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Halifax Disaster Record Office Chronicle Building
Halifax, N.S.
PERSONAL NARRATIVE.
Saunders, Edmund A., Sec-Treas. Halifax Board of Trade.
Home 194 Windsor St.

Was on a street-car proceeding to office, at the corner of Almon and Agricola Streets, and heard the fire-bells ringing. Some discussion in car as to whether the number was 83 or 84. When the explosion occurred all the occupants of the tram were thrown to the floor, and all cut by the flying glass. Saw cloud of smoke lit up by fire of "pinkish hue". When he got out of car he found he had on another fellow's coat and hat -- the other man was holding on by a strap. Saunders does not know how he got out. Returned to his house in Windsor St., and only began to realize the extent of the disaster when he saw the Exhibition Building flat. His own house was severely damaged -- windows broken -- a piece of moulded iron weighing nine or ten pounds came through teh roof and stopped on the attic floor. Mrs Saunders, looking out the window, was cut about the face and lost the sight of one eye. She worked all day, although suffering severe pain, and did not realize that she had lost the sight of her eye until the evening, when she found that it was blind. Saunders himself worked all day making repairs on his house -- carrying up beaver-board on his head from Rhodes & Curry's establishment. Was taking down the parts of a wardrobe to the verandah when he was warned by two soldiers to leave his house, as there was danger of another explosion. Almost forced away -- but refused to leave. About twenty people were in the house from the neighborhood receiving aid for their injuries. On teh warning of the explosion the people of the neighborhood flocked into the open fields in front