The Halifax Explosion

Noble Driscoll, 13, woke up in a pile of rocks and crushed concrete. All he could see around him were heaps of burned brick and ash. Where was his family? Where were his friends? Noble thought he might be the last person alive.

It was the morning of December 6, 1917. Just minutes before, things had been normal in Halifax and Dartmouth. These are two cities in Nova Scotia [SKO-sha], Canada. They sit on the Atlantic Ocean. Between them is a narrow harbor.

That morning, people were busy. Moms served up bowls of oatmeal. Kids gathered their schoolbooks. Dads went to work. In Noble’s neighborhood in Halifax, horses clip-clopped down the streets, pulling wagons behind them. Factories made flour, beer, metal items, and more. At the harbor, men carried cargo onto giant ships.

Noble could see the harbor from his backyard. He loved to watch the ships pass by. Most belonged to the military. They were carrying supplies and soldiers to Europe. A terrible war—World War I—had been fought there for three years.

On one side of the war was a group of countries that included Great Britain, Canada (then part of Great Britain), France, Russia, and the United States. On the other side was a group of countries led by Germany. Millions of soldiers had died in bloody battles.

December 6, 1917, started as a normal day in Dartmouth and Halifax. These are cities in Nova Scotia [SKO-sha], Canada. But then two ships crashed into one another. One ship, called the Mont-Blanc [blonk], was carrying benzol. Benzol is a liquid like gasoline. It can blow up easily. When the ships crashed, the benzol burst into flames. The Mont-Blanc floated toward a neighborhood. Then it blew up.

The blast caused problems nearby and far away. Other ships flipped over. Trains flew off rails. Factories collapsed. Doors flew off houses. Trees snapped in two. Windows broke and glass shot through the air.

For about 10 minutes, the sky seemed to open up. Black rain fell. It was a mix of chemicals, melted metal, and broken pieces of buildings and rocks.

Noble Driscoll, 13, woke up in a pile of rocks and crushed concrete. All he could see around him were heaps of burned brick and ash. Where was his family? Where were his friends? Was he the last person alive?

It was the morning of December 6, 1917. Just minutes before, things had been normal in Halifax and Dartmouth. These are two cities in Nova Scotia [SKO-sha], Canada. They sit on the Atlantic Ocean. Between them is a narrow harbor.

That morning, people were busy. Moms served up bowls of oatmeal. Kids gathered their schoolbooks. Dads went to work. In Noble’s neighborhood in Halifax, horses clip-clopped down the streets. They pulled wagons behind them. Factories made flour, beer, metal items, and more. At the harbor, men carried cargo onto giant ships.

Noble could see the harbor from his backyard. He loved to watch the ships pass by. Most belonged to the military. They were carrying supplies and soldiers to Europe. A terrible war—World War I—had been fought there for three years.

On one side of the war was a group of countries that included Canada and the United States. On the other side was a group of countries led by Germany. Millions of soldiers had died.

Thirteen-year-old Noble Driscoll woke up in a pile of rubble. All he could see around him were heaps of burned brick and ash. Where was his family? Where were his friends? Looking around at the smoking ruins, Noble was afraid he might be the last person alive.

It was the morning of December 6, 1917. Just minutes before, it had been an ordinary day in Halifax and Dartmouth, in Nova Scotia, Canada. The two towns sit on the Atlantic Ocean and are separated by a narrow harbor.

That morning, the towns had been buzzing with activity. Soft smoke curled from chimneys. Moms served up steaming bowls of oatmeal. Children gathered their schoolbooks, and fathers pulled on their coats and headed off to work. In Noble’s neighborhood of Richmond, in northern Halifax, horse-drawn wagons clattered down the streets. Factories churned out flour, beer, metalworks, and other goods. At the harbor, sturdy-looking men carried cargo onto giant ships.

From his backyard, Noble had an amazing view of the harbor. He was fascinated by the vessels that passed by every day. Most belonged to the military and were carrying supplies and soldiers to Europe. A terrible war—World War I—had been raging there since 1914.

On one side of the fight was a big group of countries that included Great Britain, Canada (then part of Great Britain), France, Russia, and the United States. On the other side was a group of countries led by Germany. Bloody battles had killed millions of soldiers.

Crash! WHOOSH!

On that morning of December 6, one of the ships near Halifax was the Mont-Blanc. There was something about the Mont-Blanc that only a few people knew: It was loaded with dangerous chemicals. It also had barrels filled with benzol. This is a liquid similar to gasoline. It can blow up easily.

