When I was writing this book my friends wanted to know more about what happened to Halifax and its people after the explosion. I told them that although all the characters in my story, except Hilda Slayter Lacon, were made-up, the story is based on the real events of that terrible day in Halifax on Thursday, December 6, 1917.
Here are the questions I answered.
Within 30 minutes after the explosion, people organized search-and-rescue teams to bury those who’d died and to help the injured and homeless. A relief committee was set up, too, but on Saturday a blizzard blanketed the city and work slowed. After the storm died down, heavy rain drenched everything. Then the temperature fell and the rain froze. It was a horrible mix of events and weather, and it made life miserable. It also made conditions for rescue and help difficult.
Help came from many Canadian cities and countries around the world, including the United States, England, Australia, China, France, South America, and New Zealand. Expert engineers and salvage workers arrived, too. New York held a Halifax Relief Day, and Chicago cabled money.
But the most memorable effort came from the city of Boston. As soon as news of the explosion reached Boston, a train was loaded with supplies. The next day another train left for Halifax full of supplies, medical personnel, and equipment for a hospital. Two ships carrying supplies also sailed, though they were delayed by the terrible weather. To this day the citizens of Halifax send Boston a large Christmas tree every year as a thank you for all the help and support.
Doctors learned more about treating patients in the open air during emergency situations. That knowledge helped improve medical treatments, hospital facilities, and social welfare services. Harbour regulations also became stricter to avoid disasters like the Halifax Explosion in the future. Scientists began to study the ocean floor to learn more about the effects of man-made and natural disasters. A Halifax housing development called the Hydrostone was built of fireproof concrete blocks for people who lost homes in the explosion. It was a design innovation and is still used today.
A week after the explosion an enquiry began into what happened and who was responsible. The captain and pilot of the Mont-Blanc were charged with manslaughter, but the charges were dropped because it was hard to know for certain who was really to blame for all the mistakes made. In May 1919, the Supreme Court of Canada said that both ships, the Mont-Blanc and the Imo, were equally to blame for the disaster.
There are many gravestones and monuments to the Halifax and Dartmouth victims (the neighbouring city of Dartmouth also suffered terrible damage). A large Memorial Bell Tower stands on Fort Needham overlooking the site of the explosion. The tower bells are rung every December 6 at 9 a.m., and a service is held to honour those who died and suffered in the tragedy. The bells can be heard across Halifax and Dartmouth.