Haligonians Spend Weary, Short Of Staff After Blasts Out In Open c s told of Anxious Night urt vesterday Over n7-6 eper enta of cathee shop e, of Berke- e c nle · Qwnn e a n e n stores a d r staur nts lo t d in th A gray dawn broke today on e e e e e 0 ta\ a. holding a civilian s had main busin ss se tion of Barrington sights unparall led in Halif x si c 12.30 a.m. Hu dredse who s e e ac last e ova Scotian Hotel e c thoughte the eworst was ov r and had Str et were eith r closed or xp cl the 1917 explo ion as thousands of e s him. The victim of the n e e int{'ndeds to spend th night in theira es ing to clo e b for noon, cording Jl'en, wom n and hildr n who had s hom s e gath red coatse or blanketsca to a survey mad at 9.30 thi morns burne are charged, was slop s o open sp c . I s a Epe t thea eIon� es nightc ona th f ande treamede s to the I is still con Hill, the Comme ons, on lawns On th Commonse w re many rs, ing. Reasone given for the clo ings eaman, who Citadel mo tly of priv t r iden es nd in parkes U1 ir owne r sleepinge -or strying to were lack of st ff. Other re:ae ffered. sons w re, howeyer, straggled back toe th ir homes and sleep-insid . e e e broken win- work. though many still r - Gen erally sp aking, tho e driven dows, c. staffsc needmg ��t, san� b - their caus . the l � 15 d mftined In the op n space�. e e from their homes wer in good hu-n nother f lowc osmg.e ban was the difficulties of the ePra ti eally noe restaurantc m the I stille under officials c e meree d spitec the and vith o e main dow tov..s n dI�tri t of _eth cityc Glass Noi:!h End ofe thee city. how v r, night. Majoritye agreed c V-E Day re ope _n at t n o_clo k th1� ven a.m. a ound true k secroll d ch rful itizen whoe said: "Thee �v morn at ss es I'll mg and It wa th str ets urging people sooner the bigganr blasts ome, if I , d1fflcult to g t a up throughe e of coff e. ' who e hom are in thea tion they are coming, th sooner b ------IS Aval 1 b I e still-burning munitions able to go home d get some sleep." [ a n ar st the e e e • dump not to return.e Br a kfastc was - � • e s ce temporarily th s rved somen of th out e ·s L, ft o,·e.r gla�s supply from hom le s at th Navy Le gue entre y h T II 01 Enter,ng E Day riots will go to repla the on the Wa derers Grounds. I I e • in e v plate glass windows'broken e Littlee Sleep agaz,ne A I ter F frst Bl ast on glase e M e n t, e s ��� f ��.� �t Unshav n m n and dreary-e yed • 'l/:�: e cni l e 1 w;J.s, ord r d wom n, many ofe �hornes had gone A su!lmente esupply e e 1917, l d e e n a e May to tak are of the new through th blasts mnea �� A daring Halifax youth told todar paradea of t e r fuge . They mag e ande th e d alersa e will b bt} � l!,1���� how he enter d th av l ars nal o n as en the gh e e n e s ove rom ready toe replace the glass _ase � .o e P �p 0'"'! •��'ii�J1:� \�: �� area last night shortly after the first M d F v e e e • " I they ar �ur �h dame g lS fmished. a e bl ... front th xeplodie 0g major blast, while sh ll and rockets Ther 1s st!ll a shortags s of h l e es a mm n tion. Som c wer uippe throu�h the lr, and nee ded t ut in th windowss in thee ue i ee q .,. 1 w re screaminge a D anger One ts, but �ost ew r ? t, z hop lacking "'ith blank c caped unsc thed aalthough forced many h��ese and of the �ight I e a dealer are confid nt and b twe n the thhille P c I to leav his car behind. h but the e plos1 n e I m;l n 1 fax aiar and sthe r:ump of th e.cx e0 ;1 �e wasc Znen aGr ves, 18, of 286 e l not b l ng be ore Hali s ta le . As a result of xplosions t th presen t ta r nea ron t to combin d withe s e Qumpool Road,s employed on a c1v1l-s a n c to, es can hooting thousands of fe t in i r naval armam nt depot yesterday hcppers. :tl mese. an t u k ga g t the arsenal priore e es e I the air, ther wa . littlee sl ep fore to explo ions. Graves wa t all aval and mer hant ships con- 0 1 the e e an n e home whe the first explosione e l t go, w re d Ca•e To Go To Supreme Court-s :,w · l e ns taining xplosiv ace removede . ';,oc t d Hi l som ehadc dropp d but afte_r determining location of th {' rl . �o.le a nav�l . ratmg froi:n ter- s e frome th danger zone around B • off c;i�u! s•lumber wh n the c d tonatio1:1 drove eto the sc ? F rt 'I' 11\1::im, O�tano, ,,ho . 1 Y, the · forde Basin. to pl s of saf ly al ri;ed .,, , n'fi' blast..· al �3_50 ·ripp d a toss e Tra,'.cllmgc along thea �uft nCov 1th breaking ar.d enterme � · women and hil- th asouth part of the harbor, it was f T . C J - CIt S ream f r om . e e roada mto c the ars nals si�e, Graves e Je ·e.lery �lore o . ohn aS th t r- r vealed by aut}toritativee sourcu • n and Son 4.41 Barrington Str l't dren were heard plamly ' e ene ountereds a padre, priest a dea an tod y. f , plosion thu r d f om a c e n,i;! t �f June 5 w:is commit- rifying � nd i; ermy offi er who. wi hed to reach Corvettes,e destroy rse and other r tnnl before the next s, .sion the burnmgn shells. e a th bl� t area to aid those they f r- naval cr ft nowe s oc upy berths at w e At 1.30 a.m. �e sound t:ucke trea".eel-e I d.,senously hurt. , tne S11pre11e Courte h ne he ng . th mouthe of North W st Arm, and cared before Magistrale R. J. kd arou d Citada l n Hill e w rni We started to goe �ns. but �h behind Georg ' Island. They will dang r of mor s v r e s s F n in City Polic Court ) sler- I that th!! e . ande rockets weree poppmg andc it got remain th erec until the danger of d y . . blasts was not p cst a d ord rmg the pretty hot," Gra�· s aid. "The further xplo ion y from the e e e is over. _ _ throngs toa mov . awac ee thr e men decid d to turn ba k bute c Most m r hant shipping agents the harbor. In I I I e THE HALIFAX MAIL 13 eastern slopes fa mg Is kept one going. e r port d, howev r, they dids not ___ ..______the rowd h ed I orderlye s ef shion.c hill ? ''When got near the fireI zon onsider it n cessary to move s hips 1he warning and within a short time aw a fir truck whos se drive cr didn'tc which contamed no explosive . t rn se t.ion of the was e be h ea t l knows how to get out, so showed The fire boat Jamaes Battle 1 re- I virtually bare of peop e. him the way.s I gue all th onnee - port d to e standing by at he t v. F a.mellles c Separated c tion were brokee nI and. the firemene Halifax Shipyards long with the e e e s e there helples at the time. Wh n a smaller Rouille . c e tl11 During th onfusions many e hile- big blast cam educked be side Cunard aWhite Siar said athe troop-ea of blast after blast swept over dr n b cam c eparateds from th ir n e road. ce s e ship Ile d Fran h l ft port ight from parents. Early today, hortly eb for "Going outa we m t ec a numb r no.f morning t 8.10. She w s cl red the exploding Bed t e four o' lock bla t, the sound e resident eh e e s aval offi r who det:1ded to cl ar yesterday. I over 30 years of age, truck was pressede intoe servic me 11ne the entire reac and sdir t operatio s h d h ard or read of the 1917 disaster ffort to r unite parent and chi!- froma Bedford, so I had eto go out al- The similarity of this latest local dren, advisinge th on of the wh r - though my ar wa still inside. It aboutse ofe th other.e c e was lright the last tim I saw It. eatest explosion of man-made The xoduss from streets to the h world caused n�ar-panic in op n ar as of th ity increas d after two explosion had resounded from Battle Fires As Explosion the munitions between midnight and I , Charles Payne ,Danger Is At Its Height e e eUnlike 1917 Dlauler a e Dies Suddenly While the xplosion dang r was� Unlik the 1917 diaaster e a a e c e there were e e e t its height arly today, two fires . _ no fires in Halifax or Dartmouth to s s brokc ce out t F irvi ew, whi h add d amper the work of evacuation and Promin nt sportsman and r tir d more loss to the communityc andc en on no wrecked homes in which victims busines man, Charle F. Payne, 108 on e rnc to its aresid nts, coming e e the heels of the terrifi blasts whi h a mu,t be sought, but shopkeepers Quinpool Road, died sudd ly laSt n a e and e causad e ompare e tivelya heavy damagee .ou ehold rs ruefully checked ex evening in the midst eof th blasts. o the r a. tens1· e damage to doors, windows e e e Although in failing h alth for lh Fl m s l v alled smallaca edw lling a d small furnishings. e north of the railway station. The report published last ight y ars Mr. Payne seemed c a e rt: e in Th Halla e The home h da beene v t de bya its ,,,u.uouu,1uuu, fax Herald, Decembere 7, 1917 says in quite well until last vening. o cup nts who sought refug from "Fir s broke out and bec a n a a n e e e e mea A nativ of Bathurst, N. B., Mr. the explosion d ng r ine a saf re crea. ncontrollabl stoppinga the work of c e Loss was ot b li v d to b high. rt-scuc. Not a house in Halif P y e first came to H lif x 32 years e a e x · e e Cit c firemenc respond d to th all, c ped some damage nd the region ago m conn _e tion with th building )'. a e . e e s havmge be n onas gu rd for any em r- unded on thee easta by the harbor, of th Halifax t rmmal. n gen y alls in the area surrounding uth by North Streetn eand we t by c I n s I He w s one of th oldest m mb r the B dford Be in. e Vindsora Stre t is bsolutely dev. an a Ya ht Squadro �hilec the anhousen fire was ata its a tated .. .• The wouc d d a d home of the Nova Scotia mc e . . heinght, aa blaz brokea out cat th C. I re in different institutionse and _d member of, the bailinge Co - f � N. R. aoal plc t, earer the st ation.e homes overs the ity.ec . .. Hundrea s m1tte e. A membere of the eMas� d e Coe sider ble dame ge wasa ausede to the bodiesa which w re taken from Order, he belonge� toe th Philae a thee co al esto k before the fl m s the ruin are unre ogniz ble and T mpl and _th Keith g Mone a m :1-,od : - w re aextinguish d, ite w s r ported. morgues h ve beena opened in dif ton, !}d w ll be burie d withe full i Th bl z was reportede e to have a rent parts eof th city.•• . Milit ry Maso � _honors. e e e . . origine ted in a cabin t in which oil ' and naval patrols re keeping order Surv1vmg Mr. Payne b1;side ns h s e ! cans were stored. Whil th cause eof nd supeerintandingc the rescuea work." wif , are two sons, Fre d 9ck, Hall- Later reports told e th ehouse fire has not been estab a how telephone ifax and Jamc s, Supe i:mt nde t of lished, it is not believed to have r a d t legre ph omp nies were the Enam l and_ H atmg Pre<;luctse ·amped with c lls, how suit d from the explosions across n 40 hours Company,e Sa kv1ll ,e also one sister, the Basin. the xplosione a relief train E.dna Payne. Monctone and onn rrived from :a<>sto and how emer broth r,c G. D. Payn of the C. N. R. cy tents w re put up on the Com Funeral. arrang ments ha ·e ot Explosion Causes ns to shelter the unharmed home- been omplete�e s ande willa be an- nounced'n a later. Heart Attack e lut night,a the first sharp The r main are r sting t Snow's t over, citizense a e werec able to Fu er l Parlour. r he more e c a e sily, thankful they Following the last two big blasts teen spar d r curren e of that Panic e Jenee Averted from th magazine today, medi al nd misery. e aid was senta 'to the e Dinglea ar c a, By Soldiers wher a m n suffer d heart at ta k. n s e e e s An ambula ce and two nursing Action. of a group of soldiers in e c e s e isters w re dispatched t a to th a area. a av rting a pos ible panic on a e 6.35 e The mane was give an medi al atten L night's t rrifics explosione Halifax-Dartmouth f rry when the tion ande is making satisf ctory threntened cthe eCity nd areac first explosion cam at p.m. y s recov cry fromes th ttack.e He was th •sde pread de truction fail d e e s e e terday was being praised today by nota taka an to hospital. No other em the city rim wave whi h such asualti e kept polic on the hop for th m n and 'ivomcn who w re pa sen wer reported in c e s th t re . few \leeks. c e gers on the vessel. rJo y today police took into cus e a e a Cons ussiona of th ripping bla t �h Robie haud, 25-y ar-old I lurched the f rry edangerously, it Uu: me n, and lcct r reported wa said, nd thee e majority of the e of robb ry awas preferrede p11Ssengers feared th ship itself had th man. A ordingc to re exploded. Witn ss s said some pas Robichaud w s tak n into sengers were scrambling s towards y following poli e investiga- the rails with the intention of jump o a robbery cate M. V'. Kom ing into the harbor water \\ h, n the cond handc store on Gran soldiers stepped in. eet.C1ty He is s h duled to ap Ordering the fear-stricken pr en Poli e Court later in gers to stay \,·her{' t'1ey , .re. the j Ar!T'y men explaiRnd �t' t, at 1he bl t \'II< o on the (Prrv but 11• ft," JTI 1 1n s rtp 'tht're Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazineca I' forExplosion 1 m!'d1a from e alarm the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives I'!