South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-08
Captain Reports Blaze Under
Control and Ship on Way to
HaIifax-VeSSeI Engaged in
Carrying Ammunition.
SHIPPING MEN SEE
DYNAMITE CONNECTED
No Passengers on Board, AC-
Cording to Report--BOat Has
Record of InnumerabIe Acct
dents, One a Fire in 1908.

NEW YORK, July S.-The British
liner Minnehaha, the largest ship
engaged in carrying munitions Of war
from America to the allies was set
afire by an explosion that occurred
late yesterday afternoon in Hold No.
8, while the vessel was about so
miles southeast of Halifax, n. s. The
liner is now speeding to Halifax.
The cause of the fire was revealed
for the first time by a dispatch re-
ceived at the Atlantic Transport Co. S
offices shortly after noon today The
information same in a wireless mes
sage from Capt. Frank f. II. Claret
of the Minnehaha, who stated that the
flames were under control.
His message strengthened the be-
lief that had been growing in shipping
circles that a bomb placed by Frank
Holt. the dynamiter and assailant of
J. p. Morgan, was responsible for the
fire
The dispatch announcing that the
fire was caused by an explosion fol-
lows:
Fire caused by an explosion Now
controlled by suftOcation and steam.
Much smoke in hold Deem it eXpe-
dient to make Halifax. Due Chebur-
tohead at 9 o'clock Friday"
The dispatch from Capt. Claret
was sent last night. In an earlier one
sent at $3.50 O'Clock yesterday after
noon he gave the information that a
fire had broken out in the hold and
that the ship was making for HalifaX.
The Minnehaha, a liner of 1874
tons is owned by the Atlantic Trans
port Co, Ltd. Her commander is
Capt. F. s. II. Claret
News that the ship was on fire
came in a wireless dispatch from Capt.
Claret. He stated that the fire had
been confined to hold No. ,, and that
it was not serious. He said. however,
that he was speeding to Halifax.
No Passengers Aboard.
The Minnehaha carries q crew of
$50 men. but had no passengers
aboard when she left here on Sunday.
IN view of the revelations in con-
nection with the operations Of Frank
Holt. il was regarded as a possibility
here that the dynamiter had placed
some of his explosives aboard the Min
nehaha. instead of the ships he men,
toned in the letter he sent his wife.
The liner carried 1900 tons of am
munition consigned To the British gov
ernment. and purchased here through
the firm of J. 2. Morgan < Co, whose
head Holt tried to assassinate last
Saturday.
The wireless dispatch from Capt
Claret telling of the fire, was sent
from the liner at $3.50 O'Clock yester-
day afternoon, but was not received
at the Atlantic Transport Co.'s Offices
until this morning.
The captain gave his location at
that time as $40 miles southeast or
Halifax. Officials Of the line express
ed the opinion today that the liner
would be able to reach Halifax with
out difficulty.
steamer. She was built in 1900 at
Belfast, which is her home port, and
is one of the largest vessels carrying
munitions Of war to the allies from
The liner is 500 feet long. has a
beam of 60 feet, and a depth Of 80
feet.
In Many Accidents.
The Ninnehaha has been in many
accidents. but is considered one of the
staunchest ships of the Atlantic trans
mort line. In 1904 she was damaged
in a collision with the British steamer
John Sanderson, off Gravesend. in the
Thames. Four years later she lost a
propeller and made the trip from New
York to London without passengers,
with one propeller.
The NIinnehaha went aground IN
Gednev channel on April Il, 1903. She
was foated again. however, the next
day.
on April 10, 1910. the Minnehaha
went aground off the Scilly Islands.
Eor some time all hope of saving the
steamer was given up and the 90
messengers were sent away IN the
Iifeboats. A turn in the weather
saIed the ship from pounding 10 pieces
And sho was refOated a few days
later.
According to the Atlantic transport
ofysciaIs few munitions OF war in hold
as that was filed principally with
ordinary freight shipments. If a holt
bomb. shipped as freight was on the
shin II probably would be in this hold.
capt Claret is 33 years old and a
lieutenant in the royal navy reserve.
Caught Fire i'm 1908.
once before the Minnehaha caught
fire. In September. 1908, fire broke
ont in her hold on a voyage 10 queens
town. The officers and crew fought
he blaze for three days without
alarming the passengers.
-