happened on Thursday December 6th 1917.
A huge detination of the S.S. Mont-Blanc, which was fully loaded with explosives happened when it collided with S.S. Imo. About 2000 people were killed and 9000 people were injured.
This is still considered the worlds largest man made accidental explosion.
A Brandon man, Staff Sergent E. R. Bourke wired his farther: “O.K. physically. Lost all effects. Broke.”
Brandon city council voted to give three thousand dollars to a disaster relief fund, and in addition local citizens, and local organizations subscribed some seven hundred dollars more, while pupils of the three public schools contributed thirty eight hundred pennies collected in a penny drive.
Source, Brandon a City. By G. F. Barker.
http://www.halifax.ca/Community/explode.html