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Halifax Disaster Record Office
Archibald MacMechan, F.R.S.C.
Director
Halifax, N.S.
Jan 30 1918

Journal

Yesterday's Alarm
The military authorities have stated to the press that there was positively no fire at Pier Two, Halifax Ocean Terminals, yesterday. They said yesterday that what workmen at the South End terminals took to be fire were merely the fumes arising from a tin of sulphur in the shed. On the other hand the naval authorities admitted that there was a slight conflagration. The causes thereof they explained most fully. The steamer Picton, now at this pier, was badly damaged in the explosion of December 6th last and was several times reported to be on fire and a danger to the community. The explosion had smashed smoke screen aparatus that was on the Picton's deck and the phosphorus contained therein was scattered about the deck. Friction caused this to flame up hence the small fires that broke out now and then on the Picton. The steamer's hatches were driven in by the explosion and particles of this phospherous found there way down into the holds where cases of schrapnel were stored. Sometime after the explosion it was decided to inspect the Picton's cargo. For that purpose the steamer was hauled in to Pier Two and for some days munitions inspectors have been engaged in examining the contents of each case of schrapnel. Yesterday morning at eleven o'clock one of these cases when being hauled along a bench seemed to catch fire. Apparently a small portion of phorphous had adhered to the case bottom and flared up. This in turn, caused some cordite that had separated from a shrapnel shell to burn. Cordite when not confined is quite harmless. The blaze made by this charred the bench and did some slight damage. It was extinguished by a chemical before it could do any more harm. This explains the blaze and the sudden departure from the shed and pier of a number of men who were working there and who spread the alarm which created a real panic in the South End of the City. It does not explain, however, why munitions ships are allowed to discharge their cargo especially in such a case as this when it is phosphorated, only a few hundred yards from a thickly populated residential district. Such work should be done elsewhere. Mayor Martin has engaged in correspondence on this subject with General Benson, officer commanding this military district, and with Captain Pasco, R.N., and civic authorities, upon receiving their replies, are reported to have decided to refer the matter to Ottawa. The naval authorities may say there is not the slightest danger, but it is hard to convince citizens of this. They are chary of all munitions, schrapnel as well as high explosives and if it is possible for such work to be done elsewhere it should be done elsewhere. If this is not possible, then precautions, satisfactory to the City should be taken. Even though there may be little or no danger, the nerves of our women and children have already been tried severely and further unrest would be disasterous.