The Shattered Sky

Though Noble was far from the fighting, World War I had cast a shadow over Dartmouth and Halifax. It seemed that nearly every day, newspapers brought more bad news from the front lines. Noble had gotten used to seeing soldiers in uniform around town. Some had come back from the war with grave injuries. Others were preparing to go overseas to fight. At Richmond School, where Noble was in seventh grade, the war was a frequent topic of conversation.

Halifax had strategic value for the transportation of supplies and troops and had become an important hub. Halifax was the major North American port closest to Europe, and the shape of the harbor made it easy to protect from attacks. This was important because fearsome German submarines called U-boats prowled beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean beyond the harbor. By 1917, these U-boats had sunk some 3,000 vessels.

Traffic in Halifax Harbor had increased eightfold since the war started. A steady stream of ships passed through daily. The harbor had become as busy as a major highway at rush hour.

Though Noble was far from the fighting, World War I had cast a shadow over Dartmouth and Halifax. Newspapers brought more and more bad news from the front lines. Noble often saw soldiers in uniform around town. Some had come back from the war badly injured. Others were preparing to go overseas to fight. At Richmond School, where Noble was in seventh grade, the war was a frequent topic of conversation.

During the war, Halifax became an important hub in the transportation of supplies and troops. Halifax was the closest major North American port to Europe, and the shape of the harbor made it easy to protect it from outside attacks. This was important because German submarines called U-boats prowled beneath the waves of the Atlantic Ocean outside the harbor. By 1917, these U-boats had sunk some 3,000 vessels.

Many ships were passing through the harbor each day. Traffic had increased eightfold since the war started. The harbor had become as busy as a major highway at rush hour.

On December 6, the Mont-Blanc was due to join a convoy of ships headed to Europe. There was something about the Mont-Blanc that only a handful of people beyond the crew knew: It was loaded with dangerous munitions. Powerful explosives—in fact, some of the most powerful that existed at the time—were packed into the cargo holds below deck. Above deck were barrels filled with benzol, a flammable liquid similar to gasoline. In total, the ship carried nearly 3,000 tons of explosive materials.

Around 8:30 a.m., the Mont-Blanc entered Halifax Harbor, heading north. At the same time, a relief ship called the Imo was leaving the harbor, heading south.

The Imo veered out of its lane to avoid another ship that had somehow moved into its path. The pilot of the Imo didn’t know he had just steered directly into the path of the Mont-Blanc.
A catastrophe was taking shape.

On December 6, the Mont-Blanc was due to join a convoy of ships headed to Europe. Few people beyond the crew knew that the Mont-Blanc was packed with dangerous munitions. Powerful explosives—the most powerful that existed at the time—were packed into the cargo holds below deck. Above deck were barrels filled with benzol, a flammable liquid similar to gasoline. In total, the ship carried nearly 3,000 tons of explosive materials. The Mont-Blanc was a floating bomb.

Around 8:30 a.m., the Mont-Blanc entered Halifax Harbor, sailing north. At the same time, the Imo, a relief ship, was leaving the harbor, sailing south.

The Imo moved out of its lane to avoid another ship that had steered into its path. The pilot of the Imo didn’t know he had just steered straight into the path of the Mont-Blanc.

A catastrophe was taking shape

Back in Richmond, Noble saw orange-and-blue flames flicking skyward from the Mont-Blanc. He left his house and walked toward the harbor to get a better view. Like Noble, many in Dartmouth and Halifax rushed outside to see the burning ship. Others watched from the windows of homes, shops, and factories. Several boats raced toward the Mont-Blanc, hoping to help. Their crews had no idea that their lives were in danger.

The Mont-Blanc, having been knocked off course during the collision, was now floating straight toward Noble and his Richmond neighborhood.

Around 9 a.m., the ship drifted into Pier 6 on the Richmond waterfront.

And then, the Mont-Blanc exploded.

Back in Richmond, Noble saw the orange and blue flames flicking skyward from the Mont-Blanc. He left his house and walked toward the harbor for a better view.

Like Noble, many in Dartmouth and Halifax rushed outside to see the burning ship. Others watched from the windows of homes, shops, and factories. Several boats raced toward the Mont-Blanc. Their crew wanted to help. They had no idea that their lives were in danger.

