At the time of the Halifax explosion, Picton was moored next to the sugar refinery wharf, having earlier run aground and damaged her stern post and rudder.

The superintendent foreman, Frank Carew, realised the danger and, along with his men, had the hatch covers closed and secured when the Mont-Blanc went up.

The cartridges contained a good proportion of phosphorus and produced a thick black smoke on ignition.

of Furness Withy Co., recognised the danger of the ballast exploding, and made his way to the ship with help from his son, Lt Leslie Harrison.

[3] He then set to work to cut the wire and manila cables, and the tug attached a line to the bow of the Picton.

On Saturday, the Admiralty instructed the Furness Withy people to remove Picton from the harbour and beach her in the Eastern Passage.

A patrol vessel was anchored nearby and a guard from the 63rd Halifax Rifles was stationed at Crow's Point to prevent thieves and the curious from stripping her.

The phosphorus that had leaked from the damaged cartridges had mixed with cordite, causing a box to ignite as it was being dragged across a bench.

The ship was quietly sold off in 1927 to Williams & Mordey Ltd., Cardiff and her name changed to SS Seven Seas Transport.