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MG 1 volume 2124 number 165a

HALIFAX DISASTER RECORD OFFICE
Chronicle Building
Halifax, N.S.

Mr. Libby was working in the basement of Richmond School. He was thrown against brick wall and cut by glass about head. Caught his head in both hands and stayed crouched and holding his head for 'five minutes', not daring to move for fear [xxx] of the falling debris. Then he felt water falling all over him. The water that fell like rain made a half-inch of ice over everything. Then the smoke cleared away and he saw daylight through the window. Crawled through the window "couldn't see very well" one eye being hurt. Fell down 25 ft. embankment after getting through the window. Went down Duffus St. to Creighton's corner. Went up Roome St. to his own house. House was on fire. Thought every-one was in there and began to tear away debris to get them. Heard his wife calling and turned to look at her. Didn't know her. Began to tear at the rubbish again. She called again. "Jack, you can't do anything there. They're all dead." Then he realized that it was his wife. She was black and almost naked. She said "You're bleeding to death--let's get to a hospital!" Started for the road where the car ran--but there was no road to be found. As they walked Mrs. Libby struck her foot against something, looked
down--it was a child's head without any body. Found woman with leg off--living. Then half of a woman's body.
Walked down to North Street. Ambulance took them from there to Cogswell St. Hospital. Wife was ill for a week from shock. The children, Thomas and Kathleen Cann, were taken to the same hospital. Mr. Libby was two weeks at Cogswell St. Hospital and three weeks at St. Mary's College Hospital.
The tidal wave went up to Albert St.