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

the direction of the Mayor, forwarded to Ottawa, copies of Chief Churchill's report and of the correspondence. The correspondence included letters from General Benson and Capt. Pasco, R.N. The Mayors letter, addressed to both officers appeared in in last evening's Daily Echo.
General Benson's Letter.
General Benson replied that since he had been in command of this district no munitions ships over which he had control had been loaded or unloaded at any pier in the city. Upon steamers arriving carrying munitions for this port notice is received of the vessels approach to the harbor and arrangements are made to have lighters alongside immediately the ship comes to anchor, and the munitions loaded there are under proper supervision and are taken to the magazine. The Picton was not brought to the pier under his directions, nor had he any notice of her being there until asked by a representitive of the Munitions Board to provide sentries to maintain a watch over the building in which the munitions were being stored. The building was in no wise under his control.
Capt. Pasco's Reply.
Naval Service Dept., Canada
H.M.C. Dockyard, Halifax, N.S.
January 25th, 1918
Dear Sir: -
In reply to your letter of the 24th instant, regarding the loading and unloading of munitions ships at the piers in the City of Halifax and quoting as a particular instance the unloading of the S.S. Picton at a pier of the Halifax Oceans Terminals, I have to inform you, that immediately on receipt of same, I instructed Commander Holme, R.N., and Commander Holloway, R.N.R. to proceed at once to the wharf at which the Picton was unloading, thoroughly inspect the precautions taken gainst fire, etc:, and render a full report. These officers have reported to me as follows:
S.S. Picton is lying alongside and discharging her cargo into shed No. 24, and there is also a portion of this cargo in shed No. 23. Said cargo consists, not of high explosives, but of fixed 18-pdr. shrapnel ammunition. A thorough examination was made into the precautions taken for the prevention, the discovery and the extinguishing of fire, and the following arrangements are in force:
1. - There is a watchman on duty, day and night, in each of sheds No. 23 and 24 and these watchmen are provided with keys admitting them to every locked portion of these buildings.
2. - Military sentries are posted at each end of the approach to these buildings and a third sentry patrols the wharf in front of the sheds.
3. - Three hydrants are provided in front of the sheds and these (as ascertained by personal inspection) are kept ready for immediate use.
4. - In each shed 600 feet of fire hose, in good condition, is kept in an open portion of the shed, that in shed No. 23, on a reel with branch-pipe attached; that in shed No. 24 is an open box, branch-pipe being kept in the foreman's office, the key of which is, after working hours, in possession of the watchman.
5. - A 40-gallon fire engine, with hose complete, and two hand chemical fire extinguishers are place in a closed compartment at inned end of No. 24 shed. This compartment is usually unlocked; should it be locked, the keys are in possession of the watchman. I personally observed a test of one of the hand fire extinguishers and found it to be in perfect working order. The large chemical fire engine was tested and refilled on the 8th instant.
Note. - In the event of any difficulty in obtaining the keys, an axe is placed in a convenient position. By this means the looked doors could be forced without delay.
6. - I was informed that all the watchmen are fully instructed as to the procedure to be followed in case of fire and I was also informed that the night watchman in shed No. 24 had formerly been a member of the local fire brigade.
7. - Conspicuous notices against smoking are posted throughout the building and all the workmen are searched daily before commencing work, to ensure that no matches are brought into the sheds.
The foreman stated that the fire arrangements had been inspected by the Fire Chief on the 24th January, and that he had pronounced them satisfactory.
In your letter I note you mention the fire hose was 200 feet away from the fire hydrant, locked up. It is desired to point out that the hose you speak of is additional to the regular fire equipment and is used for watering ships coming alongside the wharf. This is placed in the Foreman's office for safe keeping, but is readily accessible, and the foreman states that he would have this additional hose left outside in the open nightly, as an added precaution.