Albert L. Cutten - Killed in the Halifax Explosion

Albert Little Cutten was born in 1880 in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.  His parents were John R. Cutten and Martha Teed (the granddaughter of both our loyalist ancestors, Daniel Teed and Alexander Peers). He was my 2nd cousin, twice removed and was youngest boy of 10 children. In his early years learned the machinist's trade on the railway.  

  

Hillis & Sons Stove Factory

Shortly after the Explosion

Albert Cutten had left his home at 1376 Barrington Street in Halifax early on the morning of December 6, 1917. The 36 year old machinist made his way to the cast iron stove factory of Hillis & Sons and began his day's work.  About the same time the Norwegian supply ship, the Imo set off into Halifax harbour bound for New York to pick up relief supplies headed for Belgium.  The port was busy with wartime shipping,   Convoys of ships loaded with war supplies of food, munitions and troops gathered in Bedford Basin ready for the voyage to Europe with heavily-armed warships as escorts. Neutral vessels anchored in the harbour, their crews forbidden to land for fear any might supply information to the enemy.

Just outside the mouth of the harbour, the French ship Mont Blanc, prepared to join a convoy.  She was loaded with 2,300 tons of wet and dry picric acid, 200 tons of TNT, 10 tons of gun cotton and 35 tons of benzol: a highly explosive mixture.

Official Death Record for Albert L. Cutten

After a series of ill-conceived maneuvers, at 9:05 am the Imo struck the Mont Blanc resulting in a massive explosion that destroyed the Halifax Harbour front and much of the town.   Over 12,000 homes were levelled and a complete pane of glass would have been hard to find in the ruble. 

Coffins awaiting removal from Halifax Mortuary

At the Hillis & Sons stove factory 47 of the 53 workers were killed immediately, including our cousin Albert Cutten.  In total nearly 2,000 people died as a result of the explosion and a further 6,000 were injured - many blinded by flying glass.

Albert was buried in the Cemetery at Parrsboro.

Entry in the Book of Remembrance Halifax Explosion - Albert L. Cutten