The roots of bostons christmas tree go back 100 years to a. Photographs portray halifax after the catastrophe, as well as the beginnings of the recovery efforts. Halifax explosion project gutenberg selfpublishing. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism, which launched tuesday with a great event at michigans rackham auditorium. The town that died was first published in 1962 and covered the explosion of the french freighter mont blanc on december 6, 1917 that nearly obliterated the canadian town of halifax.
Ablaze, and with explosions on her deck filling the sky, the mont blanc grounded. The halifax explosion of 1917 canada history and mysteries. The halifax explosion was the explosion of the mont blanc that destoryed a good section of the city. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet f. An anchor, weighing 1140 pounds landed some 2 miles away at armdale. Vessels were loading cargo, awaiting convoys, or under repair. Nearly 2,000 people died and some 9,000 were injured in the disaster, which flattened more than 1 square mile 2. The ship was blown apart and a powerful blast wave radiated away from the explosion at more than 1,000 metres 3,300 ft per second. A french munitions ship, the montblanc, bound for europe and the western front, collided in the busy harbour with a belgian relief ship, the imo.
The hms highflyer was involved in halifax and the ss high flyer was involved in texas city. I made it a point to walk from the harbouurfront to the anchor site in order to appreciate. On thursday morning, 6 december 1917, she entered halifax harbour in nova scotia, canada laden with a full cargo of highly volatile explosives. The place where the anchor shank came to rest on the morning of december 6, 1917. In early december, 1917, it approached the port city of halifax on the eastern shore of canada. The halifax explosion still reverberates the globe and mail.
Bacons the great halifax explosion trace the reverberations of the deadly disaster. The explosion was ignited after the french ship mont blanc, carrying 2,500 tons of high explosives and a deckload of monochlorobenzene, collided with the imo, a norwegian vessel, in what is known as the narrows, a strait that connects the halifax harbour to bedford basin. Halifax harbour was crowded with wartime shipping on december 6, 1917. A cargo ship accident that occurred between a french ship carrying explosives and a norwegian vessel carrying provisions for wartime relieving provisions, the halifax disaster in 1917 happened just towards the fagend of the first world war. On december 6, 1917, the french freighter montblanc and norwegian ship imo collided in halifax harbour. The mont blanc in halifax and the grand camp in texas city were both french registered. Dec 06, 2017 100 years after the great halifax explosion steve inskeep talks with author john u. On the morning of december 6th, 1917 in the port city of halifax, nova scotia, an explosion took place that obliterated half of the town in an instant. Halifax explosion, also called halifax explosion of 1917 or the great halifax explosion, devastating explosion on december 6, 1917, that occurred when a munitions ship blew up in the harbour of halifax, nova scotia, canada. The halifax explosion marking the 100th anniversary of one. Nov 09, 2017 as onlookers watched in amazement, flames reached the explosives in the mont blanc s hold, triggering an explosion that destroyed large parts of halifax and, across the harbour, dartmouth. Ss mont blanc, a french cargo ship fully loaded with wartime explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin. The norwegian vessel ss imo collided with ss montblanc, a french cargo ship laden with high explosives, in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin, causing a large explosion on the french freighter, devastating the richmond district of halifax. Mont blanc pilot francis mackey recalls halifax 1917 explosion the story fifty years later, the mont blanc s pilot maintains his ship had the right of way in the collision that sparked the disaster.
As the imo proceeded out of the narrows, the french munitions ship, montblanc, was on her way in. It had been sent to halifax by the british, because it was too slow for the american convoys. Oct 11, 2019 two men on the halifax side who had learned that an explosion was imminent were vincent coleman, a railway dispatcher in the nearby railway yards, and william lovett, chief clerk of the yards, who was warning people in the yards about the mont blanc s deadly cargo. An anchor from the mont blanc was found five kilometres from the. The explosion laid waste to much of halifax, killing. The halifax explosion devastated the north end of the city, killing nearly 2,000 and injuring 9,000. Heroic dispatcher keyed warning, perished in cataclysmic halifax explosion back to video vincent colemans last words, tapped out in the dots and dashes of morse code, raced. Jul 14, 2017 a newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion. Members of the halifax fire department responded quickly, and were positioning their engine up to the nearest hydrant when ss mont blanc disintegrated in a blinding white flash, creating the biggest manmade explosion before the nuclear age. Beyond the halifax explosion, cuthbertson is the author of numerous books. Deadly blast and shock waves headed for halifax and nearby dartmouth. He often told me stories about the disaster, but i never heard or read about it anywhere else.