The Mont-Blanc had been knocked off course during the collision. Now it was floating toward Noble’s Richmond neighborhood.

Around 9 a.m., the ship drifted into Pier 6 on the Richmond waterfront. And then, the Mont-Blanc exploded.

In a fraction of a second, the Mont-Blanc was ripped to pieces. At its center, the explosion likely reached 9,000 degrees—more than four times hotter than lava. A tremendous blast of energy shot outward at a speed of 5,000 feet per second—which is to say, it traveled the length of 14 football fields in the time it takes to blink your eyes.

This shock wave ripped through Dartmouth and Halifax. Ships were overturned and smashed. Train cars careened off rails. Factories collapsed into heaps of rubble. Doors flew off hinges, trees snapped in two, windows shattered, and shards of glass shot through the air like missiles.

People felt the ground shake 250 miles away. Many in Halifax and Dartmouth wondered if they were under attack.

The shock wave lifted Noble into the air. He landed, unconscious, near Richmond School. For about 10 minutes, black rain fell—a sludge of benzol residue, molten pieces of the Mont-Blanc, and other debris.

When Noble came to, he saw that most of the buildings were gone. Fires burned everywhere. His jacket had been blown off. His skin was blackened by the rain. Shards of glass stuck in his hair.

Yet there was more horror to come. The explosion triggered an enormous wave that surged out of the harbor and crashed through Dartmouth and Halifax, toppling more buildings and sweeping people away. This tsunami pushed the Imo aground in Dartmouth.

Fortunately for Noble, the wave did not reach him. In a daze, he wandered through the ruined streets toward his house, where only moments before his family had been going about their morning routine.

Like his school, his house had been reduced to a few wobbly walls. But Noble saw his family huddled around the stove, which miraculously was still standing. One of his father’s eyes was filled with glass. And one of Noble’s 13 siblings—his little brother Gordon—was missing.

The Mont-Blanc was ripped to pieces. At its center, the explosion likely reached 9,000 degrees—more than four times hotter than lava. A massive blast of energy shot outward at a speed of 5,000 feet per second—which is to say, traveling the length of 14 football fields in the time it takes to blink your eyes.

In seconds, this shock wave ripped through Dartmouth and Halifax. Ships were overturned and smashed. Train cars went off the rails. Factories collapsed into heaps of rubble. Doors flew off hinges, trees snapped in two, and windows shattered. Shards of glass shot through the air like missiles.

People felt the ground shake 250 miles away. Many in Halifax and Dartmouth wondered if they were under attack.

The shock wave lifted Noble into the air. He landed, unconscious, near Richmond School. For about 10 minutes, black rain fell—a choking sludge of benzol residue, molten pieces of the Mont-Blanc, and other debris.

When Noble came to, he saw that most of the buildings were gone. Fires burned everywhere. Noble’s jacket had been blown off. Shards of glass stuck in his hair. His skin was blackened by the rain.

Yet there was more horror to come.

The explosion triggered a huge wave that surged out of the harbor and crashed through Dartmouth and Halifax. This tsunami toppled more buildings and swept people away. It pushed the Imo aground in Dartmouth. In the end, seven people on board the Imo were killed.

Luckily for Noble, the wave did not reach him. In a daze, he wandered through the ruined streets toward his house.

Like his school, his house had been reduced to a few wobbly walls. But Noble saw his family huddled around the stove, which miraculously was still standing. One of his father’s eyes was filled with glass. And one of Noble’s 13 siblings—his little brother Gordon—was missing.

The explosion of the Mont-Blanc was one of the most powerful explosions in history. Only a few bombs have had more power.

Yet in the midst of unspeakable horror, people rushed to help. Neighbors pulled each other from the burning wreckage of their homes. Soldiers carried wounded men, women, and children to safety. Buildings that still stood were quickly converted to hospitals.

Communities across Nova Scotia mobilized. By the afternoon, trains loaded with nurses, doctors, firefighters, and supplies were streaming into Halifax. Noble and his family boarded a train carrying survivors away from the city. Doctors went from passenger to passenger, binding wounds and treating other injuries.

Unfortunately, a blizzard hit the next day, hampering relief efforts. Nevertheless, aid was soon pouring in again.

The explosion of the Mont-Blanc was one of the most powerful explosions in history. Only nuclear bombs have had more power.

