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HALIFAX DISASTER RECORD OFFICE
CHRONICLE BUILDING
HALIFAX, N.S.

PUBLIC ARCHIVES OF NOVA SCOTIA
HALIFAX

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.
Captain Lorne Allen.

Was on the nine o’clock Ferry from Dartmouth on the morning of the 6th of December. Was on the rear deck on the Ladies Cabin side of the ferry-boat. He saw ‘this thing’ shoot up into the air and thought it was a war-ship which had blown up. Heard glass crashing and was thrown forward. Got into the driveway and under shelter, where he remained a short time. Was conscious of seeing a large object fall into the water, making a splash. A man on the rear deck opposite, on the men’s side told him since that he called Captain Allen’s attention to the column of smoke. Saw Allen and Whelpley thrown forward and had time to wonder why they did so when he himself was thrown forward. On reaching Halifax Allen was much impressed by the very white faces of the people coming out of the ferry house. He said the faces were very, very white. Some of the people had cuts. Until he saw them and the broken windows in Bauld Bro’s. [xxx] and elsewhere he had not realized that any damage had been done except to the Ferry-boat. Proceeded to his office in the Citadel, where persons suffering from slight injuries were being dressed. They were walking cases, as seriously injured would not be taken up the hill. Lieut. L. Harrison told him that he, (Allen,) was “white as a sheet”. Allen got permission to return to Dartmouth, to find out the condition of his family. Found only material damage and returned by next ferry-boat to the Citadel—where he spent the day at his usual duties.

MG 1 volume 2124 number 113