In 1917, two ships collided in halifax harbor, resulting in the largest explosion in history up to that time. Dec 06, 2017 on the bright, freezing morning of dec. Part of its anchor shaft, weighing over 1100 pounds, flew clear over the city and landed here, more than two miles away. There are some curious similarities between the halifax disaster of 1917 and the texas city texas disaster of 1947. On december 6th, two of themthe mont blanc and the imocollided in the narrows, a hardtonavigate stretch of the harbor. The halifax explosions untold story of mikmaw communities lost. Visit mont blanc anchor site on your trip to halifax or canada. Large, oceangoing ships in the harbour were completely. Effort to save chair with possible halifax explosion link.
Globe magazine the roots of bostons christmas tree go back 100 years to a disaster in halifax during world war i, bostons response to a devastating explosion in nova scotia created an. A halfton chunk of its anchor still lies where it landed 2. Halifax explosion memorial halifax, nova scotia atlas obscura. Halifax explosion dec 6, 1917 at halifax, the french munitions ship mont blanc. I first heard about the halifax explosion from my canadian grandfather, who was 12 years old in 1917 when mont blanc blew up. The explosion was so violent that a one of the mont blanc s guns flew over 3. I made it a point to walk from the harbouurfront to the anchor site in order to appreciate the magnitude of the distance this anchor traveled. For the 800 or so folks who just about filled the place, thank. The halifax explosion was the explosion of the mont blanc that destoryed a good. A piece of the montblancs fivehundredkilogram anchor soared. Fascinated by the halifax explosion, i decided to find the site where the anchor of the mont blanc landed. Dec 12, 2019 the halifax explosion is regarded an unparalleled chapter in the history of maritime disasters. Bacons book, called the great halifax explosion, reconstructs what happened on december 6.
Ablaze, and with explosions on her deck filling the sky, the mont blanc grounded against the citys docks. At the same time as the mont blanc sailed in, a second ship the imo prepared. What frank baker heard was the biggest explosion of the preatomic age. Oct 09, 2015 on december 6, 1917, harbour pilot francis mackey was guiding mont blanc, a french munitions ship, into bedford basin to join a convoy across the atlantic when it was rammed by belgian relief vessel imo. The blast released an explosive force equal to about 2. An armchair believed to have been constructed with a piece of anchor from the halifax explosion is. A century ago this week, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian. Montblanc pilot francis mackey recalls halifax 1917. The montblanc was vapourized, and part of its anchor flew nearly 4km away. Dec 06, 2017 the explosion was ignited after the french ship mont blanc, carrying 2,500 tons of high explosives and a deckload of monochlorobenzene, collided with the imo, a norwegian vessel, in what is known as the narrows, a strait that connects the halifax harbour to bedford basin. Dec 03, 2017 on the 100 year anniversary of the halifax explosion, global news set out to map the homes of as many of the victims as we could and the results paint a staggering picture of the human cost of.
The halifax explosion is regarded an unparalleled chapter in the history of maritime disasters. The disastrous 1917 explosion of a munitions ship in halifax harbor, nova scotia, forms the backdrop to this rich, abundantly humane love story chicago tribunea powerful piece of work washington post book world that marks an auspicious fiction debut for an already accomplished author and awardwinning journalist chicago suntimes. Montblanc pilot francis mackey recalls halifax 1917 explosion the story fifty years later, the montblancs pilot maintains his ship had the right of way in the collision that sparked the disaster. Anchor shaft blown miles from exploding ship the ss mont blanc blew up in halifax harbor in 1917. It resulted in over 2000 deaths, 6000 injured, and 9000 people left homeless. She arrived from the new york harbor too late on december 5 to enter the harbor that day. Stern of montblanc before the explosion during a prewar visit to halifax, aug. The blast took its greatest toll in the richmond district of halifax.
A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism bacon, john u. The great halifax explosion sheds new light on this sad but fascinating event. A newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly halifax explosion. The mont blanc was instantly fragmented, with much of it vaporising in the giant fireball that rose over a mile into the air. The imo speared the montblanc at an angle near its bow.
