New Britain herald., 1915-07-09
IMINNEHAHA REACHES
 HALIFAX HARBOR Blaze Aboard British Liner Re ported to be Almost Distinguished ALL DANGER IS PASSED
No Reports From Steamer to Sub- stantiate Story Fire Was Caused By Bomb Planted on Vessel By Frank Holt.

Halifax, N. S.. July 9.-The Allan tic Transport Liner Minnehaha which caught fire Wednesday on her way from New York to London, with I5, . GOO tons of war munitions on board, after an explosion which may have been caused by an internal machine sent abroad by Frank Holt. J. F. Nor gan's assailant steamed slowly through mist and drizzling rain into Halifax harbor today.
 Early wireless advices from Capt. Claret indicated that the flames had been mastered during the night, that the blaze had been all but extin- guished, and that all danger was passed.
 Confined to No. 5 Hold. E The flames were confined to No. 3 hold, which is a considerable dis atance from the spot where were stored the thousands of cases of cordite, loaded shrapnel shells, cartridges, oils and other explosive and inflammable material which the Minnehana was conveying to England for use of the British army.
 ! So far as could be learned from ma rine officials, none of the more dan- gerous part of the steamers cargo had been touched by the flames. '.
 Tied Up at Quarantine.
 Great care was exercised in the ar arrangements made to receive the Min nehaha, on account of the latent danger to other shipping in the har- Dor from her hign explosives aboard so long as any vistige of fire re- n1ained in her cargo. It was ar ranged for her to tie up at quarantine where fire fighting force had been collected over night. Until the fire was completely extinguished she was not to be permitted to proceed to the landing piers; possibly not even then.
 Since the news of the fire in the hold was received here yesterday. the department of marine has had a government steamer 5 in readiness to- go to the assistance Of the liner if necessary. Arrangements had also been made for berthing the steamer in such a position in tho harbor that shipping and property on shore would not be menaced by an explosion in the event that the fire communicated with the chemicals and explosives stored in the after hold.
 May Discharge Part or Cargo.
 A message from Capt Claret said that the fire appeared to have been put out and that it probably would be necessary to discharge part of the cargo here. s < I ES # X ' x
 Though speculation generally has credited the explosion which caused the fire to the activities of Frank Holt, who before his suicide had made known his intention of sinking ! transatlantic liner, there was nothing in the advices from the steamer, so far as received this morning, further to substantiate this theory.
 #s Fire Steamed Out
 New York, July 9.The following message dated 8:45 a. m., today was received from Captain Claret of the Minnehaha: Thanks for the wire. Fire appears to be steamed out. Think it necessary to discharge some cargo at Halifax Investigating up- per orlop."
 Whether the fire was caused by the explosion of bomb placed on board the Minnehaha before she left New York on July for London by Frank Holt, the man who shot J. F. Nor gan and committed suicide in tf1s Mineola, l.. T., jail was expected to be the subject of an inquiry soon after the steamer arrived. Capt. Claret had merely that the fire was caused by an explosion.