After they collided, the SS Mont-Blanc caught fire and started drifting toward shore.
Unfortunately, the French ship was carrying a cargo of highly explosive gun cotton, benzole, and TNT. 2/
Dec 6, 2019 • 16 tweets • 5 min read
#OnThisDay in 1917, two ships collided and caught fire in Halifax Harbor. As it became clear that a cargo of explosives would detonate, telegraph operator Vince Coleman stayed at his post, sending warnings to surrounding towns and holding all incoming trains.
Coleman's last transmission read, "Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbor making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be my last message. Good-bye boys.”
