Arizona republican., 1915-11-09
SIX HUNDRED
FIFTY IN PERIL
On SHIP AF|RE

NEW YORK, Nov. S-The French
line steamship Rochambeau, two days
out of New York for Bordeaux, which
reported by wireless today that there
was a fire in her coal bunkers. pre-
sumabiy was steaming tonight for
Halifax. the nearest port. Her exact
Position was not given in the single
wireless message that brought news
Of her plight to land, but it was cal
culated that she would make Halifax
some time late tonight or early to-
morrow
Aboard the menaced steamer are
approximately $50 persons-421 pas
SenEerS and a crew of 230-and a
large cargo of war supplies, includ-
ing s.54I case sof cartridges and 1856
bales of cotton.
The fire. which turned the vessel
from her course toward the northern
port OF Halifax is deep in the hold.
in the bunkers where is placed the
reserve supply of coal. Its exact To-
cation. according to the wireless mes
SAGE. is amidships. This message
said that the vessel was in no dan
ger and from its tone the French line
officials inferred that the situation
was not a serious one.
We are not alarmed" said FAUCET
general agent of the line. Bunker
fires are not uncommon, nor are they
generally very serious, as they are
away from the cargo space"
Only one wireless message had
been received when the French line
offices closed at Tulho tonight This
was from Captain Julian and reached
the offices here about 2:10 p. m. 1t
read:
Fire in No. coal bunker Fight
ing fire and have turned to Halifax.
Hope % put it out. No danger at
all
The Rochambeau left New York
Saturday afternoon. 1t was esti-
mated that she had sailed 500 miles
when the wireless message was re-
ceived- today. This would still keep
her within the ocean lane travelled by
the big transatlantic liners and, de-
spite the silence of the sea, enforced
by admiralty censors. there is reason
TO believe that at least three ships
arc within close steaming distance,
available in an emergency.
Lifehoats and life RATS are all
aboard and to spare for all were on
the Rochampeau when she sailed, ac-
corsiing to the lines officials. 1t was
estimated that life saving accommoda-
tions for 1900 persons. more than
twice as many as sailed, were on
board. In addition, the steamer is
equipped with the usual fire fighting
apparatus required in the case of
ocean liners
The big cargo, which weighted the
steamer low in the water, consisted
chiefly of iron and steel, machinery,
copper and steel wire. brass rods,
empty shells and guns. So far as
could he learned tonight. 2,541 cases
Of cartridges were the only explo-
SiveS aboard
Maritime circles wondered today if
the accident was another of the long
list attributed to the activities OF
bomb carriers and placers Within
the last few days the steamer Rio La
Mere. from New York to Queenstown.
with sugar, caught fire at sea and
nat into Halifax with fire in her hold.
Her captain attributed the fire to
bomb hidden in a sugar bag
The list of steamers sailing from
New York to Europe upon which
bombs were found and in some cases
explosions occurred. and their sailing
dates. include the following:
Touraine. March 6; Devon City,
April %: Lord Erne. April %; Cross
inrton Court. April %; Samland, May
l. Lord Downshire. May 1; Kirl1os-
valid. May .; Strathtay, May 8; Bank
dale. May s: Minnehaha, July ,;
Craicside. July "a; Athinai Septem-
her =. SAINT Ana. September 13.