The Winnipeg Tribune from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Page 1

'TRIEVNAL TO PROBE DISASTER TO PROBE USE DF DISASTER TTAH'A, Cec. 7 Owir.g to tlic 1 itif.5T)ituili of the (JWater ran.sJ by tY.t- collision of ships in Halifax harbor, the d'Martmrnt of marine and fisheries has decided that it slial! be Inquired Into by a special tribunal. The court to b(; instituted will consist of a Judge of the N'ova Scotia tiupreme court, preferably a Judsc of tb admiralty, assisted by. two If hi'iicdl advisors, one a naval man and tin- a mereanti'e marine pert. Tiie j'jdup and his odvi.scrs be by counsel to -Ins appointed by t'ie government.

Thi iippolntnurnls have not yet be. -n made, but as Hon. Justice Ijrysda'e is the only admiralty jude of thf Nova Soctiii supreme court 1 11 is pr.i'.'.itili' that be will be th bead of the commisxion of irquiry. The will oornmi'nce upon Hs tasli at i.s earlv a date as possible. AdMces by the naval department as to the CNtcnt of the daniiiKc done I) admiialty and other property and of life are sti'l mu-'il i.n Puna Two.) k.

vT flV fcff Weather U. UL-pJ Id Max. 8.D; Mln. 16,6 below HONEST NEW HONEST VIEWS HONEST ADVERTISING i 11 if Sun sets today 4.23. Sat- mmm mm, ana "0aY aw.

a) e- 1 1 Ju- jl urday, rises 8.10, t.ets cDB ION vol xxvm. Winnipeg, Friday, December 7, 1917 -twentx--fu N0.288 j--" iwitraii mm tuns if in aw Halifax started today to count its dead. So great is the task that there is no hope of completing it for days; the toll still can be estimated only roughly and in terms of hundreds. Two thousand is the most authentic figure. That estimate, made by the Halifax police Thursday night, remained unchanged this afternoon.

But another estimate, telegraphed this morning by an American naval commander in Halifax harbor to his government in Washington, places the death toll at 5,000. Estimates of the number injured are even more obscure. The police guess is "from 2,000 to 4,000." Newspaper correspondents report that one out of two of all persons in the city not killed by the explosion were injured. If this is true, the number is nearer 20,000 than 2,000. There are no extended lists yet of dead and injured.

Halifax is too busy relieving the suffering of survivors to prepare reports. Only two lists, containing a few names gathered by newspapers, have been issued. They represent a small fraction of the total. As to property loss, there is not'even a guess. The magnitude of the death list blots out consideration of the cost in dollars.

When there is a reckoning, it will be found that the figure runs far into the millions. The extent of the disaster surpasses imagination. It is the greatest catastrophe of modern times. In point of numbers killed and injured, it is worse than the Empress of Ireland and Lusitania disasters combined; it is man' times greater than the Eastland tragedy in Chicago river, the San Francisco earthquake or the destruction of the Titanic; it is worse than the sum total of all the German air raids on England. It is the worst disaster that has ever befallen a city in the New World.

1 Half of Halifax is in ruins. The area of greatest destruction measure more than two square miles. Bodies of uncounted dead are strewn throughout the tangled mass of debris that stretches from the Queen's hotel, in the centre of the city, up towards the northern limits. Practically every building that remains standing has been converted into a hospital or a morgue, to receive the suffering survivors or the bodies of the slain. Words cannot describe the sCenes of physical suffering or the demonstrations of mental anguish of who have lost relatives, friends, everything.

There are uncounted instances of Avhole families wiped out, of sole survivors of large families, of miraculous escapes. Relief trains, bearing physicians, nurses and supplies, have been rushed to the city. Hundreds of offers of assistance have been received from all parts of the continent. It is inconceivable that the explosion of one ship could have caused such a tremendous disaster, even though it is known that 3,000 tons of "T.N.T.,1 the most violent explosive known to chemistry, was stored in 113 UUlUSi HALIFAX SETS BRAVELY TO WORK TO SUCCOR LIVING HALIFAX, Dec. 7 Following in the wake of desth destruction In this city yesterday, a heavy snowstorm set in early this morning, adding to the discomfort of the homeless, and impeding the work of rescuers.

Fires are etill burning in the devastated area and the fire department is atill at work. The fall of snowv however, will assist them In subduing the fires In the ruins. The devastated area extends from North st. to Afrieville, on the ehores of Bedford Basin, and about two miles from the waterfront west to Gottin-gen st. three-quarters of a mile.

