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HALIFAX DISASTER RECORD OFFICE
CHRONICLE BUILDING

HALIFAX, N. S.

After the explosion H. M. S. "HIGHFLYER" looked as if she had been in action. Three ratings were killed on board and twenty-five injured. The deck of the "PICTON" was covered with stone. Mentioned a'rain of smuts' which followed explosion. Was rather inclined to depreciate the action of Harrison, or rather the fuss made by the newspaper, implying that the Naval Authorities had already observed this source of danger and taken all reasonable precautions. He confirmed the statements of both Leslie Harrison and Roy Bannatyne to the affect that a large part of the general cargo of the "PICTON" consisting of cases of meat had been removed. He named 1500 tons of ammunition, as remaining in the hold. Even if it had exploded "It would have been like a string of fire-crackers after the discharge of a six-inch gun." He commended Lieutenant Brewer for the measures he took on board H, M. S. "HIGHFLYER" after the explosion, He seemed to think very highly of Captain Garnet of the same ship, and Captain Eldridge N. I. D. Said that the wrecked wharves, looked like a heap of spillikens.