Blizzard of Glass

Walker, Sally M. Blizzard of Glass. 2011. 160p. ISBN 0805089454. Available at 971.6 WAL on the library shelves.

The massive war effort during the First World War meant that thousands of ships were needed to transport soldiers, horses, equipment, and munitions from North America to Europe. Atlantic harbors were very busy, and the presence of German submarines forced those harbors to take defensive measures and to keep ships protected within their confines.

Thus, it would have seemed absolutely normal for residents of Halifax to see  a large number of ships moving in and out of the harbor. But on December 6, 1917, one of those ships carried a full cargo of explosives, explosive powders, and explosive chemicals. Heavily laden, the Mont Blanc was entering the harbor when it collided with the Imo, a Belgian Relief ship carrying supplies and food to Europe. Fire ignited aboard the Mont Blanc, and knowing the ship lost, the crew fled. The drifting and burning ship hit a pier and, as people tried to put out the fire and as many onlookers watched, exploded, resulting in the largest man-made explosion until the atomic bomb.

The Richmond neighborhood was completely destroyed, and over 1,500 people were killed and 9,000 injured. All buildings within a twelve mile radius lost their windows, leading to, as a witness reported, “a blizzard of glass.” Rescue efforts ensued, but the next day another blizzard, this time of snow, dropped more than 12 inches of snow, hampering relief.

This book describes the disaster, from the ships and the crew involved to the heroic efforts at putting the fire and the deaths and reconstruction that resulted. Weaved through are the accounts of several survivors and how this explosion affected their lives.

For another example of man-made catastrophe, take a look at The Great Fire, the history of the Chicago fire of 1871 that destroyed most of the city.