Ss mont blanc drifted by a halifax pier, brushing it and setting it ablaze. Alumnus book explores halifax explosion western alumni. Western alumnus ken cuthbertson grew up hearing the stories. The halifax explosion occurred on december 6, 1917, when the city of halifax, nova scotia, canada, was devastated by the detonation of the ss mont blanc, a french cargo ship that was fully loaded with wartime explosives. Ships of the halifax explosion maritime museum of the. The explosion occurred after two shipsthe montblanc and imocollided in halifax harbour.
The montblanc in halifax and the grand camp in texas city were both french registered. Today in historythe halifax explosion occurred on december when the city of halifax in nova scotia, canada, was devastated by the detonation of the ss mont blanc, a french cargo ship that was fully loaded with wartime explosives. Mont blanc and imo and the halifax explosion of 1917. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star.
Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i thats been called the worlds first weapon of. Halifax became the standard of blast comparisons for decades. The halifax explosion was the deadliest disaster in canadian history. The mont blanc was a floating munitions dump carrying an incredibly large amount of explosive material to aid the allied armies during the first world war.
On december 6th, two of them the mont blanc and the imo collided in the narrows, a hardtonavigate stretch of the harbor. Mont blanc blew up to cause the halifax explosion, this shank of the anchor of the mont blanc flew 2. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship fully loaded with wartime explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to. The montblanc detonated after colliding with the norwegian ss imo in a part of halifax. Montblancs captain, the halifax pilot who guided the. The montblanc was on its way to europe with six million pounds of high explosives, its cargo intended for the battlefields of world war i. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. The mont blanc was a french munitions ship owned by cie. Halifax explosion memorial halifax, nova scotia atlas. Hidden history is a diary series that explores forgotten and littleknown areas of. Heroic dispatcher keyed warning, perished in cataclysmic halifax explosion back to video vincent colemans last words, tapped.
On the morning of december 6th, 1917 in the port city of halifax, nova scotia, an explosion took place that obliterated half of the town in an instant a french munitions ship, the mont blanc. Members of the halifax fire department responded quickly, and were positioning their engine up to the nearest hydrant when ss montblanc disintegrated in a blinding white flash, creating the. A newly discovered diary tells the harrowing story of the deadly. Bacons new book, the great halifax explosion, recounts the catastrophe that unfolded when two ships collided in halifax harbor on dec. Mont blanc anchor site halifax 2020 all you need to. The roots of bostons christmas tree go back 100 years to. Franceamerique line, out of marseilles, which had arrived from gravesend bay, new york. Marc wortman has written three history books, including 1941. Kitz 4 times halifax explosion by graham metson 3 times too many to mourn by james mahar 3 times burden. Mac donald read 22 may 2017 this book tells of the explosion caused by a collision of two ships, the mont blanc and the imo, in the harbor at halifax, nova scotia, on 6 dec 1917. Bacon about a ship collision and explosion during world war i. Dec 06, 2015 and now a page from our sunday morning almanac.
The dramatic story of one of the greatest disasters in history in 1917, the port of halifax, nova scotia, was crowded with ships leaving for wartorn europe. Ss montblanc drifted by a halifax pier, brushing it and setting it ablaze. I picked this after hearing about the release of a book about the same topic, though written by an american. Macdonald details the events leading up to the explosion as well as the aftermath. Mont blanc anchor site halifax all you need to know. With roots running deep into nova scotia, the veteran journalist spent countless summers as a boy on the coast visiting his mothers side of the family. View the wreck of the mont blanc and learn about the history of. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. On the morning of december 6th, 1917 in the port city of halifax, nova scotia, an explosion took place that obliterated half of the town in an instant a french munitions ship, the montblanc. The halifax explosion occurred on december 6, 1917, when the city of halifax, nova scotia, canada, was devastated by the detonation of the ss montblanc, a french cargo ship that was fully loaded with wartime explosives. The immense power of the blast was such that the mont blancs 454 kg halfton anchor shank fell to the earth over 3 km 2 miles away. In 1917, the port of halifax, nova scotia, was crowded with ships leaving for wartorn europe. The resulting massive explosion destroyed halifaxs north end and left at least two thousand people dead, including pilot william hayes aboard.
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