N.S. Artifacts From A Hero Of The Halifax Explosion
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic opened a new permanent display today, Dec. 2, featuring objects owned and used by Vincent Coleman. Mr. Coleman was the Halifax railway dispatcher who signaled for inbound trains to stop as the French munitions ship Mont Blanc, burned on Dec. 6, 1917. Mr. Coleman lost his life in the explosion that followed.
"This selfless act of heroism guaranteed that, of all the names of those who perished in the Halifax Explosion, Mr. Coleman's would be the one best remembered by generations of people," said John Hennigar-Shuh, general manager of the museum. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to create this permanent tribute to this man known by few who are alive today but familiar to so many."
Some of the items in the display were donated in 1953 by members of the Coleman family to the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, which has cared for them for half a century. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic worked with Archives' staff and members of the Coleman family to acquire the objects and put them on public display. This is the first time in about 15 years that the objects have been seen by the general public.
The display includes the pocket watch that was found with Mr. Coleman's body. It shows the terrible effects of the blast and tidal wave which swept his station.
The most sobering object is the telegraph key Mr. Coleman used to send this message moments before he died: "Hold up the train. Munitions ship on fire and making for Pier 6 ... Goodbye boys."
His message was heard by every station up the line from Halifax to Truro, alerting the Canadian Government Railway to the imminent explosion. As a result, the railway was able to quickly send six relief trains to Halifax with medical help and firefighters from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Two additional objects in the display have just been donated by Janette Snooks, one of Mr. Coleman's grandchildren, and have never been seen by the public. The items include the handmade dress worn by Mr. Coleman's 23-month-old daughter, Eileen, when the explosion destroyed their home on Russell Street. The family has also donated Mr. Coleman's wallet, which still contains Victory Bond raffle tickets purchased by him only a few days before the blast.
The museum will host a public reception with survivors of the Halifax Explosion on Sunday, Dec. 5, beginning at 2 p.m. Admission is free. The museum will be open for visitors on Monday, Dec. 6, the anniversary of the explosion and regular admission is charged. On Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Dan Conlin, the museum curator, will give a presentation entitled The Real Heroism of Vincent Coleman. Admission to the presentation is free.
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located at 1675 Lower Water St. in Halifax.