Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Disaster In Halifax Harbor...!


The most devastating explosion of it's kind happened on this date in 1917, causing unforgettable damage and destruction.

Accidents like this was probably the main force behind so many of the safety procedures we follow today! I would hope this never happens again!

Dec 6, 1917:
The Great Halifax Explosion

At 9:05 a.m., in the harbor of Halifax in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, the most devastating manmade explosion in the pre-atomic age occurs when the Mont Blanc, a French munitions ship, explodes 20 minutes after colliding with another vessel.

As World War I raged in Europe, the port city of Halifax bustled with ships carrying troops, relief supplies, and munitions across the Atlantic Ocean. On the morning of December 6, the Norwegian vessel Imo left its mooring in Halifax harbor for New York City. At the same time, the French freighter Mont Blanc, its cargo hold packed with highly explosive munitions--2,300 tons of picric acid, 200 tons of TNT, 35 tons of high-octane gasoline, and 10 tons of gun cotton--was forging through the harbor's narrows to join a military convoy that would escort it across the Atlantic.

At approximately 8:45 a.m., the two ships collided, setting the picric acid ablaze. The Mont Blanc was propelled toward the shore by its collision with the Imo, and the crew rapidly abandoned the ship, attempting without success to alert the harbor of the peril of the burning ship. Spectators gathered along the waterfront to witness the spectacle of the blazing ship, and minutes later it brushed by a harbor pier, setting it ablaze. The Halifax Fire Department responded quickly and was positioning its engine next to the nearest hydrant when the Mont Blanc exploded at 9:05 a.m. in a blinding white flash.

The massive explosion killed more than 1,800 people, injured another 9,000--including blinding 200--and destroyed almost the entire north end of the city of Halifax, including more than 1,600 homes. The resulting shock wave shattered windows 50 miles away, and the sound of the explosion could be heard hundreds of miles away.

This was, without a doubt, a terrible tragedy! Even though it was a long time ago, the lessons learned from this type of incident have more than likely saved a great many lives. I certainly hope that's the case!

Back in the kitchen again for our coffee this morning. Too cold for me outside!

12 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

I think I'd heard the term before, but not the details.

HermitJim said...

Hey Gorges...
Many events from long ago don't get much play in our history books, especially if they happened in Canada!

Such a massive disaster should be remembered if for no other reason than as a learning tool!

Thanks so much for coming by today!

gipsiwriter said...

I had never heard this. Very interesting. I so very enjoy coffee with you in the morning ;)

Sixbears said...

I knew about it, but I've family roots in that area.

As a former Firefighter, I never gawk at disaster scenes. I get the the heck out of Dodge. When I was on the job, it was my duty to be there. Now that I'm retired and know the dangers, I don't hang around. Curiosity can kill you. My kids have learned the lesson well.

Anonymous said...

I never heard of this either - talk about The Big Bang Theory - man, that was some major carnage! Larger than 9/11 too . . .

Phelan said...

wow

Ben in Texas said...

Never heard a word about that.
Growing up in Texas , in public school they told us about the 1900 hurricane that took Galveston and touched on the Texas City explosion and fire. But they didn't bother much with US or World History other than Pearl Harbor

JoJo said...

I had never heard of this either. Thank you for posting this.

I need to venture out with Fred and its 29. I sure will be ready for a good hot cup when I get back.

Dizzy-Dick said...

And then there was the 1947 Texas City explosion. A ship being loaded with nitrogen fertilizer went BOOM.

HermitJim said...

Hey Gipsiwriter...
Always seems to be another story lurking somewhere to be re-discovered!

Thanks so much for coming by this morning!


Hey Sixbears...
Being an onlooker can put you in the way and could get you hurt, like you say!

I'm sure that you have seen more than your share of disasters. I'm glad you taught the kids to G.O.O.D.!

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey Anon 7:28...
I can only imagine the terrible sight that area must have been!

I hope to never see anything like that!

I sure thank you for coming over this morning!


Hey Phelan...
Pretty serious, huh?

Hope having a real tree in your place works out for you, my friend!

Thanks for dropping by today!


Hey Ben...
Yep, here in Texas so much of our lessons in history were sad, to say the least!

Thanks, buddy, for coming by this morning!


Hey JoJo...
Bet ol' Fred won't spend any more time than necessary outside today!

You stay warm, sweetie, and thanks for coming over this morning!


Hey Dizzy...
I've seen the anchor from that explosion and read up on the history a bit! Terrible thing!

Film footage from Texas City shows what a mess that area was in after the explosion! It was bad!

Thanks for coming this morning, my friend!

TROUBLEnTX said...

Hope i never have to see something like that. See enough on the news.

HermitJim said...

Hey Trouble...
Sad is right! The news la5tely is just filled with bad stories, especially of parents killing their children!

The world seems to have gone NUTS!

Thanks for coming by today!