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Archibald MacMechan

Halifax Disaster Record Office Materials

Youthful Patients Relate their Experience

3 pages : 30 x 41 cm.

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YOUTHFUL PATIENTS RELATE THEIR EXPERIENCES.
Boys at Camp Hill Hospital Pass Through Trying Ordeals But Are Still Cherry and Bright.
There are two brave little lads, victims of the terrible explosion of December 6th, in L. Ward, Camp Hill Hospital. They are Willie Edmonds and Arthur Finlay, both North End boys. Though the injuries they received were serious and caused both a lot of suffering, they are fine little fellows and are the life and soul of the ward, popular among the soldier patients and their fellow victims who are there. Both boys had their legs broken in the disaster, Willie Edmonds having since lost his leg, but he, as well as Arthur Finlay, is now making good process to recovery. Willie Edmonds is a son of Arthur Edmonds late of 57 Duffus St., while George Finlay of Mader's Cafe is the father of Arthur Finlay. The boys speak highly of the splendid treatment they have received from the nurses, doctors, Army Medical Corps men, their soldier patients, the many good people who come and seem them, and last but no means least good old Santa Claus who paid them a fine visit Christmas time and left plenty of good things behind him.
The boys tell an interesting story of their experiences on the on the day of the disaster. Willie Edmonds was standing by the kitchen stove with his sister, and when the explosion occurred he was blown out of the house, a distance of a couple of houses away. He fell down, but managed to get up again and was making his way to the house, when something fell and smashed his knee cap. What is was he did not know, but thought as it came from the direction of the Harbour. It must have been a piece of steel. He did not feel much pain at the time, and in a few moments he was picked up by his father and carried up to Hubley's at the corner of Gottingen and Kaye Streets , where he was put on a team and brought to the hospital at Camp Hill. His whereabouts were unknown to his father for a few days after this. Sad to relate his two brothers who had gone down to see the steamer on fire in the harbor had been wounded, while the mother had been badly gashed in the throat, and other injuries and the father was cut also.


Reference: Archibald MacMechan Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 volume 2124 number 304

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