
Vincent Coleman, the harbour ferry, begins service near Halifax Explosion site
HALIFAX — He is the ultimate hero of the Halifax Explosion: Vince Coleman saved a trainload of passengers at the cost of his own life.
On Wednesday, a ferry named for the train dispatcher was put into service in Halifax harbour, serving a route not far from the spot where a munitions ship exploded shortly after colliding with another vessel on Dec. 6, 1917.
Coleman, a father of four, was among 2,000 people killed in the blast.
He had stayed at his post to tap a telegraph message warning stations up the line to stop trains from entering Halifax, including Train No. 10 which was carrying several hundred people and was just about to arrive.