\ :id Since 9 p.m., shortly ailer the ex- During hearing of the appeal sub plosions at the magazine, the hos- Eve-w1·tness mitted on behalf of H. A. Robinson, pital ship Letitia has been standing .; Mr. Justice Carroll termed "auda 7 cious" statements by Robinson in his by to receive casualties. Col. Parnell A .Appeals instructed the ·men on the wards and A affidavit that the Dartmouth magis in the operating rooms to be ready ccount f thet trate who tried him was prejudiced for any emergency. So far there has 0 thin Dismissed because he, Robinson, was a member of the R.C.N. Mr. Justice Carroll t!~~ no call for the hospital facili- H Bl added the magistrate in question had "twice of'[ered his life to his By Court country." Wild Confudon I eavy ast Nova Scotia Supreme Court, con M. Ryan, pleading for Robinson, In. µte wild confusion members of Patients in 1he Royal Canadian argued his client had a defence in fam11tes got lost, some went to one Naval Hospital, Rockhead, had a cluding a special sitting, yesterday law in that he stepped into a store part of an ouf:sid_c area and some t_o perfect view of the explosion :from dismissed seven appeais 111;.ainst sen- ! after a window had been broken. another and 1~ 1s expe~ted ~hat it the time it started· until they were tenc.e s and convictions !1-nd rec~ived "That is break and enter," said will not be until lat~ ,tomg~t, if even evacuated :from the area. notice of abandonment m an eighth the Bench. then, that all famihes ~ill be. re- According to eye-witnesses Lead plea, to complete a 15-case docket Appealing conviction and sentence united and then this will entirely ing Seamen W D Glover Leth- in the case of R. A. Hicks, Counsel depend upon whether the danij!!r of b 'd d R ·R · M tr' 1 in which no appeals were granted. further explosions has passed. Never : 1 ge, an · agers, on ea , a Ten of the appeals stemmed :from G. P. Flavin said "thi m~n in effect before had Dartmouth people or fire sta:ted on the shore at the Halifax V-E Day riots. did not plead guilty.'' He added: those in adjoining districts been South side o! the ai:mam~nt depot In addition to upholding all sen L"I. think I should preface my re• urged to evacuate. It was a new at about 6:25 p.m. Five mmutes_ la Al tences and convictions, some mem e:,perience for them and followed ter th~re w~s a huge explos1on, "\ l , bers of the five-man court were of marks by saying this is not V-E under terrifying circumstances as they said, which knocked most o! a trol' I the opinion terms given two men I Day." explosion after explosion rocked group of twenty to the ground. Win "' , convicted at Kentville of having Appeal was dismissed after Sir the whole countryside. dew~ were blown out throughout the 1 at t 1 carnal knowledge should have been Joseph read a report of the trial More than 2,000 were transported hospital and doors were torn from increa~ed. Commenting on the two magistrate in which the magistrate to A-23 where the entire facilities, their hinges. Several received bad I A ' appeals, made separately. Sir Joseph said he had explained the law to including the hospital and the nurs- cuts from flying glass. M:, I: Chisholm, Nova Scotia's Chief Jus- the accused. Hicks had been charged ing st.aft' was placed at· their dis- LAC J. F. Stewart, R.C.A.F., of I mm l tice, who headed the court, said: with stealing and throwing over posal through the kindness of Toronto, a patient in the hospital at 1 "In my own personal opinion the board life saving equipment from Colonel Meighan. was asleep in bed at the time of th~ bel 1 sentences should have been more a Dartmouth ferry. Within an hour after the first ter- first large explosion. He :veceived ply I severe." He said there was dissen- In the appeal of Neil Dunn, con- rifle blast the Navy placed ~11 bad cuts on his forehead and across du-61 I · "th · ti d' g victed of forgery, Crown Prosecutor It • I , s10n amon., e JUS ces regar m an R. M. F1'elding, K.C., obJ'ected that North Dartm(!uth from Commercial his left eye, He said his door was ur, 4 increase and the original terms of Street at the mtersection of Ochter- blown shut and it locked and had T , four years for one man and three for the notice of appeal was not flied loney Street to Bedford, ou~ of to be knocked in by orderlies be• "e . 1' the second were to stand, within the prescribed 15 days. F. W. bounds and the order was strictly fore he could be removed :from the ~• 1 Bissett appealed Dunn's two-year enforced. I room ~he l I Halifax Riot Cases sentence for forgery of a $5 postal To add to the horror and distress · O\\ : I note after Dunn had pleaded guilty. add • Sittings of the court, which began Fact the amount involved was the j at 10 a.m. Tuesday and continued only $5 did not diminish the sever- the1 until four p.m. before adjournment Iity of the offence, said Mr. Justice ag for the day, ended at one p.m. yes- Hall, Mr. Justice Carroll agreeing. Traffic ls Disrupted terday. Sir Joseph presided over the The appeal then was dismissed with Bench comprising Mr. Justice W. F. no dissenters. Carroll, Mr. Justice W. L. Hall, Mr. Two Royal Canadian Mounted Po Justice M. B. Archibald and Mr. lice constables-E. E. Ward and J. A. By !Jeavy Explosion~ Justice J. S. Smiley. Andrews, of the Kentville detach- Three o:f the sevan cases dealt ment-were called for cross-exam Traffic and communications were y.ith :yesterday arose from the Hal- ination in the appeals of Sawlor and disrupted by the Dartmouth maga ifax nots. A fourth appeal slated to Steadman after affidavits from the zine explosions. Telephones Out be heard was dispensed with ,when two had ~aid they were induced by After arrival •o.f the Maritime Ex W. C. Dunlop, K.C., flied notice of the constables to plead guilty to tile press at 7:30 p.m. aU incoming trains abando~ment on b_ehalf of J. E. charge without comprehending Us were held at Windsor Junction and Stronsk1, naval ratmg of Lorebur!), Imeaning. - there was no information when they 0£ Halifax Hum Sasl_t., s~ntenced to ty;~ years m V. N. Thorpe, counsel for Sawler, would be permitted to proceed to With 24 operators working all last pen1tenb1;1ry :for comm1ttmg damage, 31, told the court Sawler was an ward the City. Outgoing trains like night, the Halifax Long distance tele Immediate~y after cour~ opened epileptic who had twice been dis wise were cancelled and the D.A.R., phone switch boards were, accord yesterday Sir Joseph pomted out charged from the army on medical scheduled to leave :for the Valley at mg to the operators, busier than that the sentence o~ 6ve years given grounds. He argued :further that 8:30 p.m., \\ as still in the depot this they were on VE-day, There was a Petty Officer Keith Johnson of Sawler's limited education prevented morning. delay of one halt hour to an hour Saskatoon, Sask., a. se~tence which him :from knowing the meaning of Traffic on the Bedford Road was on all long distance calls. was upheld b_Y ~he Justices ~esday, the words in the charge to which banned to all except official vehicles Most o! the calls, said the opera was <_m conv1ct1on of breaking and he pleaded guilty and requested a and the usually well-travelled high tors, were made by Halifax residents entermg and theft, ~.atJ:ier ~ha~ new trial before a jury. way was dark excepting for the occa who y;ished to report to relatives theft alone. He termed m1sleadmg Mr. Justice Hall suggested the sional stabbing of the blackne s by and_ friends that they were safe fol reports the sentence was for theft constables who arrested Sawler and the headlights of speeding ambu lowmg the large explosion at the I onl:y. ISteadman should be cross-examined. lances conveyed by mototcycle es Bedford magazine. They reported Sir Jo~eph th_e~ said the appeal Brought to the stand by D. A. Mac. corts. Th,e still of the night along that the explosion could be heard I of ~crard "!,-,- La301e of Montreal, on Donald, Deputy Attorney-General, the picturesque highway was punc as far as 20 miles outside the city, _h1ch dec1s1on was . re~erved over- 1of Kentville, the prosecutor, the con- tured only by the intermittent dull mght, ha~ been dismissed. The stables denied that either of the ac- roars of the continuing explosions 11n.ival ratmg wa~ ~entenced to two cused had been induced to plead and the wall of sirens. !I Years for committing_ dam~ge dur- guilty or that representations had Offices Swamped 1ng the disturbances m Hahfax. been made that a guilty plea would Cars Called Oft' Appeals Dlsmu ed · Ibring a shorter sentence. North End tram service was dis- continued. early in the evening, -al With Messages Di missals were given in the I I though Belt Line and Armdale cars Telegraph companies rep o r te d appea Is of Matthew LeBlanc of D h wete. kept in operation until the : IFlorence, C.B., . a. rating serving two ar mOu usual hour. · that they were receiving as J years for retammg stolen goods· Taxi pool switchboard r eported a m a n Y c a 11 s :for sending mes C. M r: Dou!(las MacDonald of Halifax, who deluge of calls from persons desiring ~ges as they were on V-E-Day, t;on received two years on conviction of •, to leave the City. They reported day. theft, and H. A. Robinson, who H• rd HI that the 20 cars operating had suc- :Most of the telegrams could not be "N drew two years for breaking and ceeded in handling every emergency handled, however, because staffs -~ entering a Dartmouth store. • call originating north of · North In non-V-E Day cases the Bench St t th d d J d b were evacuated early in the evening -Ii mis ed the appeals of Neil Dunn ree ' e area ar ere c eare Y for safety rea ons. · It was reported se-_rving two years for forgery,· R. A'. B BI I authorities. The pool reported more that calls v.:ere coming in at the rate y s s than 200 calls had been serviced. the IHicks of Dartmouth, serving six 'fill d t ·t tr t· of one a mmute and sometimes fast- month3 for theft,· I. E. Sawler and I cars, e o capac1 y, anspor mg er. • more than a thousand persons to A rthur Steadman, given four and destinations along the St. Margaret"s three years respectively for having DARTMOUTH J l 19 Bay Road. tarnal knowledge of a 14-year-old 1 1 U Y - . While telegrap:ti and telephone Sought Shelter girl. The original case was tried at Dartmouth suffeFed immense companies reported no line disturb- Kentville. I d h Pleading for LeBlanc, Nathan property damag~ an un- ances, they w:re unable to handle Where They Conl BUILDINGS WRECKED BY BLAST-Still standing but badly damaged in the Bedford Magazine explosions last night were these buildings on the eastern shore of Hali fax Harbor and the Basin. At the left is shown all that ' remains of a garage located nea:r the Magazine. Centre is a residence also located close to the Magazine. Its occupants, who went outside when the first minor ex plosions occurred, escaped injuries. At the right, its windows and doors blown in by the blast, is the Maga zine staff house. Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives AL PICTURE as evacuated families sought open places for shelter. Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives .. s of Au .~ t'n Brothers, Hollis Street, (shown abo\'e Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives Archives Municipal Halifax by provided scrapbook Dept. Fire Halifax 1944-45 the from Explosion Magazine Bedford the about newsclippings of copy Digital by. by. stood stood more more hundreds hundreds re re e wh ford, ford, hf' hf' at at to to arrivf' arrivf' the the Bed at at ng ng ~embled ~embled a a first first were were They They occur. occur. n n 1ston 1ston W. W. . . Joh Joh D Captain Captain would would ions ions explo explo greater greater and and more more that that held held was was fear fear when when area, area, the the # # from from cleared cleared later later were were scene scene the the I I area. area. e e to to rushed rushed n n e m of of group group first first The The to to speeding speeding were were v v tendants tendants a a . . e scen surgeons surgeons k k c si and and raft raft carrying carrying the the to to proceed proceed to to rs rs e ord g g pendin naval naval of of he he stream stream a a and and ha.bar ha.bar by, by, tood tood s who who personnel, personnel, g g fightin fire and and into into ers ers ·t si si out out nursing nursing blown blown been been officers, officers, had had ere ere medical medical with with loaded loaded hway, hway, g hi the the jetties jetties wooden wooden The The magazine. magazine. along along up up lined lined were were navy navy the the from from the the of of east east south south the the at at area area trucks trucks fire fire and and tary. Ambulances Ambulances tary. I I the the rocking rocking were were explosions explosions 1ent 1ent mili the the by by held held was was through through line line intermit- anC: anC: burning burning ere ere fires fires only only The The use. use. civilian civilian for for suspended suspended that that observed observed was was it it Head Head Tcrtle Tcrtle were were Bedford Bedford and and city city the the tween tween Rounding Rounding broken. broken. and and mashc:d mashc:d be. be. connections connections es es telephone telephone The The launc launc and and barge barge the the on on crews crews al al were were narrows narrows the the near near windows windows Army. Army. the the by by over over taken taken was was tre, tre, - n n the the shook shook blasts blasts The The o:ftlhore. o:ftlhore. • • I I a e e a o:f o:f quarter quarter a a than than more more sea sea many many that that it it erved erved ob ob was was area area cen- dine-dance dine-dance popular popular Sunnyside Sunnyside intoitlle intoitlle crashing crashing debris, debris, and and shells shells magazine magazine Bedford Bedford Approaching Approaching area. area. that that in in ed ed ss witne ever ever ity ity :fallIIJi :fallIIJi of of shower shower a a by by back back :forccd :forccd him. him. panied panied I I activ military military ereatest ereatest the the of of scene scene '{fas '{fas made, made, been been had had landing landing first first the the I I accom• accom• explosion. explosion. the the of of scene scene the the became became 1mmed1ately 1mmed1ately Bedford Bedford whel'tl whel'tl magazine magazine Bedford Bedford reach reach to to to to the the him him take take to to Dockyard Dockyard · · _ _ a ary ary mi mi ~ ~ e e attempting attempting barge barge Adioiral's Adioiral's The The Y Y uthorities uthorities Tt Tt th th b b population population the the from from speedboat speedboat a a ordered ordered and and forced forced be be to to had had and and homes homes their their civilian civilian the the aid aid to to utilized utilized were were immediately immediately left left time time the the at at hotel hotel ave ave e l to to refused refused people people Some Some cr.~St cr.~St . . harbor harbor and and vehicles vehicles motor motor the the in in dining dining was was who who R.C.N.R., R.C.N.R., areas. areas. naval naval All All Island. Island. George's George's St. St. of of lee lee S. S. 0. 0. Robertson, Robertson, C. C. Capt. Capt. tl}e tl}e in in harbor harbor down down proceed proceed nd nd a · · Hotel Hotel Scotian Scotian Nova Nova Dartmouth Dartmouth th th o u u o and and Bedford Bedford s s steam steam raise raise to to vicinity vicinity the the in in ships ships the the of of structure structure solid solid the the even even the the to to taken taken e e wer them them of of Most Most all all and and Dartmouth Dartmouth and and Halifax Halifax of of shook shook which which Basin Basin Bedford Bedford of of area area endangered endangered tne tne from from evacuated evacuated · · trucks. trucks. in in area area the the from from d d e rush direction direction the the from from explosion explosion dous dous personnel personnel civilian civilian all all ordered ordered tic, tic, . . were were families families Whole Whole R.C.M.P. R.C.M.P. Atlan! Atlan! West West North North Canadian Canadian chief, chief, tremen a a of of blast blast the the by by rncked rncked 1 1 the the of of embers embers m with with ether ether g to job, job, I I commander-ln- Jones, Jones, C. C. G. G. miral miral was was Halifax Halifax of of city city the the P.M. P.M. 6.35 6.35 Vice-Ad :for :for acting acting Miles, Miles, . . Capt in& in& the the ed ed rn assi were were personnel personnel vice vice 18-(CP)-At 18-(CP)-At July July HALIFAX, HALIFAX, spread obviously obviously fire fire the the As As Willi Willi ser of of Hundreds Hundreds up. up. blow blow dumps dumps azine. azine. R.C.N.V.R. R.C.N.V.R. ammunition ammunition larger larger the the should should aster aster mag- exploding exploding the the from from debris debris and and Wmi4m Wmi4m Sclatn, Sclatn, By By Lt.-Cmdr. Lt.-Cmdr. - i3 d greater greater avert avert to to action action k k too a a shells shells with with showered showered was was sea sea the the P'Tess P'Tess Written Written Canadian Canadian The The For For as as back back them them drove drove intensity intensity ing ing police police and and military military as as evacuated, evacuated, develop of of explosions explosions but but land land the the be be to to ordered ordered was was area area magazine magazine blasts." blasts." close close to to attempted attempted fireboats fireboats Both Both the the around around miles miles 'tor 'tor house house Every Every following following in in up up went went also also d d ck ck seaward. seaward. from from :fires :fires the the control control to to attempt attempt to to "Rouille" "Rouille" tug tug fighting fighting the the on on was was Whatever Whatever explode. explode. o o a e e a Cu Cu va va fire fire second second the the ordered ordered now now son son seemed seemed them them of of one one watched watched he he d d t t E E Robert- Capt. Capt. and and blast' blast' first first the the te1 te1 \ \ as as and and jetty jetty the the to to up up tied tied eer eer af- immediately immediately arj!a arj!a the the to to ordered ordered boats boats two two me me told told Sawlor Sawlor "Mr. "Mr. was was "Battle" "Battle" tug tug firefighter firefighter The The Iles Iles For For I I Head. Head. Turtle Turtle at at 1917. 1917. of of explosion explosion . . M M had had great great the the of of memories memories vivid vivid station station signal signal naval naval the the was was point point I I I I people people communication communication these these nearest nearest of of the the many many area area the the doubt doubt No No ouse ouse very very in in commission commission of of out out put put been been had had out out get get to to was was idea idea main main The The on. on. ______H H ______-E -E •, lines lines going going telephone telephone was was all all As As what what idea idea helmets. helmets. any any had had steel steel one one with with eqwpped eqwpped be be to to fire-fighters fire-fighters all all No No was was confusion. confusion. great great "There "There away. away. miles miles five five than than more more buildings buildings ~or ~or ers ers o _ immediate immediate ued ued s is ertson ertson rd I I shaking shaking are are explosions explosions Increasing Increasing of of Rob- Capt. Capt. scene, scene, t~e t~e Surveying Surveying - Confusion Confusion Great Great blasts blasts the the and and skies skies the the up up lighting lighting ' . . magazines er. er. are are flames flames Great Great continuing. continuing. are are main main e e to to spreading spreading It It prevent prevent th t ~ fa sometimes sometimes and and minute minute a a one one l l o explosions explosions the the midnight, midnight, past past hour hour and and area area magdine magdine the the of of end end sound sound te te a r l" l" th at at in in coming coming were were calls calls that that half. half. a a at at written written being being is is this this As As the the to to fire fire the the confine confine to to endeavoring endeavoring cd cd ort i,p r was was reasons. reasons. safety safety :for :for It It population. population. civilian civilian the the of of safety safety scene, scene, the the on on already already were were parties parties seemed seemed to to them them of of none none but but haJarln haJarln Ith Ith ;: ;: nin c v e e e th in in early early evacuated evacuated were were the the secure secure to to action action mpt mpt o pr took took , , fighting fighting fire fire naval naval and and trucks trucks fire fire saw saw ean ean ate ate setting setting l l extinguishers. extinguishers. ad ad · · aH aH st because because however, however, handled, handled, authorities authorities naval naval n, n, o directi Miles' Miles' Three Three shells. shells. exploded exploded with with littered littered men men e e no no navy navy could could were were telegrams telegrams the the magaaine magaaine of of the the t t o to to Mo lrance lrance Capt. Capt. Under Under .. .. fires fires ion-spreading ion-spreading ds pl were were areas areas adjacent adjacent and and road road The The t t b b ex- the the fight fight to to s s e azin g ma great great the the blast. blast. the the by by path path taken taken the the . . a, V-E-D on on were were they they as as sages sages over over directly directly working working area, area, dariger dariger in in scattered scattered lay lay boxes boxes ammunition ammunition 1 1 were were heads heads their their yard-only yard-only tbe tbe la la - .s m, sending sending for for s s a a c many many 11 11 the the into into forward forward pressed pressed who who cfews, cfews, and and debris debris tumbled tumbled and and buildings, buildings, and and women women saw saw l l wa.~ wa.~ off. off. torn torn erandah erandah fire-fighting fire-fighting naval naval the the and and Robertson Robertson . brick brick the the in in torn torn been been had had holes holes front front wu wu whole whole The The 1hambles. 