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CANADIAN INVESTORS LIMITED MG 1 VOL 2124 number 636
SCOTT BUILDING
HALIFAX, - N.S. Jan 25th 1918.

Professor Archibald MacMechan,
P O Box 25
Halifax, N.S.

Dear Dr. MacMechan:

I am glad to learn from your circular to had that you have been entrusted with the historical side of the disaster, and I hope that you will receive general assistance.
A cast that has come to my notice is that of Vincent Coleman, railway telegrapher at the Richmond station, who was the fire on the ship and in some way knew that one vessel was loaded with munitions. He talked with operators at several other points during the progress of the fire and told them that any moment would be his last. He stuck to his post and held up several trains which would otherwise have been at North street at the time of the explosion. One train from St. John was held up at Rockingham. Coleman's messages suddenly ceased and he was killed outright.

Another story which has lately come to my notice refers to a family named Thomas. The particulars were given to me by Alderman James Tobin of Dartmouth. There were three or four in the family and all were killed. A young man of twenty-nine had returned from overseas a fortnight before, after having been a couple of years at the front. He was gassed and was weak. He carried out the dead remains of his mother and sisters and the shock and excitement proved too much for him and he fell dead across their bodies.

Another thing that is worth recording is the absolute silence which immediately followed the explosion as I am told that for several minutes not a wheel turned anywhere

Colonel Humphrey visited the scene of the disaster an hour after the explosion and met throngs of people running south for fear of a second explosion. At the scene of the disaster Colonel Humphrey states the only sign of life was one man who was running about in a frenzied way, but at this time there is no doubt there have been scores of people in the ruins requiring assistance.

Yours very truly,
John W. Regau