Yet in the midst of the horror, people rushed to help each other. Neighbors pulled each other from the burning wreckage of their homes. Soldiers carried wounded men, women, and children to safety. Buildings that still stood were used as hospitals.

Communities across Nova Scotia mobilized. By the afternoon, trains loaded with nurses, doctors, firefighters, and supplies were streaming into Halifax. Another train carried away survivors, including Noble and his family. Doctors went from passenger to passenger, treating injuries.

Unfortunately, a blizzard hit the next day, hampering relief efforts. But in the following days and weeks, aid poured in from across Canada and the United States. Thousands of people had lost homes, possessions, and jobs. Many had permanent injuries. More than 2,000 people had died.

People were angry. They wanted answers. Some blamed Germany. Others blamed the government. Some blamed Mackey and the Mont-Blanc captain. The two men were vilified in the newspapers, put on trial, and briefly sent to jail.

They were later released and charges were dropped. It seemed they had been scapegoated.

Mackey eventually returned to the sea, but his name was tarnished. (Recently, writer and retired teacher Janet Maybee worked to clear Mackey’s name and interviewed many of his surviving relatives. You can read the story in her book Aftershock.)

Thousands of people had lost homes, possessions, jobs. Some 2,000 people had died, and at least 9,000 had been injured. Five crew members from the Imo died—as well as the pilot and captain—as did one crew member from the Mont-Blanc.

People were angry and wanted answers. Some blamed Germany. Some blamed the government for not managing the harbor better. Some blamed the Imo. Many blamed Mackey and Le Medec. The men were vilified in the newspapers, charged with criminal offenses, and briefly sent to jail. The charges were later dropped.

Historians now say the men were treated unfairly. They had been scapegoated. Mackey eventually returned to the sea, but his name had been tarnished. (Writer and retired teacher Janet Maybee has been working to clear Mackey’s name. You can read the story in her book Aftershock.)

Today—100 years later—Halifax is thriving. Walk through the streets along the harbor, and you will enjoy the scent of delicious seafood wafting from waterfront restaurants. You will hear the horns of ferries and see trains bringing cargo to the enormous ships docked in the harbor.

Yet memories of the catastrophe still seem to ripple through the air. Mention the explosion to nearly anyone, and he or she can probably tell you about a relative who lived through it.

As for Noble? Tragically, his little brother Gordon was never found. The Driscolls pushed on as best they could though. They lived for a while in a nearby town, and they welcomed a new baby in 1919. That same year they returned to Halifax. By then, World War I had ended and the Driscolls, like people all around the world, were ready to rebuild their lives.

Noble went on to get married and manage a store. He lived in a house in the neighborhood that was built on the ruins of Richmond.

In that neighborhood today, at the top of a hill overlooking the harbor, stands a bell tower. Each December 6, its bells ring in solemn memory of the day the sky shattered.

Today—100 years later—Halifax is thriving. Walk through the streets along the harbor, and you’ll enjoy the smell of seafood wafting from waterfront restaurants. You’ll hear the horns of ferries. You’ll see trains bringing cargo to the ships docked in the harbor.

Yet memories of the catastrophe still seem to ripple through the air. Mention the explosion to anyone, and he or she can probably tell you about a relative who lived through it.

As for Noble? Tragically, his brother Gordon was never found. The Driscolls went on as best they could. They lived for a while in the nearby city of Truro, and they welcomed a new baby in 1919. That same year they returned to Halifax. By then, World War I had ended. The Driscolls, like people all around the world, were ready to rebuild their lives.

Noble went on to get married and manage a store. He lived in a house in the neighborhood that was built atop the ruins of Richmond.

Today, in that same neighborhood at the top of a hill overlooking the harbor, stands a bell tower. Each December 6, its bells ring in solemn memory of the day the sky was shattered.

Special thanks to Roger Marsters from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Liam Caswell from the Dartmouth Heritage Museum, Barry Smith from the Nova Scotia Archives, Janet Kitz, Janet Maybee, and Nimbus Publishing for their generous research assistance.

Special thanks to Roger Marsters from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Liam Caswell from the Dartmouth Heritage Museum, Barry Smith from the Nova Scotia Archives, Janet Kitz, Janet Maybee, and Nimbus Publishing for their generous research assistance.