1hambles. a a home home Capt. Capt. of of coolness coolness and and courage courage Great Great the the explosion. explosion. first first the the of of blast blast g g receivin were were they they a t t a th th a a u:plo of of the the the the Jrom Jrom scene scene a a of of r r mile mile r r with with impressed impressed especially especially was was the the by by P P t gutted gutted been been had had r r o o r e p p e r buildings buildings ·J ·J companies companies Telegraph Telegraph was was at at l l stopped stopped place place flrat flrat "The "The amln. amln. battle. battle. in in seen seen all all th11t th11t ~a.,..it ~a.,..it r:ved r:ved ~ was was p fire fire Messages Messages With With at at when when m.acazine m.acazine the the and and Jetty Jetty lbe lbe on on c c ever ever have have anything anything I I than than worse worse was was explosions explosions the the of of ity ity s intep fue fue --towards --towards ro,d ro,d the the up up proceeded proceeded Swamped Swamped Offices Offices the the say say can can and and year, year, last last Biscay Biscay of of we we As As debris. debris. with with littered littered pier pier me me rocked rocked that that h h explosions explosions :following :following Bay Bay the the and and nnel nnel a Ch English English the the in in the the :found :found I I and and Robertson Robertson Capt. Capt. actions actions destroyer destroyer fierce fierce many· many· and and first first 20 20 the the 15 15 after after minutes minutes os1on. os1on. rope rope er er ty ty P P 1 1 Brest Brest of of burning burning the the witnessed witnessed I I . . · · f f the the arr arr o o explosion. explosion. the the of of scene scene at at Darrleu. Darrleu. f f said said plode," plode," authorities. authorities. ex- first first the the of of minutes minutes few few a a in in among among was was h h who who photographer, photographer, ou ou it it x• x• e didn't didn't "Luckily "Luckily them. them. behind behind naval naval to to fire fire the the of of spread spread the the ing ing with- action action into into swung swung who who R.C.N., R.C.N., A. A. Allen Allen by by described described were were truction truction d d immediately immediately landed landed shell shell biJ biJ a a when when report and and offshore offshore cruising cruising stayed stayed Miles, Miles, S. S. C. C. Capt. Capt. by by out out dered dered l! l! a e d escaped escaped barely barely Hamilton, Hamilton, telephone telephone radio radio with with boat boat patrol patrol or- supplies supplies and and officers officers medical medical a a , , . Collin Frank Frank Toronto; Toronto; Darrieu, Darrieu, while while clear, clear, ordered ordered were were craft craft All All ed ed la already already had had barge, barge, miral's miral's ~ ~ Ro Stbkers Stbkers Ontario Ontario blast. blast. the the of of nd e e ar the the in in experienced experienced calls calls close close c , e e , c Moby Moby # # .S. .S. # # H.M. H.M. :11' :11' saw saw Ad th th k k Di Di C C ,;i, ,;i, feet. feet. their their - the the of of told told group group first first the the in in scene scene off off men men the the blowing blowing j j vicinity, vicinity, the the in in we we Magazine Magazine Bedford Bedford At At scene. scene. be be l to to sent sent were were who who Navyrnen Navyrnen the the from from - rising flame flame and and smoke smoke the the shows shows and and Harbor Harbor the the of of side side Halifax Halifax the the on on elevation elevation an an from from taken taken was was picture picture The The . . four four before before minutes minutes few few a a explosion explosion great great the the as as just just area area Halifax-Dartmouth Halifax-Dartmouth the the of of scene scene night night a a shows shows picture picture striking striking above above The The •BbSTON PbST, THURSDAY, JULY 19, 194.i Four Huge Explosions at Munition Depot ~ Rock Wide Area--12 Hurt--Fire Abates Near 50,000 Depth Charges m i at . bel pl I du ' tuz ~ I I e . ht do , ad• I t he thl (AP Wlrephoto) FLAMES REACHING HUNDREDS OF FEET INTO THE AIR from the explosion-wrecked Royal Canadian naval am• munition dump reflect across waters of nearby Bedford Buin. - , _ (AP Wtl'IIJ hoto • CIVIUANS LEAVE EXPL~JON AREA;;--On foot· and by automobile res.idenb leave area of Halifax nearest Bedford Buin laat night as flames threatened to spread to the inli6i ~val magazine acrosa the narrows. HALIFAX, N. S., July 19 (AP)-Canadian Navy munitions at nearby Dartmouth munitions depot, set off by a jetty fire, rocked the Halifax area. overnight with four huge explosions and a aeries of lesser discharges which ended only after dawn today. The civilian population of Dartmouth, 17,000 per~ons, and others living in the north end of Halifax were evacuated. ,. Damaging and crippling blasts There were 13 "known <'asw:J persisted for more than 13 hours ties, 12 persons were h.Jured and at the depot. One was felt in one was missing. Saint John, N. B., 125 miles Fireworks dotted the sky. away. Window glass was shattered. Fear had been expressed that the main magazine, containing Buildings were rocked on their 50,000 depth charges, would go foundations. A veteran naval up but the explosions dwindled officer said the intensity of the and the flames died down this explosion was worse than any morning. A dull thud about 8 A. M. (Eastern War Time) ap thing he had ever seen in battle. peared to be the last of the se The first of the major ex ries. plosions occurred at 5:35 p, m. Four tremendous blasts shook Eastern war time (6:35 p. m. the region overnight. One was Atlantic daylight time), Others felt at Saint John, N. B., 125 followed at 11:20 p. m., 2:55 miles away, In between came a. m. and 3:02 a. m. (E.W. T.) the staccato of lesser discharges at the depot, in nearby Dart Halifax mouth. Continued on Page 5 Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives Archives Municipal Halifax by provided scrapbook Dept. Fire Halifax 1944-45 the from Explosion Magazine Bedford the about newsclippings of copy Digital I I start start scene. scene. the the and and for for e e iliz mob first first was was graphically, graphically, tQ tQ nearest nearest geo Boston, Boston, but but disaster, disaster, I I to to 1917 1917 the the expeditions expeditions relief relief sent sent also also Army Army and and Navy Navy States States United United Cross, Cross, the the Red Red American American The The Jtaly. Jtaly. and and Africa Africa North North in in ' hospitala hospitala Army Army in in service service overseas overseas were. were. there there month, month, ma.ny ma.ny long long how how aiy aiy with with Major Major a a is is School, School, I I to· to· unable unable was was he he said said He He maga:r.ine. maga:r.ine. I I Harvard Harvard Medical Medical of of graduate graduate the the from from Basin Basin Bed!ord Bed!ord around around n,llu n,llu a a himself himself son, son, Giddings' Giddings' Dr. Dr. Today Today five five about about Bedford, Bedford, at at Camp Camp Training Training av, av, Commonwealth Commonwealth and and n n o Newt of of Anti-aircraft Anti-aircraft Army Army the the of of hnrpltal hnrpltal the the Gidding1 Gidding1 G. G. Harold Harold Dr. Dr. was was pedition pedition to to taken taken been been had had casualties casualties t t the the ft. ft. eald eald officer officer relations relations public public arJ"Y arJ"Y an an ex• ex• relief relief the the 1917 1917 for for volunteering volunteering · · and and scene, scene, the the to to rushed rushed nc nc bul bul N N A.1 A.1 depot. depot. the the at at burning burning were were s s II II •, •, 011 011 surgeons surgeons band band the the charge charge of of t t two two and and of of fires fires large large three three that that addrd addrd I I and and magazine, magazine, main main tho tho ln ln "'as "'as t t bl bl in in was was who who doctor doctor Boston Boston The The ,n ,n first first the the li li so.Id so.Id Dialrict Dialrict l.l1lary l.l1lary • • Xo. Xo. J J . . $1200 $1200 ot ot headquarters headquarters at at officer officer duty duty A A than than more more llide-J llide-J death death of of the the tQll tQll sea. sea. at at war war the the during during injured, injured, thousands thousands be and and Halifax, Halifax, HALIFAX HALIFAX NEAR NEAR AREA AREA EXPLOSION EXPLOSION I I ·.targets ·.targets illuminating illuminating tor tor ed ed . . u kcl• kcl• · r r at at the the disaster disaster 191-7 191-7 in in destroyed destroyed snowflake snowflake were were them them ot ot Some Some n. n. were were dwellings dwellings About About 4.0()0 4.0()0 Bedford Bedford er er O\ O\ air air the the Into Into burled burled ,nre ,nre shelter. shelter. projectiles projectiles <><:curred <><:curred explosion explosion ~ach ~ach As As of of survivors survivors fire fire robbed robbed and and tims tims ns. ns. the the number number drifts drifts vic h\lg!! h\lg!! SOPW SOPW AiLAN1i, AiLAN1i, OCEAN OCEAN per !tilling !tilling harbor, harbor, the the 1600 1600 in in 'Ill 'Ill ,d,d ,d,d adding adding blizzard blizzard with with weather, weather, a a , , ex- ship ship a.mmunltion a.mmunltion an an when when 1-.ere, 1-.ere, December December the the In In 1917 1917 explosion. explosion. disaster disaster the the 1917 1917 recalled recalled ·enes ·enes '!'he '!'he 1 1 1 1 todaY's todaY's in in Included Included not not fortunately fortunately tire. tire. caught caught ma1rulne ma1rulne are are disaster disaster the the 1917 1917 of of ~ualties ~ualties naval naval the the at at barge barge a a unloading unloading when when heavy heavy and and hardships hardships Terrible Terrible ott ott I I touohM touohM was was It It aald aald however, however, port, port, plles. plles. re unconfirmM unconfirmM An An ot ot explosiYes. explosiYes. tons tons relic! relic! 1t1p of of i;hipment i;hipment and and lectl.on lectl.on of of hundreds hundreds consumed consumed have have to to said said col the the organized organized CQmrnittee, CQmrnittee, Sa!ety Sa!ety e e was was which which blut, blut, initial initial the the of of aau aau th th Public Public Massachusetts Massachusetts the the of of Sier of of explanation explanation official official no no was was 'J'here 'J'here man ,executive ,executive Endicott Endicott P. P. Henry Henry Start Start Fire Fire Barge Barge Believe Believe funds. funds. relief relief ed ed 1 raJ had had $700,&00 $700,&00 days days as as in in 10 10 treasurer, treasurer, sor, sor, Boston Boston in in 1 1 air. air. the the into into Win Robert Robert expeditfon. expeditfon. relief relief fax fax ' ' feet 150 150 reaching reaching seen seen be be ,Id ,Id co co flam flam HAR90UR HAR90UR was was the the Hali of of laader laader Ratshesky Ratshesky C. C. basfn basfn the the of of side side Bed!ord Bed!ord From From U,e U,e SI-\ATTERED SI-\ATTERED BAY BAY A. Bostonians. Bostonians. by by gathered gathered quickly- uncontrollable. uncontrollable. was was blaze blaze the the J.IALlFA'»C J.IALlFA'»C ALON(:! ALON(:! TOWMS TOWMS blanket blanket found found supplies, supplies, was was it it medical medical when when withdrawn withdrawn were were but but with with I I der der oa lj scene, scene, workers; workers; the the to to 'lurses, 'lurses, rushed rushed doctors, doctors, were were boats boats !<"ire !<"ire ment ment rm rm LEAVE LEAVE SHIPS SHIPS , , carryin. carryin. Station Station Nortll Nortll from from out out set set c c magazine. magazine. the the to to clo•e clo•e s s 1 1 Dartmouth Dartmouth o! o! end end north north The The aone. aone. ke ke re re train train special special explosidn explosidn the the a a t}.rst t}.rst .. .. 'I 'I danger danger the the from from people people move move to to brre. brre. in in tning tning t t c c o o hours hours 24 24 Withln Withln work. work. re.,cue re.,cue HALIFA~ HALIFA~ from from harbor harbor the the acro11& acro11& area, area, ulh ulh u»Qii u»Qii rr., rr., er er " " fr, fr, volunteers volunteers for for call call immediate immediate Dart- the the ln ln serYlce serYlce Into Into •cd •cd pre pre ,,...s ,,...s an an issW!d issW!d McCall McCall Samuel Samuel Gov. Gov. l l ·~ ·~ IIO>HBL•fllLOM-~ IIO>HBL•fllLOM-~ ch·lllan, ch·lllan, 19 19 and and military military truck, truck, li:Yery li:Yery July July , , mediate. mediate. explosion. explosion. first first the the than than loudH loudH and and warm-hearted warm-hearted was was im ne'Ws ne'Ws DARTMOUTH DARTMOUTH even even was was which which ., ., m a. a. li"n li"n n. n. 12:20 12:20 nt nt .. .. 