Blizzard of Glass: Halifax Explosion 1917

Walker, Sally M. Blizzard of Glass: Halifax Explosion 1917 

 Macmillan/ Henry Holt   2011  145p  $18.99  VG    978-0-8050-8945-5           ms/hs       Nonfiction 

In 1917, an ammunitions ship loaded with TNT, benzene and picric acid miscommunicates with a larger ship traveling in the opposite direction.  The ensuing collision creates a catastrophic man-made explosion rivaled only by the Hiroshima bomb in intensity.  The scene is set with information on both ships, their captains and the harbor master guiding the boats through a narrow inlet. As the nearly 3000 pounds of explosives ignite into one massive explosion, the shockwave fells people, tearing off their clothing and, in some cases, crushing internal organs and causing death.  Buildings crumble, trapping many.  Following the shockwave, a tsunami of 40-foot waves swamps both sides of the harbor with more devastation and death.  

The book follows five families, listing their whereabouts, their heroism and their heartbreaking searches for loved ones.  There are detailed descriptions of the worldwide aid and assistance provided, as well as the first-aid efforts for the thousands who were in need of medical attention.  Within a day of the explosion, two blizzards hampered rescue efforts.  Recovery efforts and survivor stories make this a book about kindness and hope as well as devastation. Numerous black-and-white photos give visual impact to the narrative.  An extensive bibliography, chapter notes, and an index complete this fine book about a wartime disaster that is not well known in the United States.

VG    Lois McNicol      Halifax (Nova Scotia) Explosion, 1917