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Halifax Disaster Record Office Chronicle Building
Halifax, N.S.
Saunderson said "My God! boys, we can't put that woman on this car!" The idea being that the method of conveyance was so rough that she would in his own words "have been shaken to death". He saw the woman placed on a coal cart on empty coal bags and driven off accompanied by soliders towards the Armouries. This happened near the corner of Robie Street and North Street. Went down North Street to see where explosion took place. Saw women scantily dressed, in petticoats and shawls moving about in all directions in a dazed condition. Noticed few children. Noticed considerable blood on the sidewalk, in large long pools. Crossed the overhead bridge at the DockYard and was leaning over the railings outside DockYard when he heard rumor of the danger of a second explosion. Warning was not official. Just a rumor. He turned and ran with the rest. Soon decided to walk slowly and tried to pacify the women and children. Walked quickly along Barrington St., up Jacob St. and round the Citadel to his home in Young Avenue. Found that the warning had run ahead of him, and on arrival his house was empty. His family had gone down Young Avenue. They soon returned. House little damaged. Made repairs in an hour, with the aid of an assistant. "Deemed it advisable to commandeer all available stock of roofing materials," and secured authority from headquarters to do so. Idea being to avoid selling to wholesalers and thus enabling them to profiteer. Secured car to take him to factory. Car went a s far as the DockYard, and landed him in devastated area about 3 p.m. Not being able to get through Campbell Road on account of the fire. While watching the rescue work, he overheard a minister of the gospel say to a sailor "Can you do nothing for these two bodies?" They were the bodies of a mother and daught, lying inside the Wellington