December 6, 1917, Railway Dispatcher Vincent Coleman went to work from his home on Russell St in Halifax's North End. He left his wife Frances & their 2 year old daughter Eileen, dressed in a cheerful blue dress handmade by Frances. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW 
As Coleman relieved the night dispatcher at the telegraph, in the distance there was a muffled crash, followed by a column of black smoke rising above the rows of parked freight cars. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
At the entrance to the Narrows, after a series of ill-judged manoeuvres, the Imo struck the Mont-Blanc on the bow. The collision was not severe, fire immediately broke out on board the Mont-Blanc. The captain, pilot and crew, left the ship. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
Mont-Blanc burned for 20 minutes - the spectacle was thrilling, and drew crowds of spectators, unaware of the danger. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
Only a handful of naval officers & a railway dispatcher had learned of Mont-Blanc's explosive cargo with little time for warning #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
Railway Dispatcher, Vincent Coleman, was especially worried about Passenger Train No. 10, the overnight train from New Brunswick. It had about 300 people aboard and was due in Halifax at 8:55 am. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
Vincent Coleman sends his final message. His station 750 ft from the centre of the blast, disappeared. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
Our hero, Vincent Coleman, died sending his final message. It was received in Truro. They filled a relief train & were in Halifax within an hour. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
Vincent Coleman's home, 2000 feet from Ground Zero, was wrecked & burned by the explosion. The kitchen sink crashed down on two year old Eileen cutting her neck, leaving her little blue dress spattered with bloodstains. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
Coleman's wife Frances suffered serious back injuries. Her two older children Gerald and Eleanor rushed home from school to take their mother & sister to Gottigen Street where soldiers took them to the Camp Hill Hospital. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
Frances Coleman and all four of her children survived and recovered. A few days later, searchers found Vincent Coleman's body in the wreckage of the Richmond rail yards. #HalifaxExplosion #Museumweek #HeroesMW
Frances was presented with the telegraph key, the watch and the pen of her husband. The Coleman artifacts form a special part of @ns_mma permanent exhibit on the #HalifaxExplosion. #Museumweek #HeroesMW maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/ha…
Halifax is a living memorial to what happened that day & in the days that followed the 1917 Halifax Harbour Explosion. maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/ha… #HalifaxExplosion. #Museumweek #HeroesMW
