Halifax Explosion

1. Halifax Explosion

2. Introduction • The Halifax explosion brought the horrors of World War One to the home front.

3. The 5 W’s- Who ? • The IMO was a Belgian steamer • It was loaded with supplies as it left Halifax Harbour • The MONT BLANC was a cargo ship full of explosives (TNT, Benzene, Picric acid)

4. Where ? • Halifax Harbour

5. When ? • The Collision between the Imo and Mont Blanc occurred at 8:43 am on the morning of December 6th, 1917 • The Mont Blanc blew up at 9:06am

6. What ? • Damage from the blast was spread over 5km • The explosion was heard 100km away That night temperatures dropped to -8 degrees as a blizzard set in.

7. It was the biggest man-made disaster of all time • 2000 people died • 20 000 were left homeless or injured

8. Why ? • Although the initial collision between the two vessels was not severe, • The Mont Blanc burned for twenty minutes, drifting. • The captain, pilot and crew, expecting the ship to blow up immediately, launched the lifeboats and took refuge on the Dartmouth shore. • The spectacle was thrilling, and drew crowds of spectators, unaware of the danger.

9. 25 Barbara Orr stood at the window of their house overlooking the harbour, with her brother Ian, the ship expert. They watched the collision. “It looked as if they were trying to run into each other. There was plenty of room.” Barbara said later. The sparks set the benzol alight, and, very quickly, the fire spread. (The M.B. crew took to their lifeboats and rowed to the Dartmouth shore.) The fire grew more and more spectacular, and the ship drifted closer and closer to the Halifax shore. The three oldest Orr children asked their mother if they could go down the hill to have a better look. Mrs. Orr saw no danger. The workers and people on the shore were not running away. Barbara, Ian and Isobel left the house, their mother and the three younger ones staying at home. Barbara left the others to go to invite a friend to join her. Photo: Janet Kitz Collection

10. Heritage Minute • http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10203

11. The Devastation • Families were separated • People placed ads looking for loved ones • Much of the city was destroyed • Relief poured in from as far away as Jamaica, New Zealand and Massachusetts.

12. Churches, houses, schools, factories, docks and ships were destroyed in the swath of the blast. Children who had stopped on their way to school, workmen lining the windows, families in their homes, sailors in their ships, died instantly. Injuries were frightful, blindness from the splintering glass adding to the shock and bewilderment.

13. Devastation cont’d… • 1630 homes were completely destroyed, many by fires that quickly spread following the explosion; 12,000 houses were damaged. • Hardly a pane of glass in Halifax and Dartmouth was left intact. The death toll rose to just over 1,900. About 250 bodies were never identified; many victims were never found. Twenty-five limbs had to be amputated; more than 250 eyes had to be removed; 37 people were left completely blind. • The Dominion Government appointed the Halifax Relief Commission on January 22, 1918. It handled pensions, claims for loss and damage, re-housing and the rehabilitation of explosion victims. It was disbanded only in June, 1976. Pensions are now paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

14. Rescue • Rescue began quickly, with the thousands of well-disciplined troops and naval strength available. City officials speedily arranged for volunteer help • Hospitals and places of shelter were soon overcrowded, some of the injured and homeless sent by rail to other cities. • News of the disaster reached Boston the same morning. That very night a train loaded with supplies, together with medical personnel and members of the Public Safety Committee, left for Halifax.

15. 59 • In order to prevent looting, no one could visit the devastated area without special permission Photo: Janet Kitz Collection courtesy of Nellie Adams