Special trains from Moncton, Truro and Windsor have arrived here, bringing doctors, nurses and medical supplies. Specisl trains with injured have also been sent to Windsor and other points whera there ara large hosp.tals. Business is till upended and will be for day. All the achool and colleges in th city have been closed, and will not re-open until after the new year. Trere is wreck and ruin on every ide.

There i not a building in the city that did not uffer from damage. All are without glass, plaster i down and window and doors scattered. On every side carpenters and property owners ara boarding up their premises to keep out the storm. All the power plants are still idle. Bluejackets from an American warship in port did patrol duty on all the streets of the city last niqht.

All hospitals, many buildings and scores of homes turned into temporary hospitals, are filled with seriously injured, many of whom are dying. Dozens of morgues, hurriedly fitted up, contain long and ever lengthening rows of whits covered, silent vctims of the explosion and fire. Many of the bodies are unrecognizable. The war litis laid a heavy hand on Halifax. Sorrow and anguish are left in its trail.

Where only a few hours ago the most prosperous city In Canada stood secure in her own defenses, unafraid and almost apathetic, there are now heups of ruins. No one can yet estimate the loss of life ar.d property and words foil to describe he mental anguish of those who have lost home and dear ones by one cruel stroke. Tho busy and thriving North End, from the sugar refinery to Crcighton's Corner, Is Just a mass of broken, splifitered timbers, of powdered brick and stone and human bodies crushed to pulp or charred and blackened by Are. The clash came as suddenly and unexpectedly ns the Zeppelin bombs have fallen on undefended English towns and the effect has been worse. Five minutes before the explosion men were going about their business, women were busy in their homes and children played about the floors or were hurrying to school.

Up the harbor steamed a ship laden with munitions and down the harbor came a ship flying the Norwegian flf S. They drew nearer and in some w-ay the two vessels came Into collision. It was 25 minutes after tho collision before the explosion occurred. At the first shock houses rocked, vessels broke from their moorings, bits of shell whistled through the air, buildings fell on their occupants, shrieks and moans rose for a second above the awful din, and In all parts of the city men, women and children ran into the streets, many of'them Insufficiently clad. To add to the horrors Are broke out In a hundred places, and those who were pinned down by debris met the most horrible death.

CROWDS FLEE FMOM COLLAPSING BUILDINGS Orders were at nrst given everybody should flee to the south of the city and In a short time Harrington st. resembled a read of Belgium or Perb'a when the people fled before the advancing Hun. Every variety of vehicle wa3 pressed into service for the sick and Infirm. Men. women and children hurried along the pavements and blocked the streets.

Store were deserted, houses foreaken and the entrance to the park wm soon black with human be-I ings. some massed tn groups, ime running anxiously back and fort.t like ants when their hill has been crashed. There were blanched faces and trembling hands, a few had tears pour.ng down over thelv cheeks, but I there was no undue excitement and no disorder. The wildest rumors were In circulation, and every bearer of tiding was Immediately surrounded. The stories loht nothing In the elllr.a: until the brain reeled and the heart grew sick tryiior to picture the horror and desolation.

When the flying automobiles brought the word that tho danger as undr control, and the people night return to their homs the crowd trekked back. Many, relieved of Immediate fear for I themselves, bethought thenf of rela. tlves and friends In the North End, and started to walk th r. Most ol thein returned heart -sick from tha sights they saw. From Nortli st.

on the horrors and the wreckage grew. On the one sld' the King Edward hotel stood a practical wreck, on the other the central portion of the railway station no longer existed. Hut the wreckage tip tot nd Including this point whs nqthinff to that beyond. Houses were simply Indistinguishable masse-, where they had not been devoured by the flame that rose and fell, that roared and seethed nnd made tit place like a smelting oven. The story that the military hor tal at Koekhead had been and all the patient killed la fortunately untrue.

Dr. Almcn. C.M.i.. stated tnat nobody was seriously Injured In that hospital, excepting pos-sib'i' Mrs. Ward, wife of the former 1 (Contltinr-l en I'ate Two.) 1 I Here Is Where Munitions Ship Blew Up 1" This picture how not only the scene of greatest damage, but alto the exact location of the munition chip when it exploded.

