Dec. 6, 1917 - Expolsion heard around the world that destroyed Halifax

[packman]

The Halifax Explosion was one of the largest artificial non-nuclear explosions, releasing the equivalent energy of roughly 2.9 kilotons of TNT (12 TJ).




An extensive comparison of 130 major explosions by Halifax historian Jay White in 1994 concluded that it “remains unchallenged in overall magnitude as long as five criteria are considered together: number of casualties, force of blast, radius of devastation, quantity of explosive material, and total value of property destroyed.”

Historical photos and explanation:

https://extragoodshit.phlap.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Halifax-explosion-The-naval-accident-that-erased-an-entire-city-in-Canada-1917-Rare-Historical-Photos.html

[jmbar2]

1. What a story!

I'd never heard of this until today. The things you learn on DU...

[likesmountains 52]

2. There are a number of really good books about this.

I read one about 15 years ago, but unfortunately can't remember the title.

[WestMichRad]

10. Here's a radio interview with the author of one such book

The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon
https://m.

The force of the explosion was felt more than 50 miles away!

[likesmountains 52]

11. Thanks. I will give it a listen!

[MuseRider]

3. WOW!

Thanks, I do not recall ever hearing about this. Thank you.

[likesmountains 52]

4. Curse of the Narrows is an excellent book about this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802714587/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=boorio-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0802714587

[newdayneeded]

5. The Texas city explosion is

also incredible. there's a ships anchor still sitting in a park 1 1/2 miles inland from the blast.

[Wednesdays]

6. Dramatized in Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion

A 2003 miniseries. Here's an excerpt, including the scene of the explosion:

[haele]

7. Longest Johns Sea Shanty song about this disaster

Haele

[Dwinal87]

8. Have You Seen The Boston City Christmas Tree?

It is donated from Nova Scotia!

Every year Nova Scotia donates a Christmas tree to Boston to thank them for the help rendered after the explosion in 1917.

The local news follows the truck carrying the tree to town, and every year representatives from Nova Scotia travel to Boston for the official lighting of the tree and to thank Boston.

Really, kind of a cool tradition.

[Kid Berwyn]

9. Thank you for sharing that.

Communities serving just as good neighbors.

[applegrove]

12. Boston got train loads of doctors and nurses to travel to Halifax within

days. There were so many people who were watching the fire in the Harbour out their windows, and all the glass in the city exploded with the ships' blast wave, that Boston doctors came up with new techniques for eye trauma and advanced the science.

[Kid Berwyn]

14. As a guy who has worked in a hospital ER...

…as an orderly, I have had the privilege to assist the doctors, nurses and technicians who treated people with foreign objects in their eyes. Most of the time they were work-related. Learning the history behind the advances to treatment makes me feel proud to have been of service. To think of a city with all its windows blown in makes me cry.

As for Boston: I love Boston.



“Breakthrough,” a bronze sculpture by Michael Alfano, on exhibit at Boston Navy Yard. Sums up the spirit of the place and people.

https://www.michaelalfano.com/sculptures/harborwalk/?id=1220

[applegrove]

15. Yes, Boston is my favourite American City.

[Sky Jewels]

13. I never heard about this!

It's horrifying and fascinating!

[48656c6c6f20]

16. They must have had much better hearing in 1917

Because during the whole nuclear testing that detonated megatons, I never heard once.