The Halifax Explosion

100 years ago today, this happened, in what was Canada's 4th largest City.

More details about the telegraph operator is here

1. Why didn't Vincent Coleman save himself?Class answers-He chose to stay and type a message to the train so it wouldn't come into Halifax with its 700 passengers
 After Vincent Coleman died, he left a wife and four children. Details here to the problems they had supporting themselves with the death of Vincent Coleman.

2. Were the Coleman's treated fairly? Why or why not. Class answers-They were not.  Vincent Coleman gave his life to protect others. Society should have returned the gesture and protected his family. 

More details here about the Halifax Explosion


Open this link in Chrome http://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/halifaxexplosion/ 

3. Why wasn't the ship clearly marked that it was carrying explosives?

4. If this were to happen today, would it take as long for the outside world to find out what happened? Why or why not

5. The explosion vaporized some people, and for some it crushed internal organs. Others died during the explosion, but not from the explosion itself, but from . . .

6. What is a tsunami and why would this follow the explosion?

7. he day following the explosion, many in Canada still didn't know it happened. Unfortunately, the day after the explosion Halifax was hit with a Winter storm. How would the Tsunami and the following winter storm hinder rescue efforts and worsen survival rates?