1 1 8ASIII 8ASIII Bf:Ol=ORD Bf:Ol=ORD the the 1911 1911 to to response response there, there, Boston's Boston's de- terrine terrine a a \\Ith \\Ith lntf·nals, lntf·nals, at at t t d d livin~ livin~ relatives relatives or or memory memory of of ti-es ti-es by by naYal naYal ia ia the the rock rock • to to d d conlinu conlinu ·ts ·ts Bl, Bl, een een ffll' ffll' sentiment sentiment in in united united still still closely closely and and DARTMOUTH DARTMOUTH FROM FROM ••datu ••datu IED~OR.0~~,...,,000EVAGUATEO IED~OR.0~~,...,,000EVAGUATEO I I a, a, wora wora ,ilahle. ,ilahle. wa, wa, provinces provinces the the fro~ fro~ coming coming ar~ ar~ this this ! ! un- were were time time the the at at m•&"·•Zinc m•&"·•Zinc 1h• 1h• In In e e 1 1 of of resident. resident. of of thousands thousands With With th th "orklng "orklng were were •o. •o. many many how how on on Fi;11re• Fi;11re• M'f M'f e, e, peopl or or sur\'iVed. sur\'iVed. ha\'e ha\'e could could blaFt blaFt flr•t flr•t of of the the Bey Bey I.be I.be ...... than than more more 1200 1200 and and killed killed the the city city INE INE MA6AZ MA6AZ j j f,IALIFA'i f,IALIFA'i N05'Ttt N05'Ttt Fa.OM Fa.OM vicinity vicinity immediate immediate the the in in arpa arpa • action• action• n,agulne n,agulne r r 0 0 that that halt halt hl hl leveled leveled blasts blasts seriet seriet a a the the In In one one no no t t tba tba believed believed he he .,.aid .,.aid • • • • MAIN MAIN STORED STORED 1ft 1ft OFSOME OFSOME EVAC.VA1'1ot4 EVAC.VA1'1ot4 / / off set set and and 1he 1he harbor harbor shlp shlp relJ.ef relJ.ef in in I I of of INrainr INrainr Sclater, Sclater, William William Comdr. Comdr. Lt. Lt. Breat Breat officer, officer, I I Bel&ian Bel&ian a a with with collided collided Blanc Blanc Mont Mont naval naval Canadian Canadian a a but but uncertain, uncertain, "'" "'" BOMBS BOMBS OEPTff OEPTff atlll atlll casualties casualties of of number number tot.al tot.al The The ship ship ammunition ammunition French French when when the the NARRO~ NARRO~ OF OF SIDE$ SIDE$ 80TH 80TH OH OH 4isaster 4isaster 1917, 1917, 6, 6, Dec: Dec: of of Hali!ax Hali!ax the the Paae Paae First First From From Continued Continued 5"0,000 5"0,000 COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES TilREATEN TilREATEN remember remember vividly vividly still still Bostonians Bostonians DEAD DEAD 13 13 EXPLOSION, EXPLOSION, SHEU.$ SHEU.$ EXPl.ODINE, EXPl.ODINE, Disaster Disaster 1917 1917 BY BY TORN TORN HALIFAX HALIFAX Halifax Halifax Recalls Recalls .,._ .,._ Vividly Vividly Boston Boston Main Main Magazines Magazines ard ard Homes---Fire Homes---Fire Flee Flee 0 0 Races. Races. harbor. harbor. ·the ·the In In up up blew blew ship ship ammunition ammunition an an after after killed killed were were I I than than more more 1JiOO 1JiOO when when 1917 1917 in in city city the the struck struck blast blast a a time time last last the the Depot--- Naval Naval in in plosions plosions recalled recalled Immediately Immediately citizens citizens Many Many city. city. I I the the In. In. ot ot casualties casualties reports reports no no had had they they said said Police Police city. city. the the of of 11ectlons 11ectlons northern northern the the In In occurred occurred damage damage this this of of DIE DIE BLAST, BLAST, part part 13 main main The The screens. screens. window window torn torn and and plaster plaster broken broken windows, windows, shattered shattered to to confined confined be be to to red red ea app damage damage I I but but Halltax, Halltax, metropolltan metropolltan throughout throughout felt felt be be could could blast blast the the of of shock shock The The end. end. north north fax's fax's Hall Hall In In hllls hllls on on gathered gathered who who watchers watchers from from ene ene c s the the obscuring obscuring partially partially basin, basin, ford ford : : RN - TO .--IFAX .--IFAX . . Bed - covered covered 1;moke 1;moke ot ot pall pall heavy heavy A A explosives. explosives. containing containing buildings buildings the the of of most most surround surround earth earth of of mounds mounds Large Large kept'. kept'. are are tor tor navy navy tbe tbe propellants propellants and and shells shells charges, charges, depth depth which which In In 'buildings 'buildings brick brick Isolated Isolated small, small, of of up up made made Is Is depot depot armament armament The The Pall Pall Smoke Smoke tfeavy tfeavy ~ ~ qploaion,. qploaion,. glass glass flying flying to to from from night night lut lut took took escape escape harbor harbor overlooking overlooking area, area, Citadel Citadel Hill, Hill, 11n 11n ref'iia"e ref'iia"e Jrep Jrep -AWAIT COMJ.'VlISSION REPORT- V-E Day Damage Clainis Total Ov.er $1,000,000 (?!aims for V-E Day riot damage filed to date totalled $1,250,. , 000, 1t was learned last ni~ht. Meantime Halifax businessmen are eagerly awaiting a.n ?J-Ounc~ment that the report of the Royal Commission which mvestigated the cause of the riots had been filed at Otta.wa. Rumors had been current that the report was already in the hands of the Federal Cabinet but these have not been confir~ed. ENTRANCE TO MAGAZINE-Here you see what is left of the gate of the Bedior zine property after the explosions. Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives CEMENT THAT THE MAJOR HAZARD WAS UNDER CONTROL and citizens· could return to their a made following an inspee ·o n of the Bedford magazine area yesterday. Top picture sho\ s the inspec y ncluding Vice-Admiral. G. C. Jones, Mayor A. M. Butler, Capilaill' 0. C. S. Robertson and Major 0. R. D rec r oI Halifax Civil Defence. Below is the Bedford magazine area as photographed from the air. ga Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives First Picture Inside Magazi11e Area This is what the inside of the Bedford Magazine area looke~ like after the devastating blasts. Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives FIRST PICTURE-What the explosions did to strong buffers built to withstand blasts and protect other ammunition stores. ASSURED OF NO FURTHER DANGER of explo·ions from the smouldering Bedford Basin Maga zme. Halif; x and Dartmouth residents last night counted the toll of damage and loss caused to their homes, business establishmen , srhools, churches and other buildings. The above picture of t. lark's Anglican Church, Russell Sheet, in the Notth E nd, is typical of the damage caused by ne rxplosions. Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives ..-...., .• _.,,._._c ~ · ~ Thes~ Halifax Mail photos are the first taken inside the Bedford Magazine area after the explosions. Top picture shows the rubble left where buildings disappeared and below is a general view of the destruction . • .r- ~. PLAY WATER ON FLAMES-Firefighters of the Navy this morning continued to pour water on the brush fires that started as a result of the Bedford Basin magazine explosions. Above, three of the firefighters are shown at the site of the staff house near what was the main gate of the mag azine. (Photo by R. Allen Benjamin.) Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives ~REW AND FIREMEN Of THE _FIR~BOAT_ .TAMES BATTLE, who distinguished themselves fighting the fires at the Bedford maga zme, are shown abov~ besJd('. their ship at Pier 1~. BACK RO\Y, left t~ right: J. Bonan, Captain John Zong. Rufus Ward, G. West Ia_h, G. DeMone. Chief Engmeer ~- G~nn, Capta:n Cody (holdmg ) a piece of shrapnel which landed on the ship} and Captam How a1 d Ve1ge. FRONT ROW, left to right E. LandrJ, J. G. Ranson, B. Boudveau, and Lew Terrio. * * * * * ,i, * * Pra1:;e of the courage and devotion to dut:,, of crew memb* ers of .-.,I -- - Urges- -Recognition-- the fire patrol vesseis James Battle and Romlle, who approached , Knowing firebojtts and having the Bedford Magazme area and combatted the flames at close had conversation with ere~ of qu~rters soon after tile f(rsl explosion on Wednesday evening, was t some of the best in the worid, I voJCed yesterday by Chief James M . Cody of the Harbor Fire feel that none of them would Patrol. All on board, he said, proceeded to the scene at great per- have done any better or showed sonal risk. any more courage than was dis- Chief Cody emphasized that he . --- Iplayed on this occasion. Knowing was not on hand at the time of At approximately 7 p.m. the quite well that in manning those the explosions at the Bedford B~ttle proceeded to the scene boats as fire fighter_s that. that Magazine. with Robertson aboard. On the' is what they are gettmg paid for At approximately 6.35 p.m., he way up the ~arbor, a speed boat and at the same time I feel that stated, the f.tre patrol of the came alongside and Robertson I special recogmtion should · _be National Harbors Board attached boarded the speedboat and pro- , given them. This not only applies to the James .Battle was on duty cee?~d ahead of the. Battle. qn to the fire fighters, but. gre!lt at Pier 19, uncrer the command arnvmg at the Basm, Captam praise should be given to Captam of Captain John zong. They Rob~rtso~ ordered the Battle to Verge of the James Battle and heard an explosion and looking proce~d m ~lose to the seen': of Captain George Scott of the north observed the heavy cloud the fire which was at that time Rouille. The Rouille, controlle_d that arose in the sky. close t~ the be_ach. Th;e Battle by the city fire department, 1s At approximately 6.50 p.m., !flOVed m an? did effe~bve wor_k . manned by the following men: Captain Robertson, King's harbor i? that particular a_rea. At this C. Keefe, acting captain; Hose master, arrived at Pier 19. He time, .a large explos10~ occurre_d, men M. Boutilier (a veteran of asked Zong if he had any word cover~ng the ship ~.-th debns, the fire boat service and one who of a fire in the Basin. At that °!Jre~ki_ng several wm~ows, an~ distinguished himself when the time the phone rang and the mfhctmg a cut on Captam Verges Trongate was sunk in the harbor navy ordered the Jame& Battle left '.1rm. Patrolman W~stlake, a few years ago), Albert Tilloury, to proceed to the Basin. mannmg the front ~un with pa- Henry Landry and Ivan Kendall. Captain Robertson. the fire I trolman W_ard, sustamed a g~az!ng Acting Captain Keefe ~nd crew under Captain zong, and blow. A piece. of metal we1ghrng Miles Boutilier made a landmg Captain Howard Verge, 422 Ox- 10 pounds, e1ght ounces struck and surveyed the ~re!llises look ford Street, navigating captain on the aft deck. ing for possible victims of the duty, proceeded to the scene. The position at that time be- disaster. Both boats were ordered I Fire crew consisted of Patrolmen came untenable and the Battle to stand by at jetty '.3 at the Dock- George DeMone, 146 Albert withdrew. During the night, both yard, where they stayed all ni~ht. I Street; George Westlake, Kline boats withdrev. offshore and At 9.30 a.m. next day, the Romlle Heights; Rufus Ward, 6 Bauer stood by to render any assistance returned to the fire to relay water Street; and John Bonan, fire required. headquarters of the National I feel very proud to be privil to supplement mains ruptured by I Harbors Board. Ship's crew con- eged to command a crew of men the explosion. I sisted of Jo~eph G. Ranson, Bert who showed so much devotion to During the afternoon, the Bat Boudreau, Stoker H. G. Holmes, duty and who, at great personal tle moved up and with her t CPO. Fred Barkley and Chief risk went into that inferno. I am long range guns moved in close Engineer John Gunn thankful to Almighty God that and extinguished a considerable they came out again. amount of fire in front of the magazine, moving from place to place until the fire all along the shore was put out. The James Battle returned later v. ith her fire-fighting crew, commanded by Captain W. Brown, and her ship's crew, commanded by James Schmeisser. The Battle was on the scene from 1.30 to 4.30 Thurs da~ afternoon. Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives Halifax's War Role Is I Praised 111 Newspaper / Coni111ent On Explosio1is i OTTAWA, ONT., July 20 - Int-- --- _ _j contrast to th!' rather critical tone G • C .· t Sh adopted by certain Central Canad- ian newspapers in connection with aping ra ers OW the Halifax V-E Day riots some of :;J~~~t!~dine:the vital part aanr~i:J;~~iair!played by the port g~ I M1·ghty Blast Force and city in two great wars, editor ial comment in this Fection on Wed- nesday e\'ening·.- near d'isaster, is kindly, generous and warmly sympa By JOHN LeBLANC, Halifax Daily Star Staff Writer thetic. Torn by mighty upheavals, the explosion-rent south area "Halifax," says the Ollawa Jour nal this morning, "deserve• well ot · of the Burnside naval magazine stands today as a waste of this country - its contribution to 1 victory in Europe is literally beyond devastatfon and ruin, gashed by gaping craters and stripped, computation. For its people, ~uffer for acre upon barren acre, of every vestige of vegetation or ing this new blow, there will be "idespread symtfathy, and a desire product of human hands. o help them in e~ery possible way." Where millions of dollars worth of buildings and muni "For whatever damage was done," it goes on, "the government is res tions of war stood before Wednesday night's colossal blasts, ponsible, and no doubt the govern there remain only faint tra'cei amid a desolation of battered ment will put its great resourc;es immediately at the disposal ot the and scorched terrain. The earth is scarred, flame-blackened harassed citizens of the Atlantic port." and dead. • 1 Under the heading "Honor is due". On a stricUy unoffic,ial tour of - Roads winding through the maga- anxieties/he Montreal and Gazette,suffering picturing experienced "the the d evast a t e d area yest erd ay a s zme· are scarred . every :few feet ;it this time in Halifax", suggests one of the first newsmen to get with deep grooves made by the im that this new misadventure brings into the magazine since the blasts pact of shells landing :from high forcefully to mind what the people. ibegan, I saw man;Y buildings dam- altitude and failing to explode. One of Halifax have endured, it two I aged or completely wrecked by shell for a ship's gun lie, almost world wars. concussion, ammunition still half- buried in the macadam. It points out that the situation of buried under wreckage, unexploded Alongside the road at one spot, Halifax as a great ocean port hacl shells that had been tossed bun- hundreds of depth charg~s have · inevitably made it one of the chief dreds of yards, treell picked up by been piled up by salvager& who re concentration centres for Allied their roots and stripped of :foll,.ge moved them :from wrecked bnlld shipping, and at the same time a and a litter of debris that had been ings. Other piles o:f explosives o:f ~~~ti~~osraJfe \\?a~i.nt for dangerous flung helter skelter by the fury of I various kinds await disposition in In- the first war, the risk of such the detonations. ! roadside dumps. s rvice has becotnt: "a matter of But of the buildings that had Travelling northward away from painful memory," Although in the stood in the ravaged south end, the areas of the ch!e! destrucUon, l;itest conflict the continent has es- there was nothing to be seen. Liter- where mostly old buildings were ' caped being blitzed, Halifax could ally nothing. Only deep pits that located, you find newer buildings hare with the war-broken citier pock the hillsides tell the observer erPcted in this war battered and , across the Atlantic, "the experience that here stood buildings. Occasion- gashed open but their contents un of the sudden fragedy of death and ally, a few seared bricks lie in the harmed. rt:in".Halifax's it continues: service in two wars have bottom of a crater, where they drop- <'.-ons t rue t e d especI all y t o nu.11· ,fy not been 'performed without costs to ped back after the blasts, but tue force of nearby explositns and it.; loyal people. For these costs it mostly the craters yawn emptily. protect their contents, these build d 11 serves the sympathy of all Canad- The Indentation gouged out by ings behavPd as their builders ex ians. More than this, the citizens the greatest blast of them all-the Continued on Page 7, Col. 3 o Halifax deserve l!J share. in the detonation that rocked the d'istrict I honor and the praise which are t 4 • Th d · ~1tiully E:xtcnded to the citizens of a a.m. urs ay morning-goes Great Britain. For they have shar- 1 d?wn a good 30 feet and covers a GAPI NQ eel w11r's penalties, and for the same diameter of around 50 yards. Hun- hi !lh purposes. dreds of tons of earth must have The Ottawa Citizen, expressing I been flung aside as thought by a CRATERS , 1hankfl!lness that the casualties oc- giant's shovel in this massive up- j c~rr.ed by the naval magazine e_x- I heaval. Ooniinued .tum Page S p,osions had been so few, and VIS• ' • . ualizing what must have been for Aro1;nd this _grandfather of cra- 1 pected. but m a way that appears tht- inhabitants "a most unpleasant ters lies a series of smaller ones J!r-~akish to the layman. night", expresses the hope that Hali- marking the spots where other I Their sidewalks and roofs are un fax "which has come in for some storel)ouses clustered, The whole damalfed, 'but both ends have been rough usage at the hand of fate in section for hundreds of yards is ' ripped out Emost coµipletely. The recent years". may henceforth be bare, brown ground, denuded of press o.f blast air evidently cnte:ved ~pared. . virtually all vegetation and of al- one end and rushed out the other. The Gl~?e and. Mai~, Toronl9, most every sign of human occu- Special baffles of ft!Cret design, notes that the ancient city of Ha!1- pan t id th bui'ldings contributed to fax has some ~eason to count 1t- cy, ru s e . e. self a child of misfortune consider- Here and there bits of twisted the cush1onm.e: effect ing the recent V-E day 'goings-on, and burned metal 'lie about. Of the I One 'building not 1.1f this design, a well as the great tragedy which trees that till stand there remain but of heavy reinforced concr~te, tco!t place in 191_7. It is mclined. to only stumps, stripped to the inner had one of its si.de walls swung out ~el!e~e that bad Judgment or admm- wood. Uprooted trees big and lit- as though it were binged at the top. 1strativ1; errors on. !he part of the tle h ve bee to d t' ide This nructure was almost a half responsible authorities may be to • a n sse O one s • . . blame for the near disaster on Wed- As the dis~ance from the scene !)f mile from the nearest exp1 os 1or:; nesday night, as it has been suggest- these blasts mcreases, the trees still Further along to the. ~orth, t e ed of the victory riots, may have stand, but their greenery has been storehouses are co~aratively ~n• br cn true the official verdict on cleaned off completely, and they damaged. The mam maga~me, which h~s not yet been rel~ased. stand stark against the skyline. where the greatest of all de~onations "Even 1f the worst danger 1s past" was feared Wednesday mgbt, re- the editorial concludes, "the sudden . J:iere at;d there along .the road- mains flooded as a precautionary dislocation of the life of an import- side, and m the surrounding shrub-- easure though naval authorities ant city is ~ grave m!!tter warrants ber:y, are unexploded four a!ld ~ate an' danger has been averted. for the p~rtment question, ~l:1Y were 4.7-mch shells, star shells w1~h A shambles of wreckage is all that amn:rnmtlon du~ps contammg ex- parachutes attached-used for 11- in of the south jetty of the rlos1ves of terrible power, su~h as luminating night target5-:-'!>attered ~:in~zi~e where the explosions or- 50,000. deptJ:t charges, locate~ m an shell cases whose ammunition had . • g d '1 ·t· . awaiting area mvolvmg tremendous risks for . 1gmate n ammum ion the surrounding population? In- detonat_ed, twisted and warped disPatd?- overseas. A 1.ew charred deed it is surprising that enemy sab- pilef; shcldng out of the water give oteurs did not long ago take advan- strips of metal roofing and other the only indication of the jetty's tage of this unique opportunity to debris. existence. wreck the country's chief naval base The observer treads warily, for ------on the Atlantic coast. some touchy bits of explosive are The motive of convenience to believed to be still lying around - -- hidden in the scrub-covered road naval vessels, which uses Bedford sides. some of them buried. Basin as an anchorage, may have operated in the choice of a site for One exhibit that displays grap~i the depot but surely some consider- cally the strength of the explos1ye ation sh~uld have been given for blows is a six-foot length of a rBJl-. the possib1l.ity of. a second dev~sta- I way rail that has been twisted into ting explos10n with the same d1s~s- a crude S-shape. trous consequences as the earller I Some of the buildings housing oniresumably the government will I a_mmunition have been reduced to order an investigation, and if any I ~1ttle more than matchwood and officers or officials arc proved ,ruil- jagged chunks of concrete, thC!ugh ty of errors of judgment or failure their destructive contents remamed to take proper precautions against mtact. The specially-built W:alls s botage or fires they should be cushioned the blows that might punished appropriately. B1;1t by this I have set of:f their enclosed high time the people of ~al!fax and explosive. Dartmouth must. be thm]nng that I You run across building after f1eedom fr_om direct_ host!!~ attack 11 building that has· been wrecked in dm".s. not give them munumty from I this fashion. Their quotas of am off1c1al carelessness. munition, piled high, is covered with a litter of splintered wood and other wreckage, for workmen -- have not yet had time to do more than a fraction of the big clean up job that faces them. In some of the older buildings nearest to the spot of the explo sions thick walls stood the wal lops 'but the roofs were caved in as though by the press of a huge hand. In others, walls and roofs tumbled itt together. Digital copy of newsclippings about the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided by Halifax Municipal Archives THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE Scattered Showers At 4 A.M.-59 Above MONCTON, N. B., THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 19, 1945 PRICE FOUR CENTS ''OL 68 EIGHT PAGES NO. 287 . . :,. