New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-09
HAS WAR CARGO;
RONB SUSPECTED
r,ntain'sWireless Tells of
Dliqfit-Three Ships Be
lieved Near Scene.
NODANGER'IS REPORT
Vessel Has Modern Equipment
Flames Can Be Flooded and
Compartments Sealed.

The steamship Rochambeau, OF
Ae French line, with 65l persons on
ioard and cargo of war supplies,
+. afre al sea somewhere within 800
miles Of Halifax. A wireless mes
,ace from Captain Juham yesterday
afternoon saying he would put into
Halifax if the crew could not con-
cuer a blaze in one of the reserve
coal bunkers is the latest word
heard from the ship. Among
the passengers are about thirty
Americans.
The Rochambeau's exact position
!, not given in the captains mes
,re. She sailed from New York
gaturday afternoon and it is esti-
-s.ed that she has steamed about
LOO miles. If the captain made
directly for Halifax he should reach
that port by this morning at the
latest. A storm in eastern Canada
which wrecked several telegraph
lines has delayed communication
With Halifax. At a late hour last
right no news had come Of the
Rochambeau's docking.
Paul Faguet, general agent Of the
Fae. received this message from
CAPTAIN Julian at 2:50 yesterday
,fternOon:
we are fighting fire in No. :
reserve coal bunker. If we do not
1cceed will put into Halifax. Every
hing all right. No danger
lUHAM."
Has Heavy War Cargo.
Bunker fires are no unusual occur
,sn,ss and are not especially serious,
aid N Faguet. "We are not at al
alarmed for the reserve bunkers are
considerable distance from the hold
and the Rochambeau is a comparativel'
new ship. equipped with the best sor
Of Ere fighting apparatus. The bunker
can be flooded with water and steam
and hernetically sealed. so there Il
practically no chance for the blaze u
spread.
From the estimated position OF tn
boat there are at least three othe'
liners within easy reach, but Captair
Juhsm has no. sent out any 5 q
signals as far rs we know. | should
not be surprised il the passengers di'
not even know there was fire OF
board"
The Rochambeau, which is headed
'or Bordeaux. has III cabin passen
rers 25O steeracc and crew Of 25o
according to the fgures given out al
The local Offices. The heavy cargo OF
var supplies consists largely Of stee
and iron, machinery Of various kinds
BRASS and copper wire and barbed wire
Tor entangiemcnts. The only ex
plosives aboard. so far as could b'
Earned last night. were 2,54l cases O.
ariridges. Guns. empty shells an6
tariridge cases are among the Other
articles that viii 90 directly TO th'
iiont. A comparatively small amoun
q cotton is chef among the infiam
naole portion OF he cargo.
Bomb Explosion Suspected.
In the absence Of definite informa
ION a. % the cause Of the blaze OF
ne Rochambeau, il was matter o.
general conjecture yesterday in mari
Nme circles as 10 whether this wa
another addition TO the long list oi
mysterious fires on ships leaving New
iefk with supplies for the Allied
armies. Ship after ship has sailed with
bomb concealed somewhere in hei
eigo' Many Of these bombs have ex
Eoaeo, causing serious fires. In othei
ssses, where no remnants Of a bomt
aASe been found, there seems 20 have
wen no other explanation for the fires
N view Of the activity Of German
Eopagandists, added significance Is
,Nsh any FIRE IN ship az sea. espe
e4l! ~hen she carries munitions OF
ss'' as does the Rochambeau. The
sle officials. however. are inclined "a
Sfecit any such theories of the
ig.n Of the FIRE. Spontaneous com
'Non often occurs, 10 was explained
'ties. 90 '"'s' fN"
D" "i,hin the last few days the steamer
Nages. bound from New York 20
ssenstown with a cargo of sugar
~,,ss hre az sea and put into Halifax
49,. 49,, her forward hold a roaring fur
. her captain attributed the fire
oomo seereted in a bag of sugar.
S,,,.s Sn'ees Of the French Line. 81 l9
o'sia., street, closed as usual at s
tss Yesterday afternoon. Even il
s,at should get beyond control. the
.se n said, the liner carries life saw
1s. spparatus for 1900 persons. more
kos,s '"'ee as many as are now on
A,,. hochambeau was built at ST.
,,,, France. in 1911, and is 53s
q teser all. 81 feet beam and draws
tr.,s her register is 1891 tons
"a Hher IS a one-clsss ship. fitted
~sommodate $50 cabin messengers.
:" latest Improvements Of wireless.
hned on page l. eoIuu4a 3