetts.
It's kinda crazy to think that something like this happened to my city.
upyerbum - 10-21-2008 at 10:51 PM
We got a lot of help from Boston. My great grandmother actually got knocked down by the blast, she was somewhere up around the other side of Fort
Needham.
clevohardcore - 10-21-2008 at 11:07 PM
I never heard of and thanks for posting it. I love history and this topic could by in line for more reading on my part. What is the name of this book?
Dave - 10-21-2008 at 11:47 PM
there are a many books published, on the subject, but the one i picked up is called.
explosion halifax harbour by:david b. flemming
mainly because, (dont get me wrong i like to read) but it seemed to have had the most photos. only because with them you get a better picture of what
went down.
but if you goto amazon and do a search for "halifax explosion" you'll get many books to choose from, depends on what you'd be looking to get from it.
side note, its because of the explosion and the help we received from boston.
Nova Scotia has donated a giant evergreen to the people of Boston each year since 1971. The Nova Scotia tree is Boston’s official Christmas tree and
the focal point of the yearly televised lighting on Boston Common.
Six66Mike - 10-22-2008 at 03:09 AM
I remember a CBC movie about this years ago, I managed to watch the first half but forgot to watch the 2nd part when that was on. It was cool. Those
Canada Post ads with the radio are gold too, poor Halifax went kaboom.
newbreedbrian - 10-22-2008 at 05:17 AM
my stepfathers dad lost his eye in the explosion from a piece of flying glass
clevohardcore - 10-22-2008 at 10:35 AM
Pictures are underrated.
Dave - 10-22-2008 at 11:51 AM
from the photos i posted you would have never known that these were taken, in North America during WWI.