Around 8:30 a.m., the Mont-Blanc entered Halifax Harbor. At the same time, a ship called the Imo was leaving the harbor. The Imo ended up in the way of the Mont-Blanc. As the two ships sped toward each other, both pilots blared their whistles.

But it was too late.

Crash!

The Imo smashed into the Mont-Blanc. The barrels of benzol fell over and splashed open. The metal on the two ships scraped together.

Sparks flew.

And then . . .

WHOOSH!

The benzol burst into flames. Francis Mackey, the Mont-Blanc’s pilot, knew there was nothing he could do. Soon, the rest of the chemicals on the ship would blow up. The crew could stay on the boat and die, or they could get off the ship.

Crash! WHOOSH!

On that morning of December 6, one of the ships near Halifax was the Mont-Blanc. It was loaded with dangerous chemicals. It also had barrels filled with benzol. This is a liquid similar to gasoline. It can blow up easily.

Around 8:30 a.m., the Mont-Blanc entered Halifax Harbor. At the same time, a ship called the Imo was leaving the harbor. As the two ships sped toward each other, both pilots blew their whistles.

But it was too late.

Crash!

The Imo smashed into the Mont-Blanc. The barrels of benzol fell over and splashed open. The metal on the two ships scraped together.

Sparks flew.

And then . . .

WHOOSH!

The benzol burst into flames. Francis Mackey, the Mont-Blanc’s pilot, knew there was nothing he could do. Soon, the rest of the chemicals on the ship would blow up. The crew could stay on the boat and die, or they could get off the ship.

A Dark Shadow

Though Noble was far from the fighting, World War I had cast a shadow over his town—and most of the world. Noble was used to seeing soldiers in uniform around town. Some had come back from the war with grave injuries. Others were preparing to go overseas to fight. At Richmond School, where Noble was in seventh grade, the war was a frequent topic of conversation.

Halifax was important in the war. Ships from its harbor carried troops and supplies to the armies in Europe. Some days, the harbor was as busy as a highway at rush hour.

On that bright morning of December 6, one of the ships heading out from Halifax
was the Mont-Blanc. There was something about the Mont-Blanc that only a few people knew: It was loaded with dangerous explosives. It also had barrels filled with benzol, a flammable liquid similar to gasoline. In total, the ship carried nearly 3,000 tons of explosive materials.

At around 8:30 a.m., the Mont-Blanc entered Halifax Harbor, heading north. At the same time, a ship called the Imo was leaving the harbor, heading south. The Imo was a “relief ship” going to New York to pick up supplies like food and clothing, which it would then deliver to Europe.

As the Imo sped through the harbor, it veered out of its lane to avoid another ship. The Imo was now directly in the path of the Mont-Blanc. As the two ships sped toward each other, both pilots blared their whistles. The Mont-Blanc’s pilot, Francis Mackey, turned left. The Imo reversed its engines.

But it was too late.

Crash!

The Imo tore into the Mont-Blanc. Water gushed through a 20-foot gash in the Mont-Blanc’s hull. The barrels of benzol toppled and splashed open. As the Imo reversed, the metal on the two hulking ships scraped together.

Sparks flew.

And then . . .

WHOOSH!

The benzol ignited. Flames raced across the deck of the Mont-Blanc. A plume of thick, black smoke rose into the sky. Water poured into the ship, hissing as it vaporized into steam. Mackey knew there was nothing he could do. It was only a matter of time before the explosives below deck blew up. The choice was stark: Stay on the boat and die, or abandon ship.

Ripped to Pieces

Mackey and the Mont-Blanc crew jumped into lifeboats. They rowed toward shore. Mackey waved and shouted at the other ships. He was trying to warn them of the danger. But no one seemed to notice.

Back at Noble’s house, Noble saw flames from the Mont-Blanc flicking toward the sky. He walked toward the harbor for a better look.

The Mont-Blanc was now floating toward Noble’s neighborhood. And at about 9 a.m., the ship exploded.

It was ripped to pieces. The explosion likely reached 9,000 degrees. That’s more than four times hotter than lava. People could feel the ground shake 250 miles away.

In Dartmouth and Halifax, ships flipped over. Trains flew off rails. Factories collapsed. Doors flew off houses. Trees snapped in two. Windows shattered. Glass shot through the air.

The shock wave lifted Noble into the air. He landed near his school. He became unconscious. For about 10 minutes, the sky seemed to open up. Black rain fell. It was a mix of burned benzol, melted metal, and other debris.

Caught in the Blast

Many people got hurt in the blast. One of them was Noble Driscoll, 13. He flew into the air and landed near his school. His jacket was blown off.His skin turned black from the rain. He had glass in his hair.

