Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-09
Bunker Fire on
 French Steamship
RocHAMBEAu SENDS REPORT a
 WIRELESS
MAKING FOR HALIFA
Was Two Days Out of New York
 Approximately $50 Persons AboaI Message Said "No Danger at All

fNPPt WY VI SShS TSS0A
 -Messaee Said "No Danger at All
 New York, Nov. s.-The French Lis steamship Rochambeau, two days or of New York for Bordeaux, reported b wireless today to have fire in her cc bunkers. was presumably steaming tS night for Halifax, the nearest pot Her exact position was not given in u single wireless message that broug' news of her plight to land, but it wa estimated that she would make HaH fax some time late tonight or earl tomorrow.
 $50 Persons and War Supplies.
 Aboard the burning steamer are ap proximately $50 persons-421 passen gers and a crew of about 230-and [ | large cargo of war supplies, includin 2,541 cases of cartridges and 136 bale of cotton.
 Making for Halifax:
 The fire which turned the vesse from her course toward the mortimer port of Halifax is deep in the hold. i | No. 5 reserve coal bunker, which i | located amidships. This message sai | that the vessel was in no danger an from its tone officials here of tn | French Line inferred that the situation | was not serious.
 Agents Not Alarmed.
 We are not alarmed" said Pau l Faguet, general agent of the line Bunker fires are not uncommon, no are they generally very serious, as the; are away from the cargo space" | Only One Message. Only one wireless message had beeI received from the steamer when tn French Line offices closed at the uSua hour tonight. This was from CaptaiI Juham and reached the offices her about 2.30 p. m. It read as follows:
 Fire in No. reserve coal bunker Fighting fire and have turned to Hali' fax. Hope to put it out. No dange. at all.''
 Had Sailed 600 Miles.
 The Rochambeau left New York Sat, urday afternoon. It was estimatet that she had sailed 600 miles when thu wireless message was received today ocean lane travelled by the big trans Atlantic liners and despite the silenc
 over the sea; enforced by British ad
 miralty censors, there is reason to be lieve that at least three ships ar within close steaming distance, avail able for and in emergency.
 Lifeboats and Rafts Sufficient.
 Lifeboats and liferafts sufficient fo 1,500 persons, more than twice thu | On were on In Rochambeau when she sailed, accord ing to the lines officials. In addition
 the steamer is equipped with the usua
 f1re-hghting apparatus required in thu case of ocean liners.
 Cartridges the Only Explosives. l The big cargo, which weighted tn,
 steamer low in the water as she sailed
 away, consisted chiefly of iron ant l steel, machinery, copper and steel wire | hrzo l- e1oaI ? far as could be learned tonight, tn l cartridges were the only explosive
 aboard. Chief of the infammable ma
 terial was the relatively small amour = of cotton.
 s There seemed to be some doubt a @ to whether Captain Juham would talk :, his vessel into Halifax, although hi = message said that he was making fo
 that port. MT Faguet thought that | the fire were extinguished and tn Q damage slight, the Rochambeau migh s | resume her trip to Bordeaux withou e touching at Halifax. In this event, h r expected another message from Cap l tain Juham.
 In the absence of information de fining the cause of the fire, maritim t circles wondered today if the acci t dent was another of the long list at c tributed to the activity of bomb car t riers and placers. Ship after shiI e laden with supplies from the allies, ha sailed out of New Ork within the pas
 eight months with bombs secreted i n her hold, and in many cases thes o bombs have exploded.
 Rio Lages Fire. n Within the past few days the steam
 CT Rio Lages, from New York
 Queenstown with sugar caught fire 2 .a sea and put into Halifax with fire
 her hold. Her captain attributed th - fire to a bomb hidden in a sugar bai !, Sugar seems to have been selected fire 's quently. for hiding bombs On ship. I'll
 Rochambeau, it was said, carried T
 sugar.
 s, List of Steamers on Which Bomk It Were Found. Tho list of steamers sailing frol = New York to Europe upon whic bombs were found. and in some cast
 explosions occurred, and their sailin ] dates, include the following: l. Touraine, March 6; Devon City, Apr :, 27; Lord Erne, April 29; Crossingto IS Court. April 29; Samland, May 1; Lo1 IT Downshire, May 1; Kirkoswald, May 10 Strathtay, May 8; Bankdale, May Minnehaha, July g; Craigside, July 2
 Athinia, Sept. 8; Sant' Anna, Sept. l