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MG 1 vol 2124 number 118

Brown, Miss Emily, Providence, R.I.
Halifax Disaster, December 6th 1917.

I went into Halifax on the first relief train, which left Wolfville at 12 o’clock on December 6th. We met a train of wounded at Windsor Junction; only one doctor aboard to do anything for these poor wounded and dying. Some of our nurses and doctors were detailed to that train, while the rest of us were hurried into the stricken city. We arrived there about 3 P.M., having gone into Richmond as far as possible.
Mr. Parker, (Canadian Pacific Railway General Passenger Agent) met our train. We were ordered to wait while he went ahead to see about sending a train of wounded back to Windsor and Wolfville. About 4 P.M., Colonel Bell and Colonel Phinney came up and ordered us to go to City Hall. The sights we saw going through the debris were sights never to be forgotten. We had to walk about half a mile to meet the autos that were waiting for us. In one place the dead were piled up like cord-wood.
From City Hall, I was detailed with other nurses and doctors to Camp Hill Military Hospital. Every trained nurse was detailed to a doctor. I was sent to Ward K. to assist a Military Doctor. (I never found out his name). We worked as fast as we possibly could. All the wounds were very dirty with powdered as well as large pieces of glass, cinders, plaster and dirt. It was almost incomprehensible to turn back a patient’s clothing and find these large pieces of glass, cinders, etc., driven through the clothing and into the flesh.
Nearly all the patients I did talk with said they were watching the burning ship. One woman said she did not know there was a ship on fire but was watching this large cloud of smoke, the outside of which was a dark grey color, the center very black.

Brown, Miss Emily. Providence, R.I. [written at top of page]

MG 1 vol 2124 number 118 [written at top of page]