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MG 1 volume 2124 number 137

HALIFAX DISASTER RECORD OFFICE
Archibald MacMechan, F. R. S. C.
Director
Halifax, N. S.


PERSONAL NARRATIVE.
Rev. C. J. Crowdis.
Pastor Grove Presbyterian Church, Duffus St.
Home, 565 Gottingen St.,

Mr. Crowdis was on Kenny St. just above the "Mont Blanc" running to see the fire, when the explosion occurred. Was running along and suddenly was knocked down (by the ground shock). Fell on his back, bruising the back of his head. Got to his feet immediately. The air was filled with "everything" falling and flying. The houses were as level when he looked about "not more than a minute after I fell" as they were an hour later. They looked as if they had been pressed down. Ran for home immediately, arms folded over head to protect himself from the falling debris. Found his house flat--his wife and her two sisters buried in the ruins. His two children, Jean, aged six and Donald, aged four, were on the road, unhurt. They had gone to Mrs. Milligan a neighbor, to get her to come and help their mother and aunts. Mrs. M. was too busy with her own people to help and the children were just coming back when Mr. C. got to the house. Mary Kennedy, Mrs, C's sister had been dressing the children and had finished except for one of Jean's shoes. Mr. C. dug his wife and her sisters out of the ruins and put them on mattresses which he also dragged from the heap of "rubbish". Fires were burning all around by this time, but their house did not burn at all. Mr. C. got his wheel-barrow from