All of thia part of the great Halifax waterfront was destroyed. Hundred of workmen en the dookt and in the warehouse and acorea of men en eh i pa were killed. At the background it the entrance to B-dford fcin, where he xploion occurred. The effect on the docks and warehoueet and op the ships in the harbo, can be rrahted. when it it ated tht 3 000 ton of "TNT," the ot violent explosive known to chemistry, wa stored in the munition.

hip's ca go. NT." is ued i rnufacture rf he'ls. Winnipeg Offers Helping Hand To Halifax Citizens Made Homeless By Catastrophe Mayor Telegraphs Message of Sympathy City May Send Relief Train Winnipeg will do everything In It? power to assist the injured, and destitute people of Halifax. Mayor Davidson telegraphed Mayor Peter Martin, of that city, today offering any service Winnipeg can advance. "The City of Winnipeg extends deep sympathy In your great calamity." the mayor's message said.

"I'leaso wire what assistance we can render." Controller Charles F. Gray su-j-ested that the board of controi independently forward another message supplementing that of Mayor Davidson. The members decided to wait until they learn the actual needs of the citizens und what Winnipeg can do to send relief. If material help Is required Winnipeg may ship a caf filled with l.ithlng and other necessities to the wrecked city. Suggestions to ihis effect were received In the city hall and were considered favorably.

Nothing will be done, however, until a reply to the mayor's is le ceived. The city council, Monday evu.ing, probably will extend sympathy to the ail iii. Ii I i I lil I I i I I I I I I I'M I I I I.I I I I I I I I citizens of Halifax and authorize any grant that may b( necessary. Hon. T.

H. Johnson, acting premier of Manitoba, announced that the provincial government was wiring the authorities at Halifax expressiriK deepest sympathy for the disaster Th tsday, and offerliiK help in whatever form Is most needed. The Winnipeg board of trado forwarded the following mesfc to th on Tage 1 1 1 1 1 km 1 1 1.1 1 1 1 1 1 1 iiiM.i 1.1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 19 Persons Killed In 1 Dartmouth by Explosion DARTMOUTH. N.S., Dec. 7 Nineteen people re known to be dead in Dartmouth as a result of the calamity of Thursday.

There are a num- si ber still missing and othere are jS presumed to have been killed. The dead are: Conrad G. Olan; Barker, child about six years; j- colored man, name unlearned; five un'dentified, one presum- ed to be Charles Sprum, an- other a little Indian girl; Mrs. James Cooper, Hawthorne 5 Miss Baxter, North Dart- mouth; Mrs, Wright, North 5 Dartmouth; Mrs. Bent.

Mr. Shrum. Mrs. Gay, child of Mr. tj and Mrs.

Staples, three un- identified. dliiiii 1 MlilMI 1 1 llMhliiil.il pi 11 1 Mi. I 1 1 1 1 III I' 1, 11 In mill milium 11 11 11 1m1n.11.1n1 1.1 1 .1:11.1 11:111 1 111 11,1 1.1.1:1 11 1 111 1,1 nun 1 1 1:1 11 1 111 11 1.1 1 1.1.' 11111,1.1 I TRIBUNE TRUMPS 1 in 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 rn 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 in i ri'i i mi in ii i ii i i'i 1 1 1 in 1 1 1 vi vi 1 1 i.i mi in nil i it 1 1 nil 1 i ri rriiii.i 1 1 i.t ri i.ri" I Ii ill 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 "1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i i.i 1 1 1 1 A vole for I nion ernnier.t is a vote for Canada. The public will expect Hid Hutch to break into verse. This uirt of the Western front will be found u.

K. on election day. Help the Clirtttmas Campaign fi Cheer the homes uf Wlnniprg fightera. See that your name is on the voteis' list. Inspect the lifts.

Take no chances. The lTth inst if not ilie longest, a'tll be tl.e dreariest day of tho year for the An'is. 'a Iauri'r's lifteen-year tnriff record should blackball him in the minds Of every pai tariff reformer. Working with ov.e eye on the elock and tht other on work is n.t the worst tiling. One can keep both i eyes on the clock.

i'- I l.l I I I 1 1 I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I.I III 1 1 I I I I 1 1 1 I.t 1 1 I I I.I.I I I Teachers of French arc enjoying a great boom in business just now. -'o woman Is going to (ia' her bus-band or swevthtart return from th trenches and say something she can't understand. Vote for Union Government and save Vol kindred. Don't desert 'lie men who risk their lives to defend YOU against an enemy whose brutalities have shocked the civilized world. Would the Germans vote for a referendum or the Immediate dis-pab of troops to back up our toys fighting and dying at the front.