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Allied Assault Turned o*ard Tokyo y Series Of Explosions In FEEUiFIRESWILLNOT· Okinawa Based Believed Blasting REACHMAIN MAGAZINE Bombers Blast Major Hiding Base OTTAWA, .July 111-('rhursday)-(CP)-A naval headqua.rtera f Jap Homeland spokesman 1&id ~ 1 a.m., E.D.T., today that u a result of reporta Navy Magazine NearCity reaohinr him from Halifax he felt that fires would not reach and By BUGH CRUMPLER explode the m&Jn naval mapzlne In Halifax harbor. + Late reporu reachinr headquarters here indicated that the fire MANILA, July 19-(BUP) Of Japanese Fleet was beinr brourht under control, said the spokesman. If the fire More than 350 bombers and should spread further It could not possibly blow up more than one fighters blasted airfield• and Officer Tells am&I! depot of ammunition at any onf time. Industrial targets on Kyushu Number Injured Placed At He said the first explosion w,., a, a navy jetty where ammunition Monday, Gen. Douglas Mac was stored for shipment. Further explosions were from the fire Artlur announced today a11, Carry Out Attack W ithin 13; No Deaths Reported Of Blasts spreadlnr to other scattered stores of explosivea In the neighborhood. g-ronnd troops on western Bor Cause of the explosions would be Investigated but it wu thourht neo penetrated 30 miles inland the ciau1e would most likely prove &l!cldental. to capture the river port of 50 Miles Of Tokyo By MEL SUFRIN Written for The Canadian Press by Marndi without opposition. LT.-CMDR. WILLIAM SCLATER, The aasault on Kyuhu In By WILLIAM F. TYREE HALIFAX, July 19-(Thursday )-( CP) R.C.N.V.R. cluded the first major attaclui ap.inst the Japanese home is GUAM, Thursday, July 19 - (BUP) - Allied warships naval officer said early this morning that HALIFAX, July 18 - (CP) poured hundreds of tons of shells into defenses guarding the -A -At 6.35 p.m. the city of Hali OCCUPATIONOFREICH lands by A-26 invader- attack flames, started by a blast last night, were bomber planes, which also are entrance to Tokyo Bay last night and early today. fax waa rocked by the blast of the first planes redepl'oyed And Admiral Cheater W. Nimitz in bis daily war bulletin steadily eating their way toward the main a tremendous explosion from from the European theatre to indicated his fleets of carrier planes had found and were at direction of Bedford Basin STUDIEDBY "BIG THREE" see action in the Pacific. storage of high explosives in the Royal Cana the The invaden took off from tacking a major hiding place of the remains of the Japanese dian Navy's magazine near here. which shook even the solid the air force bases on Okinawa fleet. structure of the Nova Scotian LEADERS CONSIDERING 10 TO 20-YEAR to smas!} targets on the south Steaming within 50 miles of Tokyo itself to deliver the DEATH TOLL UNKNOWN Hotel, more than five miles east coast of Kyushu and the fou~th naval bombardmer:it on Japan in five days, a force of RULE OF CONQUERED GERMAN NATION major airfield network around The known casualties in the series of blaata were aet at away. Kfya.zald, damaging four or five crwaers and destroyers beaded by Rear Adm, Carl F. Holden 14 including 13 injured and one missing. But a naval officer, Capt. O.C.S. Robertson, R.C.N.R., of the enemy's remaining ser wrecked coastal defenses ~n NQjima Cape, on the east aide of Lieut. Cmdr. William Sclater, aaid be believed that no one who was dining in the hotel at the By MERB.IMAN SMITH viceable planes i;till parked on the entrance to the bay. time left immediately and ordered • 1 who waa at the magazine in the immediate area of the first speedboat from the dockyard to take POTSDAM, July 18-(BUP)-Prime Minister Churchlll, President the fields. NIGHT ASSAULT , him to the scene of the explosion. Truman and Premier Josef Stalin are discussing a 10 to 20-year ocoupa- Other heavy, medium and The flotilla struck at 11 p.m. {Jap- blast would be likely to survive. Naval official• were unable fighter bombers Joined with the to aay bow many were working in the magazine area at the 1 accompanied him. tion regime fol' Germany, It was reported unofficially tonirht after the anese time) and continued the CCF L d Approaching Bedford magazine Allied Big Three liAd held their second plenary meetlnr In the heavily Invaders to blast targets from bombardment until early this niorn- : the northern to the southern ea er time. area it was observed that many Icua.rde!1, secrecy-shrouded Potsdam compound. ing, hitting while American carrier The blasta, beginning with a great concussion which windows near the Narrows were It was understood tlutt the Big Three were ,till discusslnc, in their tip of Kyushu, with • force of planes were making a heavy attack .States Case shook the Halifax area for miles around at 6.35 p.m. A.D.T. smashed and broken. Rounding Plenary meetincs, the sweepinr prorram they are to consider at what more than 30 liberators ralninr on the naval base of Yokosuka, on Jut night, forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people from Turtle Head it was observed that promised to be a lonr confer.ence, wtinc a ywhere up to three weeks. explOIJives on factories in the the west shore of Tokyo Bay. Adm. Nabecoka area, halfway up the Chester W. Nimitz' daily war bul- the danger area. fires were burnin g and intermittent j Relations of the thr?e leaders were said be cooperative and cordial. A • f D ext1losions were rocking th e area Only the tiniest bits of real news Island's 'east c,oa.at letin said the carrier planes went I gains rew NAMES NOT :S.ELEASED at th e sbuth east of the magazine. seeped out of the strict censorship Ther ~ was no Japanese aerW down throu gh accurate a d intense I OPJK!sltion to the attacks and fire to a a "com- The name• of the Injured anti mlaln r were not released. But army The wooden jetties there had been I imposed and up. . ~o 10 p.m. it had not JW a~ ·-aircraft tr --- bl ant shippin~"-thus dic ti q TORO TO, Jul), ; ~ -•CP l- officials ,a l; that tw elve member s of the Veteram Gnard of Canada on blown out into the hurbor and a ~ u been adrtuttad that the Bil rro J d fire was light to moder at• •pok,. man •a.Id. 1\j'cm of Cf' centratio or Jap :int> ar 1-ip tar10 r C,q. l " d ,. B. Jn 1ruar d duty t the magazine were hurt, elimt of them requiring tre atment .,._ "am of, n•,yal ,(n ft ,,. 1rr'>' :r h ' n i ot tq:::,,ther Lor tl 1r St! <>t\d Digital copy of newsclippings about 1the Bedford Magazine Explosion from the 1944-45 Halifax Fire Dept. scrapbook provided t.heby Halifax Municipal Archives eu- \\olletin described u i;: a l,, Jl . ,,. •J U b own -.n. ~ ~ , ,. iL-<1 rti.. 1u in r fu.an wa111a. naval sllo>re p a.ttol ma.n who gd9n s a "'tt<.nd 7 1 i<'tltia. 1 Ion. nd siek bay an ts were ~ a · t h .. roy ul co m mi , I) , 1 rtl.n:ull'I o ana a on o c s A a we ve mem er• o e e erana nar out Into the hnrbor and o e'llil'l'l been admitt•d that the Big /nan na.val patiolmantreatmen blown .., ,:uard duty '-t 'the mairazlne were hurt, elsbt of them requlrlns t <"° ,,am ol, n· val 'safl � ,� ;; •r T:: .:ut tcig th r Ior -. rin•-1... on � duty. at'" 1 jetty1 ri,., at the1 , '"f WL"at the a. time of,h,>re the who ·tu,.'l!ttn,. 1 . { g ns and sick bay atkndants were 1 , p!'OJi of Company, Or■t blast. Truman set a conference h J.VY despite ba wu a m&pllinc speeding to the area. w. �ecord j setcharge . th th Dre\\ ov rnment as which prevented observ re- I �� � . :, The veteran, wereunit. member■ the 21at Veteram Guard, Johnston by eatin1 two lunchi:s--the fir.st 30 up . a pol!hcal_ gestapo, 13tod� . Suraeon Captain D. suits. Yukosuka is on ths puth;qest si:le . a New Brumwlck the guest of Churc�ill, f.!le sec nd mamta1�1ed that ev1�en<: ?f wit• was among the first to arrive at the � of Tokyo Bay, miles of the I _ � I as the ,ue_st of Stalin \� Ith caviar, es es 1 he 7 directly o BLASTS CONTINUE scene. rubbled capital. "Corr.bfitant shh:,- � � 0 � 10quiry � meat and _fish on the second menu. r Coming alongside the main pier ping" could only mean wai;ships, it md1rectly, 10 on way or anoth: Blasts continued to rock the area, Churchill and Truman lunched in May Recommend c.at Bedfords. magazine, we saw H. M was c?nnecte� o��rati�ns of the �rov�n• with a detonation at 12.20 a.m. which I compound. Tr said, but the term did not in- Moby Dick, the admiral's the conference uman t. cial �ollce Special Br n-l_i with wasIt even louder than the first one. lunch. dicate large units or small s ips � , barge, had already landed medical walked t� the Indications That It rem1er Drew or the P1 emier s of• wu thought at first that this was . Measures such as destroyers. f'. Compromise On officers ands. supplies ordered out by Churchill ac companied by his flee. , the main explosives storage aolng To Knock was possible the Japanese were . . Capt. C. Miles, R.C.N. who swung daughter, Mary, and other members Out Japan Be Speaking as the commission 1 e• off, but naval officers said it wu attempting to protect crippled war- into action within a few minutes of of his party, went. out to meet the ing Studied t sumed after an eight-day adjourn- not. A Potsdam (Cuntmued on Page 3 Co1.. 5, Repatriation Plan the first explosion. President. . ment, the C.C.F. leader at the same The intermittent blasts, accom• Bel Lttter,id With Debrbl Truman inspected a guard of hon• BRUSSELS,a July 18-(AP)- time contended that a government panied by great auests of flamel! 2nd Battalion of the parliament today legally ex Capt. Robertson and I found the or of the fam• By DANIEL DE LUCE gium's British minister could not escape i:.e sponsi from the magazine area, caused of• him Meeting pier littered with debris. As we pro- ous Scots Guards and a Royal Mar• iled King Leopold and barred bility for practices under his ad• ficials in Dartmouth, across the By BOSS MUNRO BERLIN, .July 18-- (AP) -There with ceeded up the road towards the first ine band which played the Star from returning to Belgian soil ministration. This principle, found• here, to begin evacua- 18 - are strong fndfoa.Uons that the of Harbor from UTRECHT, Holland, July area it was observed that all build• Spangled Banner in his honor. The out parliamentary consent. ed in British . blood-st&lnednatlnr ihe map Conferenee Stiff Opposition tradition, must apply tion of persons in the danger ares (CP)-Hon Ian Mackenzie, Canadian with of A,sfa, la domf The senate, by a vote 77 to 58, inits had been gutted by the blast of PreSident talked several of nlrht to Premier Drew even if the1 e were The North end of Dartmouth is of Veterans' Affairs, prob Potsdam to measure previously Minister the first explosion. Great holes had the troops as they stood at the lake .Japan approved the no evidence to link him personally close to the magazine. on his retunt atJd that measurespriority to knoekells• of Depu ably will recommend been tom in the brick buildings, and side and shook hands with the band eu111lons adpoted by the Chamber with the special branch - i:lleged truck, military and civil- o romise between oat hold top In signa In Burma Drive Every to ttawa a comp tumbled debris and ammunition leader. Churehlll, ties. It becomes law with the gestapo headquarters operated by was pressed into nit sys among PrimeTruman Minister and ian, in Dartmouth the point-priority and the u boxes lay scattered ln the path tak• Introduced To Staff ture of the regent, Prince Charles, Capt."I William J. Osborne-Dempster. .s to move people from the President ervice terns ot repatriation of Canadian en by the blast. Inside Churchill's house, the l)pr e,• • a mere formality. am replying on both grounds- danger areas surrounding the maga- tr Premier Stalin, un CALCUTTA, Jply 18-(BUP) oops in Europe. The road and adjacent areas were (Continued on Page 3, CoL The act continues -the regency evidence to which I shall refer and a Allied officials have long discotlr• British forces, advancing the zine. In n interview today following littered with exploded shells. Three der Prince Charles who has been on the well-established doctrine of cab• About 2,000 residents of Nortn aged spec�tion as to what role the his newly-cleared communication lane tour of 1st Canadia11 Army units in firetrucks and naval firefighting serving in that capacity while inet responsibility," Mr. Jolliffe d to th Soviet U_JfflJ'n