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Halifax Disaster Record Office
Chronicle Building
Halifax, N. S.

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.
B. S. Hartley, Director of Studies R. N. C. C.

Was in his office at the time of the explosion. Though the "MONT BLANC" was a tanker on fire. Was watching it and saw a puff of red flame go up four of five hundred feet high, with smoke cloud above it. At the first alarm, he went out into the hall and stood under the clock, the safest place in the College. He was not injured in any way. No glass came there. His own house in the DockYard was wrecked, furniture was badly damaged by plaster and glass. Mrs. Hartley was very cool and though cut herself, administered first aid "with nothing to aid". On the alarm of the second explosion the Hartleys made their way to the Citadel Hill, taking with them an injured woman whom they were treating. The cause of the second alarm was the danger to the magazine north of the College. It had aerial torpedoes in it. Lieut. MacDonald, R. C. N. V. R. (from the West) organized a working-party of 200 blue-jackets and proceeded to empty the magazine, throwing the explosives into the sea. The Military were annoyed at having their good bombs waster in this way. MacDonald told them that "he didn't want the beastly job". Told Hartley the story at lunch Later in the day Captain Hose, stopped dumping into the harbor directed the working party to pile the explosives up along the edge of the wharf, so that they could be easily pushed into the water if there was danger of fire. Captain Eldridge said "The Military didn't like it, because the boxes (of detonators were not arranged in geometrical patterns."
Communicated personally to Director in his own house.