All Noble could see was burned brick and ash. Fires burned everywhere.

Where was his family?

Where were his friends?

Noble thought he might be the last person alive.

Then things got worse. The blast created a huge wave that swept through the cities. People lost their homes. There was almost nothing left of Noble’s house. About 2,000 people died. More than 9,000 people had been hurt. This was one of the most powerful blasts ever.

And the saddest part is that Noble’s little brother was missing. He was never found.

People blamed the captain of the Mont-Blanc for the accident. He even went to jail. Later, he became a captain again. But no one trusted him. Now experts say that the accident was not his fault.

Ripped to Pieces

Mackey and the Mont-Blanc crew jumped into lifeboats. They rowed toward shore. Mackey waved and shouted at the other ships. He was trying to warn them of the danger. But no one seemed to notice.

Back at Noble’s house, Noble saw flames from the Mont-Blanc. He walked toward the harbor for a better look.

The Mont-Blanc was now floating toward Noble’s neighborhood. And at about 9 a.m., the ship exploded.

It was ripped to pieces. People could feel the ground shake 250 miles away.

In Dartmouth and Halifax, ships flipped over. Trains flew off rails. Factories collapsed. Doors flew off houses. Trees snapped in two. Windows shattered. Glass shot through the air.

Noble flew through the air, too. He landed near his school. He became unconscious. For about 10 minutes, the sky seemed to open up. Black rain fell. It was a mix of burned benzol, melted metal, and other debris.

Ripped to Pieces

Mackey and the Mont-Blanc crew piled into lifeboats and rowed furiously toward shore. Mackey waved and shouted, trying to alert the other ships in the harbor to the danger. But his efforts were of no use. No one seemed to notice.

Back in Richmond, Noble saw orange-and-blue flames flicking skyward from the Mont-Blanc. He left his house and walked toward the harbor to get a better view. Like Noble, many in Dartmouth and Halifax rushed outside to see the burning ship. Others watched from the windows of homes, shops, and factories. Several boats raced toward the Mont-Blanc, hoping to help. Their crews had no idea that their lives were in danger.

The Mont-Blanc, having been knocked off course during the collision, was now floating straight toward Noble and his Richmond neighborhood.

At around 9 a.m., the ship drifted into Pier 6 on the Richmond waterfront.

And then, the Mont-Blanc exploded.

In a fraction of a second, the Mont-Blanc was ripped to pieces. At its center, the explosion likely reached 9,000 degrees—more than four times hotter than lava. A tremendous blast of energy shot outward at a speed of 5,000 feet per second—that’s the length of 14 football fields in the time it takes to blink your eyes.

This shock wave ripped through Dartmouth and Halifax. Ships were overturned and smashed. Train cars careened off rails. Factories collapsed into heaps of rubble. Doors flew off hinges, trees snapped in two, windows shattered, and shards of glass shot through the air like missiles.

People felt the ground shake 250 miles away. Many in Halifax and Dartmouth wondered if they were under attack.

The shock wave lifted Noble into the air. He landed, unconscious, near Richmond School. For about 10 minutes, black rain fell—a muddy mix of burned benzol, melted pieces of the Mont-Blanc, and other debris.

More Horror

When Noble woke up, he saw that most of the buildings were gone. Fires burned everywhere. His jacket had been blown off. His skin was blackened by the rain. There was glass in his hair.

But there was more horror to come. The explosion set off a huge wave that crashed through Dartmouth and Halifax. This tsunami knocked over more buildings. It swept people away.

Luckily for Noble, the wave did not reach him. In a daze, he headed back toward his house.

Only moments before, his family had been going about their morning routine. Now there was almost nothing left of their house. And one of Noble’s 13 siblings—his little brother Gordon—was missing.

More Horror

When Noble woke up, he saw that most of the buildings were gone. Fires burned everywhere. His jacket had been blown off. His skin had turned black from the rain. There was glass in his hair.

But things would get worse. The explosion set off a huge wave that crashed through Dartmouth and Halifax. The wave knocked over more buildings. It swept people away.

Luckily for Noble, the wave did not reach him. He headed back toward his house.

Only moments before, his family had been going about their morning routine. Now there was almost nothing left of their house. And one of Noble’s 13 siblings—his little brother Gordon—was missing.

More Horror

When Noble came to, he saw that most of the buildings were gone. Fires burned everywhere. His jacket had been blown off. His skin was blackened by the rain. Shards of glass were stuck in his hair.

Yet there was more horror to come. The explosion triggered an enormous wave that surged out of the harbor and crashed through Dartmouth and Halifax, toppling more buildings and sweeping people away. This tsunami pushed the Imo aground in Dartmouth.

