New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-09
Munition Laden Ship
Heads for Halifax,
Blaze Controlled.
BOMB IN HOLD,
1T is BELIEVED
Fire Not Near Huge Cargo
of Explosives and Acids
Shipped to Allies.
WHITE STAR BOAT SAFE
Liner, Threatened by Germans,
Dodges Submarines and
Docks at Liverpool.

AS if in answer to Frank Holt's
last warning that a ship would
sink, God willing" at sea July 7,
an explosion occurred in the hold
Of the munition-laden Minnehaha,
Of the Atlantic Transport Line, late
on that day. A fire resulted of such
proportions that her captain, Frank
H. Claret, headed his vessel at full
speed for Halifax, $40 miles away,
where she is expected to arrive this
morning.
The news of the fire and explosion
on the Minnehaha was not given
out here until yesterday. 1t was
said Captain Claret had sent wire
less to the officials of the line late
the night before. shortly after the
explosion occurred. The last mes
sage received from him yesterday by
the officials of the Atlantic Trans
sort Line was somewhat reassuring.
II came by way of Cape Race and
was received here at 12:40 p. m.
1t read:
Fire caused by explosion. Now
under control by suffocation and
steam. Much smoke in holds. Deemed
it expedient to make for Halifax.
Due off Chebucto Head 9 q. m. Fri
day. Advise agents"
Chebucto Head mentioned by Cap
tain Claret is at the entrance Of Hall
fax harbor. The message was inter-
preted by the company officials TO mean
that in all probability the Minnehaha
would reach Halifax without further
damage.
Adrlatic Is Safe.
The cause of even greater susi ense
at the Offices of the International
Mercantile Marine. of which the At
lantic Transport Line is part. was
relieved late yesterday afternoon,
when word was received that the
Adriatic, with 42O passengers aboard,
had found her way safely through the
war zone and reached her dock at
Liverpool. The Adriatic was due there
early yesterday, and the suspense
here was at a high pitch for hours
until she was heard from. 4 group
Of friends Of the passengers hung
around the White Star Line Offices all
day seeking news of her
P. A. S. Franklin, vice-pre sident OF
the international Mercantile Marine,
announced her safe arrival as soon az
the message was received. Meanwhile
he had assured all inquirers ina. the
delay in nearing from her was 70 be
expected, as she woUlt not dare to use
her wireless after she entered the war
zone unit. she arrived at Liverpool.
Her delay in reaching Liverpool was
probably owing TO cau:ion on tie part
OF her captain in keeping we'll of the
beaten lanes in the var zone.
There were several circumstances
surrounding the fire in the Mime
haha's hold which would seem 20 indi-
cate that Holt had made good oA his
threat 70 get one of his internal ma
chimes aboard an ocean liner. While
officials OF the line asserted that every
precautio1. had been taken 70 keep
spicious-looking packages Of the
boat, they admittcI It would have
been possible for Holt 10 have shipped
his bomb as piece Of the general
cargo in such form that IL might not
have been discovered
Many Precautions Taken.
I'VE DO not open and examine every
package or parcel taken aboard" an
official of the line said. we could
not do so without great delay. But
we exercise all reasonable precautiOns 4
TO prevent the placing Of bombs aboard
our ships. A guard is on duty day and
night at the dock and cur own force
of workmen are watched strictly and
continuously"
Captain Claret did not describe the
nature of the explosion in his mes
sages. The line expects 20 receive n
detailed account Of the accident when
the ship reaches Halifax to-day. Off
cials of the line pointed out that the
cargo in Hold No. 3, in which the cap
tain said the explosion occurred, was
or general nature, ana tnat every
piece had been identified and listed
before it went aboard. The unusually
heavy consignment Of munitions was
mostly stored aft and not in proximity
10 Hold No. 3, IL was said. On that
account il was harder TO explain what
could have exploded in tina, hold un-
less it was something in the nature OF
n bomb
Another significant circumstance
was that the Minnehaha was scheduled
10 sail Saturday, July 3, the day which
Holt mentioned in the warning to his
wife as that On which he had placed
the bomb on the Sax)r'a or the Phlla-
delphia, he wasn'' sure which. HIS
uncertainty as 70 the vessel would sug-
gest that he might have put his bomb
on the Minnehaha. particularly as she
was used exclusively 70 carry NUM-
tons of war 20 the Allies. the practice
he vowed he wanted TO discourage.
And the explosion happened on the
day Holt said il would
The Minnehaha carried no passen-
gers. Her crew numbered 100. with
seventeen hostlers 70 care for the 2iO
horses aboard. Her manifest showed
she carrier cargo OF $4,000 tons,
mostly munitions Of war. She had