The issue In the contest Is clear. Impend upon this, that th i raen who fight to save Canada' i Vnor abroad, will nsui'edly iluii' the interests of Canad at home. The Unior! Government apiVit, -nw i i every timaii lb tf I Canij. I 1:1 I'I HI I til "I i i i i i i in i I 1 1 i'i i "i i i i I I i It is good news to hear 01 Ire rapid recovery of Hon. A.

U. ilu 1-son from Ms recent lilnets. He is one of Manitoba's noblest sons, and the man who did as much as any other man in Canada to lring alout Union Government. Extract from a great deliverance: "And If the dead could vote everyone of those who have fa. Ion in battle would pierce the soil with his bony hand and fling a vote of condemnation In tue faces of those men whose" policies imperil tl.e grrat cause for which our dead heroes have given their lives." Editor Trumps: In the -window of the central Laurier 'committee i rooms in the Lindsay building is a sign written in pencil which rends in part as follows: "Cars urgently I needed to et the vote out." Corre.t-j pomlcnt is of the opinion that out-side of that yellow car a few of 1 those two horse carnues would be, louDd ample.

ESTIMATES 5,000 ARE 1 1 LLE 0 WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 Five thousand persons are believed to have been killed In the explosion In Halifax harbor and in the fire hich swept North Halifax and Dartmouth, N.S., necording to advices from a I naval commander reaching the navy department early today. The navy dispatch sa.vs theRe figures have not been verltled, however. The report given out by the navy department Is ns follows: I "The following report was received from a naval commander at Halifax: "While miles at sea the explosion of ammunitions ship was seen and hoard. Upon arrival, assistance was offered to the authorities and the following 'c-arned cortcornlng the rlrcuni8tnnces leading up to the explosion "A Uolglan relief ship collided w'th a French munitions ves-el loaded with tons of and a large i quantity of benziti Due to the col- lision tho benzine caught fire, and as soon as the fire started the crew abandoned the ship, reaching shore bcfuie the rxplurlan took all of North Hal fa'? was destroyed, and all of the windows and doors In lUlitax anu Dartmouth ere, demolished.

"It is believed there arc 5,000 dead, but figures cannot be confirmed. The exp'oslon sunn ships and badly damaged many others. Tho ruins of the buildings are now burning fiercely in North Halifax." ENTIRE ORPHANAGE PED OUT BY EXPLOSION HALIFAX. Dec .7 The matron at the Protestant ornhsnage and all the chillren In her care save two, are believed to htive perished. Of the (wo who escaped, one was In the at the time.

The other waa not The child who was tn the building i says that when the explosion came Mi.ss Knaut tailed to the children to euuie ith her to the ba'emept. Evidently she thought a bomb had fallen from the air. Thirty girls einpioyed at the Richmond Printing company are all reported dead. FOR LIST OF DiAD AND IN- JURfcD IN HALIFAX DISA8- TER SEE PAGE 2. IIP HALIFAX!) Disaster has befallen one of Winnipeg's sister cities disaster so great that imagination cannot compass its full extent.

Halifax hat suffered the greatest tragedy of modern times, far greater in point of numbers killed than the destruction of th Lusitania, th Titanic or the Eastland, greater than the San Francisco earthquake, greater than all the air raids on England. Thousands of her citizens have been killed. Thousand mor have been rendered homeles and pennile. What will Winnipeg do about it? What will YOU do about it? The city voted today to offer money to relieve suffering and provide for immediate needs of the stricken Halifsx. Hundreds of thoussnds of dollars are required.

To give Western Canadian an opportunity to atsist, Th Tribune announces the opening of a subscription fund. The Tribune does not wish to interfere with th Citizens' Christmas Fund campaign. Winnipeg must raise $50,000 to provide for soldiers' families. But it believes that thousands of Winnipegger and ether in Western Canada will welcome thia additional opportunity to display their Christmas spirit. Personal Christmas expenditure can be curtailed.

Who can lavish money en Cluittin gift while Halifax uffeit? What kind of a Christmas will Halifax people have? All funds rsceived by The Tribune will be forwarded immediately to an authorized and responsible relief organization in Halifax. FILL OUT THIS BLANK TRIBUNE-HALIFAX FUND EDITOR, cej-e of Tie Tribune I hereby subscribe to The Tribune-Halifax Fund, to be devoted to the relief of suffering in stricken Halifax. NAME ADDRESS Mak rhrqnm payable in The Trlhnne Pehlkililnf Ltd. Ponon! rrlpta will he nt la all donor. A full aeronnlln of nnnry received and forwarded will be flreo.).