Fortunately for Noble, the wave did not reach him. In a daze, he wandered through the ruined streets toward his house. Only moments before, his family had been going about their morning routine.

Like his school, his house had been reduced to a few wobbly walls. But Noble saw his family huddled around the stove, which miraculously was still standing. One of his father’s eyes was filled with glass. And one of Noble’s 13 siblings—his little brother Gordon—was missing.

The explosion of the Mont-Blanc was one of the most powerful explosions in history. Only a few bombs have had more power.

Yet in the midst of unspeakable horror, people rushed to help. Neighbors pulled each other from the burning wreckage of their homes. Soldiers carried wounded men, women, and children to safety. By the afternoon, trains loaded with nurses, doctors, firefighters, and supplies were streaming into Halifax. Noble and his family boarded a train carrying survivors away from the city.

Looking for Answers

The explosion of the Mont-Blanc was one of the most powerful in history. Thousands of people had lost homes and jobs. About 2,000 people had died. At least 9,000 had been injured.

People were angry. They wanted answers. Many blamed Mackey. He was even sent to jail. He later returned to the sea. But no one trusted him. Experts now say the accident was not his fault.

Today, Halifax is a popular, busy city. But the explosion is still an important part of its history. Mention it to nearly anyone, and he or she can probably tell you about a relative who lived through it.

As for Noble? Sadly, his brother Gordon was never found. The Driscolls went on as best as they could. They lived for a while in a nearby town. They welcomed a new baby in 1919. That same year, they returned to Halifax. By then, World War I had ended. People everywhere, including the Driscolls, were ready to rebuild their lives.

Noble grew up and got married. He managed a store. He lived in a house near the childhood home he lost in the explosion.

In that neighborhood today, there is a bell tower. It’s at the top of a hill overlooking the harbor. Each December 6, the bells ring to remind everyone of the day the sky shattered. 

After the Accident

People had to work hard to start new lives. This took years. Some families moved away. Noble’s family was one of them. But they came back, and had a new baby. Noble grew up and got married. He was in charge of a store. He lived in a house near the one he had grown up in.

Halifax and Dartmouth are now popular, busy cities. But nearly everyone remembers the accident. Every December 6, bells ring to remind people of this sad time in history. 

Looking for Answers

The explosion of the Mont-Blanc was one of the most powerful in history. Thousands of people had lost homes and jobs. About 2,000 people had died. At least 9,000 had been injured.

People were angry. They wanted answers. Many blamed the captain. He was even sent to jail. He later returned to the sea. But no one trusted him. Experts now say the accident was not his fault.

Today, Halifax is a popular, busy city. But the explosion is still an important part of its history. If you ask anyone in Halifax about it, he or she can probably tell you about a family member who lived through it.

As for Noble? Sadly, his brother Gordon was never found. The Driscolls went on as best as they could. They lived in a nearby town for a while. They had a new baby in 1919. That same year, they returned to Halifax. By then, World War I had ended. People everywhere were ready to rebuild their lives. This included the Driscolls.

Noble grew up and got married. He managed a store. He lived in a house near the one he lost in the explosion.

In that neighborhood today, there is a bell tower. It’s at the top of a hill overlooking the harbor. Each December 6, the bells ring to remind everyone of the day the sky shattered.

Looking for Answers

Thousands of people had lost homes, possessions, jobs. Some 2,000 people had died, and at least 9,000 had been injured.

People were angry and wanted answers. Many blamed Mackey. He was even briefly sent to jail. Historians now say he was treated unfairly, blamed for a horrific accident that was not his fault. Mackey eventually returned to the sea, but his name had been forever tarnished.

Today—100 years later—Halifax is thriving. Walk through the streets along the harbor, and you will enjoy the scent of delicious seafood wafting from waterfront restaurants. You will hear the horns of ferries and see trains bringing cargo to the enormous ships docked in the harbor.

Yet memories of the catastrophe still seem to ripple through the air. Mention the explosion to nearly anyone, and he or she can probably tell you about a relative who lived through it.

As for Noble? Tragically, his little brother Gordon was never found. The Driscolls pushed on as best they could though. They lived for a while in a nearby town, and they welcomed a new baby in 1919. That same year, they returned to Halifax. By then, World War I had ended and the Driscolls, like people all around the world, were ready to rebuild their lives.

Noble went on to get married and manage a store. He lived in a house in the neighborhood that was built on the ruins of Richmond.

In that neighborhood today, at the top of a hill overlooking the harbor, stands a bell tower. Each December 6, its bells ring in solemn memory of the day the sky shattered.