might ultimately take de• Dartmouth were move e' Holland, the minister said he found parties were already on the scene, 85 Witnesses brother, the King, has been pon between Heho and Taunggyi, 117 clared. army's artillery training centre at against a power which :Rremier miles east of Meiktila, have encoun- a "sense of grievance among the endeavoring to confine th� tire to dering steps to return to the throne Reviewing evidence to support Eastern Passage, on the East shore tr not Stalin publicly singled out last win tered stubborn enemy resistance oops that the government is the south end of the magazine area at his St. Wolfgang, Bavaria, villa. his claim vf the Premier's associa of Halifax Harbor South of Dart- romise at the ter as "aggressive" and a partner King Leopold, refusing to abdi from units previously driven into carrying out its p th and prevent it spreading to the main Give Evidence tion with the special branch, he cit• mouth. Brig. D. A. White, D.S.O., ' first out' would of Germany. cate voluntarily, had informed par the jungle, it was announced today. policy of first in, magazines. ed first the testimony of Pte. R. G. Officer Commanding Miltary Dis- Among Americans in Moscow the Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten's be followed," and added that among Surveying the scene, Capt. Rob liament that he wa.s willing to bow Hall, former assistant to M. A. San 6, ordered food to be sent view has been held by a majority communique said trict No. those he had spoken to there was a ertson issued immediate orders for At Petain Trial to the people's will but wished that his troops drew derson, Toronto insect extermina in so that the evacuees could have 0 question of repat that the Soviet Union will, ai the it be determined in a general eiec "sustained fire" from Japanese 75 50-5 split on the • all firefighters to be equipped with tor alleged to have used Osborne breakfast in the morning. moment its leaders choose, launch millimeter guns located west of riation by units as opposed to the steel helmets. As all telephone lines ' tlon. Dempster's files in preparation of a smashing blow against its tradi The next election, normally, will Taunggyi. Will Remain at camp point-ptiority system. had been put out of commission in By HEBIIERT X. KING Statt anti-c .C.F. propaganda. Hall qt,10ted tional Asiatic enemy. The brief war bulletin said there "It la my personal . view that ato the area, the nearest communication PARIS July 18.-(BUP) - not be called until 1946, Sanderson as saying on Blankets were supplied to the , The Japanese war one occa soldier who has a definite right point was the naval signal station at falls into three was nothing to report on the lower people and it was understood they prosecutor Andre Momet today ar sion that Osborne-Dempster wished for repatriation on points Turtle Head, the entrance to Bed main divisions: Sittang river front, but that further remain the carr.p until all priority rayed an imposing list of at least to make "a personal report to Pre 'J would at to it The sea war against communica support was given ground forces in should be given an opportunity ford Basin. 45 witnesses who will testify Says Anti-Soviet mier Drew" on a trip he and sa,1- danger from further blasts wa3 tions, which the British and Ameri that area Monday by Spitfires and assert his right and return home or Capt. Robertson decided would agairist 89-year-old Henri-Phillippe derson had made to Kit:hener, Ont. past. can navies have already largely de Thunderbolt planes which str fed 000 l waive his right and volunteei, to go be advisable to evacuate all civilian Petain when the victor of Verd•m � Arthur Nicol, secretary to the at• Between 4,000 aQ,battleships are carrying on Bri,tish units 0� the 0ungoo- home. Coming among the witnesses - Paul Rev Giving False Idea 'I'. Provincial Police reports to go to til it was sa.fe to return 3, onThe the preparatory phase. Mawch1 road at a p mt 17 miles east Last week Canad4in Army Head- The firefighter tug "Battle" was naud, Edouard Daladier, Leon Blum � Mr. Blackwell's desk, said . Jo In the preston road district of mop-up of Toun�oo bu� without result, Mr i quarters told troops In Holland that (Continued on Page Col. 7) of Japanese strong. the Dartmouth also in th� South end. and Edouard Herriot. litfe. "It was natural that they • ---o- holdil on the Asiatic mainland, the communique said. th peo- repatriation on the point priority Fernand De Brinon, Petain's Am• sh ould • .....,,ey were so po1·u I · ca 1 ." almost 4,000 mor Dartmou nerve ecntre being Manchuria, half More than 26 Japanese were kill- I system was coming to an enj:l, and ba.ssador to German authorities in LONDON, July 18. - (BUP ) ple were staying in the open. fringed by ed whe11 they the balance-and bulk-Of the army Quebec Superior the frontier with the Marshal Josef Stalin was quoted to jumped over a cliff There were no si ll\S of pamc Paris during the occupation, win during home almost en Soviet Union. day as charging that Anti-Soviet an attack on their position:;: the blast area, 08 soon would be moved be c;llled to testify that Petain of ch·mese Troops anywhere in 44 _miles rem'llS• Manchuria is, in some respects, Poles were responsible for giving east of Yamethin, 0,1 :he the first terrific explosion tirely by units and sub-units fered French troops to the Gern:Jn1 after the Poland of Asia and of vital im main Mandalay-Rangoon road and m th et tered territorially as far Bl!I ossi- CourtGrants to help repel any Allied invasion. the Allies a false idea early in the people began filing fro r portance in Soviet Policy. railway, e communique said. R ble. Other charges include toleration war that Russian's military forcec; e-T ak e s·It e homes. i Libera or bombers, Of 3, Col. 2) Deal W th Understa.n�Ung flying a round a two miles 1 (Continued on Page of Anti-American and Anti-Britts!: were weak. From distance about Premier Stalin's taijcs last week trip flight of 2,500 miles for the from the depot small explosions Wife's Petition propaganda in the Vichy zone of The Very Rev. Hewlett Johnson, F (Continued on Page_ 2 Col. 5) second time in three days, bombed France; countenancing 'Nazi drafts Dean of Canterbury, who reecntly ormer ase sounded with the rapid;ty o: a warehouse area in southern Siam I u s B Says Ship of French labor for Ger returned from a visit to Russia, • • machine gun fire. Mayor work in yesterday, destroying quoted Stalin in an article in the many build- Every few minutes the air was MONTREAL, July 18-(CP)-Mr. many; supporting the Vichy Militia ings, starting Jap Casualties News Chronicle as making the fire■ and hitting a split with a loud blast and the earth Justice Alfred Forest in Superior and preventing the French Fleet beached ship. CHUNGKING, July 18- (BUP) Will Not Arrive the marriage from joining the Allied fleet aftec statement. for miles around shuddered under Court today annulled Mosquito bombers also were ac Triumphant Chinese troops Tuesday and the fall of France. • Acording to Johnson, Stalin told the concussion. of Patricia Bernier of Montreal In Battles tive, bombing gasoline and su�ply recaptured Kanhsien, site of a for• Venoit. Annulment In addition to these general charg Now him: Military Police, A.R.P. Wardens, Denis Philippe dumps at Paungzeik, southeast of mer American air base in Kiangsi Quebec Port proceedings were filed by the wife es, Petain is specifically char1ed "Mr. Churchill asked Gen. Game R.C.M.P and Civilian Police rushed At Toungoo. A road transport province, overcoming fanatical re• lin I.Gen. Maurice Garrt .elin, Alliec: als.r, was to the explosion district soon after on the grounds that the marriage with signing a separate peace witl, hit. sistance in a five-day street battle, Total 1,500,000 Generalissimo on h e western the first blast and co-operated in had not been consummated. Germany in violation of France's a communique announced today. blocking off all roads into the areas. QUEBEC, July 18-(CP)-Mayor Mr. Justice Forest said his ruling pledJed word. front) what was Russia's strength. William Pirie, Father Of Fall of the city came as other Gamelin said: 'Russia is empty. Lucien Borne said here tonight that was on the same grounds that were I Chinese forces converged on Kwei• Withdrawn Fire Boats Sen. F. W. Pirie, Passes the French liner Pasteur, carrying upheld in a recent marriage annul• Duke and Duchess of WASHINGTON, July 18-(AP) Russia has no strength.' Gamelin lin. another major air base and Fire boats which were rushed to service personnel back to Canada, ment case in England. British and American forces have and the French relied for this in• Away At Grand. Falls communications center, from three it &Or eturn u s the scene early tonight were with will not do�k at Quebec July 22 as "Tlie evidence estal:>lishes that the w·m d R killed or taken prisoner some formation on Poles who were ho& directions. The main force was driv drawn when was found that the had been previously announced. wife realized at the outset that her • • 1,500,000 Japanese to clear the way tile to Russia.'' ing ur, from the southwest and be• blaze was uncontrollable. Mayor Borne said the newly• husband was amoral and vicious," for what Admiral Nimitz calls the Johnson quoted Stalin as saying GRAND FALLS, N. B., July 18- sieging Yungfu, only 32 miles away. In clear view of the Bedford side established reception committee for His Judgment said. "She was sub• CAMPBELLTON, July 17- The "Pre-Invasion Stage," official fig. that it was easy for Britain and (CP)-William Pirie, 82, father of Another ,column was attackmg from of the basin the flames, stre4:hing returning war v�terans had come to jected by him to nil sorts of brutali-. Duke and Duchess of Windsor have ures indicated today. Russia to keep together when they Senator F. W. Pirie died at his Liangkiang, 14 miles west of the r for hundred of yards could be seen the conclusion that the pll,65enger ties, and his contraceptive conduct I returned to the United States atte An estimated 600,000 others heve were fighting Germany side by side home here late last night. He took Kwangsi province capital, while a reaching 150 feet into the air. Peri and freight sheds at Wolie's Cove m was in violation alike of the disposi- an enjoyable holiday spe1\t in th e been cut off or by-passed on Paci but that now, with, Germany beat a prominent part in community third was aimed at Hsinganhsien, 32 1 odically, pillar� of flarr.es shot high the Quebec harbor will not be ready lions of the civil code and the Canon Restigouche River disf.rict. They fie Islands. Still thousands of 0th en, it was less easy to avoid frlc• affairs and was widely known In miles northeast of Kweilin. into the air as new explo.sions were for Sunday when the Pasteur was law. The testimony of the priest were guests of I. W. Killam, :Moil- ers have perished in China. tion. the business life of the province. The capture of Kweilin would aet off. previously scheduled to arrive. I who is charged with the defence of treal financier, and Mrs. Killam, at · (President Chiang Kai-Shek - re- "But we want to do ft," Stalin Surviving- are his wife, three leave the Japanese only four of the There was no official indication Mayor Borne saic;l that the h&rbor the marriage hlmd in the Diocese I lodges of the Restigouche SalillC.tl ported recently that 1,203,067 Jap was quoted as saying. "We want to sons, Senator Pirie, Harold J. Piri-s_O_f_B_lasts :: him the extra benefits of ;: The 40 million meals served troops shipbuilding, textile industries, to 11. Libby's strained and then .., aml passengers bacco, food processing, rubber and other government