Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-10
MUENTER BLAMED
FOR PLACING BOMB
Minnehaha's Officers Confident
He Was Responsible for At
tempted Destruction of Ship.
FIRE FOLLOWS EXPLOSION
Mighty Battle at Sea Before
Flames Are Smothered and
Vessel Reaches Port.
FIRE FOLLOWS EXPLOSION

: HALIFAX, July "a bomb placed
aboard the Atlantic Transport liner
Minnehaha. probably while she lay al
p!osion and fire at sea. which forced
the steamer to put in here for exam
ination to-day, in the opinion Of the
vessels officers.
The explosion occurred in No. hold,
and shook the vessel from stem TO
stern. Those of the crew forward at
tn. time were stunned. and two sailors
were hurled bodily into the air.
Flames followed quickly. and for two
days and nights the crew bat,led TO
save the ship
The ships officers do not doubt that
Erich Mucnter. alias Frank Holt. or
confcderatcs. were responsible for the
explosion. which occurred on the af-
tcrnoon Of July :. the date on which
Muenter predicted that some vessel.
the name Of which he appeared unccr-
tain. would bc destroyed
PLANS ARE FRUSTRATED
n PLACING OF BOMB
Mucntcrs plans were frustrated by
the fact that his weapon OF destruction
was placed with, mi sceilaneous freight
forward. and was not near an enormous
cargo of ammunition.
While the sailors fought tho fire.
Captain Claret headed for Halfax. and
brought the vessel safely through A
gale and fog to an anchorage in the
lower harbor here to-day. The flames.
meanwhile. had eaten their way into
No hold. hut late to-day, il was an
nounccd. they had been ex,inguished.
The theory OF spontaneous colnbus-
tion Was not held. as the cXplosion
WAS followed by sunocating fumes.
which seriously hampcred the crew in
It's light. and which the officers in
sisted had been let loose by some in.
formal instrument.
Thrilling stories were told by the
10" men who made up the freightcr's
crew. The first TWO days out were un-
cventful. The Minnchaha sailed from
New York for Liverpool on SUNDAY \
half hour after midnight. Wednesday
morning. Captain Ciaret and his officers
were startled by the receipt Of a wire
less message warning them that two
bombs had been placed in vessel
which sailed from New York for Eng
lsh ports recently. The captain i'm
mediately ordered the small boats
swung out.
Al i:l3 o'clock that same afternoon
when the ship was SO miles southeast
OF Halifax, something let so in the
third compartment, and the ship
trcmblcd violently. One of the hatch
covers shot off. carrying two sailors
with II, Ten feet in the air One was
slightly injured. The crew removed
enough of the freight to enable il to
get within striking distance of the
flames.
CAPTAIN Is RESOLVED
TO TAKE NO CHANCES
Steam was driven into the hold, and
soon the fire appeared 10 be under CON
troll. but Captain Claret resolved not
! TO take any chances. and at 3 o'clock
turned his prov toward Halifax. Al
night the fire gained headway. finally
reaching into the adjoining hold
Throughout the night the crew fought
desperately. doubtful of the outcome
but determined to stand by TO the last
Yesterday the crew got the upper
hand of the flames Meanwhile. the
leather became unfavorable. and early
to-day heavy southwest gale arose
This, combined with a thick fog COM
pclled the steamer to remain off Sam
bro for several hours. and she did not
reach anchorage at quarantine until
carly this afternoon 4 high sea was
running> and boarding the ship was
difficult.
The crew had mastered the flames
when assistance from shore was avail
able.