At approximately 8:45 a.m. on 6 December 1917, the Belgian Relief vessel
IMO struck the munitions-laden freighter Mont-Blanc in Halifax Harbour.
The Mont-Blanc exploded in a devastating 2.9 kiloton blast, which killed
2,000 people and injured 9,000. More than 6,000 people were made
homeless, and an additional 12,000 were left without shelter.
Bearing Witness tells the story of the Explosion, and the catastrophic
damage it caused, through the eyes and words of more than two dozen
journalists and record keepers who experienced it first hand. Their
accounts reveal a unique perspective, offering new detail about the
tragedy and providing insight into the individuals who struggled to
articulate the magnitude of the shocking event to the rest of the
world.
In addition to the original work by journalists and record keepers,
Michael Dupuis provides over 30 photographs and illustrations, several
previously unseen, and a detailed timeline of journalistic activities
from the time of the Explosion on December 6 to December 16.