The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-14
JAP FLEET COMES
TO MINNEAPOLIS
Big Shipment Of Submarine Tor
pedo Boats Now at Min r
nesota Transfer. .
NINETEEN CARS LOADED
WITH MATERIAL. OF WAR
Mystery and Haste Are Two
Prominent Features of the
Shipment. -,

A Japanese feet reached the twin
cities today-on wheels. -.
With every possible effort to conceal
it's arrival, the "white train,' consist
rim rinne It torpedo boats for the japanese
navy, arrived at the Minnesota Trans
fer. early. this morning., and was
tion Of the yard. --. --.-
The Transfer s special policeman was
kept on duty in that section Of the yard
and endeavored to keep all spectators
away from the mysterious cars. 49,.
It was the original intention to send
the train out over the Great Northern,
on a passenger train card, without de-
lay, but two Of the cars were in bad or
der, and the train had to be held at the
Transfer until the contents of one car
could be shifted to another, and the
other damaged car repaired. This will
hours, or more, but when the cars are
ready again, no time will be lost until
they reach the Pacific coast.
The shipment is the most peculiar
that has ever passed thru the city.
There are eighteen fiat cars and one box
car, supposed to contain the bolts, nuts
and :; the small fittings rs, needed to put the he
covered with canvas. tightly buttoned
down, which has given the tSain the
name of the "white train. - On three
cars the housing is torn SO that one can
get glimpse Of the implements Of war,
Like Huge Kettles.
On one of the cars in bad, order, the
canvas has been entirely removed, and
the contents Of that car are open tc
view. To landlubber . this cal
, contains nothing suspicious. All that
can be seen are three huge iron hemi
spheres, nine feet in diameter and made
of iron three inches in thickness. They
look much like huge syrup kettles, but
those who profess to know say thai
boats. e. a.: ..s.,-s ~. = .'.' -
On the other cars, where the canvas
is slightly torn, one can see nothing but
huge iron beams, plates and braces.
The hulls of the, boats are shipped il
two sections, one section to a car. They
about ten feet. above the floor of tn,
car. Measurements made by Journa
reporter at the Transfer this morning
.5how that the boats are about fifty fee
long. The other parts of the boats ar,
50 concealed that it is impossible to tel
just what they are like. =.
A Hurry-Up Trip.
The boats were built by the For
| lC1V SA w VI 40 EHuIACys MdSS., duu CI
valued at $4,000,000. They left Quin
cy Wednesday,, Oct. s, over the New
York, New Haven & Hartford railroa,
and were sent around New York to Jer
sey City, where they were turned owe
to the Pennsylvania road and hurrie,
west. "West of Chicago was the DIES
tination on the waybill over the Penn
sylvania, while cards on the cars indj
Gated that the boats+were to go out O
| Chicago over the Sa1EafFe.
Arrived at Chicago the consignors
knowing that much publicity had bee
given the shipment by the newspaper.
diverted the shipment and when tn
"white train'' left the windy city,
was by way Of the Burlington. Tn
boats will 20 to the coast over the Grea
Northern. -'. -~ ...
While every effort has been made b
the railroad companies to conceal tn
real nature of the shipment, no chance
are taken with the cars. That they COZ
tain implements Of war. intended to
used against the Russians, is know
and the danger from Russian fanatic
has not been overlooked. The gree
value of, the consignment has made til
railroad companies use every precautio
to keep strangers away from the cal
SO that they may reach their destin,
ton in good order. -
SHIPMENT Carefully Guarded.