Bearing Witness
Journalists, Record Keepers and the 1917 Halifax Explosion
“A compelling read, and a tribute to the courage and determination of those reporters who had to confront scenes of terrible misery, at considerable risk and with compassion.”
About the book
At approximately 8:45 a.m. on 6 December 1917, the Belgian Relief vessel IMO struck the munitions-laden freighter Mont-Blanc in Halifax Harbour. The Mont-Blanc exploded in a devastating 2.9 kiloton blast, which killed 2,000 people and injured 9,000. More than 6,000 people were made homeless, and an additional 12,000 were left without shelter.
Bearing Witness tells the story of the Explosion, and the catastrophic damage it caused, through the eyes and words of more than two dozen journalists and record keepers who experienced it first hand. Their accounts reveal a unique perspective, offering new detail about the tragedy and providing insight into the individuals who struggled to articulate the magnitude of the shocking event to the rest of the world.
In addition to the original work by journalists and record keepers, Michael Dupuis provides over 30 photographs and illustrations, several previously unseen, and a detailed timeline of journalistic activities from the time of the Explosion on December 6 to December 16.
What people are saying
Winnipeg Free PressThis timely book brings a valuable archive into easy reach of the armchair historian. It will help readers both understand and share in the work of remembering this extraordinary event.
Janet Maybee, author of AftershockA compelling read, and a tribute to the courage and determination of those reporters who had to confront scenes of terrible misery, at considerable risk and with compassion.
Barry Cahill, biographer of the Halifax Relief CommissionThis documentary history will immediately establish itself as an indispensable handbook for all students of the Halifax disaster.
Contents
- Preface
- Foreword (Alan Ruffman)
- Introduction
- The Role of Canada’s Chief Press Censor – Lieutenant-Colonel Ernest Chambers
- Journalists Who Experienced the Explosion Firsthand (James L. Hickey and Maxwell L. Backer, Halifax Canadian Press Bureau; William Barton, Joseph H. Sheldon, Dartmouth Patriot; Peter F. Lawson, Halifax Herald; Hervey W. Jones, James L. Gowen and John “Jack
- Visiting Canadian Journalists and the Aftermath (Alfred R. Coffin, Truro Daily News; George W. Yates; Stanley K. Smith, St. John Daily Telegraph; St. John Globe Reporter; Michael Grattan O’Leary, Ottawa Journal; Tommy P. Gorman, Ottawa Citizen; William M.
- Visiting American Journalists and the Aftermath (Anthony J. Philpott, Boston Globe; Richard W. Simpson, Associated Press; Jerome V. Keating, Boston Herald-Journal; Roy Atkinson, Boston Post; Richard W. Sears, Boston American; James H. Hare, Leslie’s Weekly
- Epilogue
- References
- Notes
- Appendices (Journalists’ Timeline; Acadian Recorder 7 December 1917 Front-page Public Information Notice)
- Index
