Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-10
CERTAIN HOLT BOMB DID IT.

Halifax, N. S., July 10-A bomb
placed aboard the Atlantic transport
liner Minnehaha, probably while she
lay at her pier In New York, caused
the explosion and fire at sea. In the
opinion Of officers of the steamer
which put in here for examination Fri
day.
The explosion occurred in No. 5 hold
and was Of terrific force, shaking the
vessel from stem to stern. Those OF
the crew who were forward at the
time were fairly stunned by the shock
and two sailors were hurled bodily In
to the air. Fiau1es followed quickly,
and for more than two days and two
nights the crew battled heroicalfy to
save the ship.
There Is no doubt In the minds Of
the officers that Erich Muenter, alias
Frank Holt, or confederates, were re-
sponsible for the explosion which oc-
cuffed at Ais o'clock on the after
noon Of July Z, the date upon which
Muenter predicted that some vessel.
OF which he appeared uncertain as to
name, would be destroyed.
AmNvnition Untouched.
Muenter's plans were frustrated by
the fact that his weapon of destruc-
ton was placed with miscellaneous
freight forward, and was SO separated
by stout bulkheads from an enormous
cargo Of ammunition, with other In
flamable munitions.
While the sailors fought the fire,
Captain -Claret headed his ship for
Halifax and brought her safely thru
a gale and fog to an anchorage in the
lower harbor here at o'clock Fri
day afternoon. BY that time the flames
had eaten their way into No. hold,
but late gin the afternoon it was an
nounced they had been extinguished
The theory Of spontaneous combus-
ton was never entertained. as the ex-
plosion was followed by issuance from
the matches of suffocating fumes, which
seriously hampered the crew in their
fight. and which the officers insisted
had been let loose by some Internal
instrument.
Had Made Search.
Thrilling stories were told by the
100 men who made up the crew Of the
freighter. The first two days out were
uneventful The Minnehaha sailed from
New York for London last Sunday eve
ming. At half an hour after midnight
on Wednesday morning. Captain Clar-
startled by the receipt Of wireless
message warning them that bombs
were reported to have been placed in
vessels that had sailed from New York
for English ports recently. The cap
tain Immediately ordered the small
boats lowered and swung out in readi-
ness for lowering II an explosion oc-
Cured.
...... .%4.. 4 <l.x ~o,,o .%
ternoon, when the ship was $40 miles
southeast Of Halifax something let go
in the third compartment and the ship
covers shot OF, carrying two sailors
with It ten feet in the air. One was
slightly injured, but the other es-
capped without a scratch. The crew re-
moved enough Of the freight to enable
them to get within striking distance
Of the aames.
Fight Fire With Steam.
A steam pipe was inserted and
steam driven into the hold. Soon the
fire appeared to be under control. but
Captain Caret resolved not to take
any changes, and at o'clock turned
his Prov toward Halifax. At night the
fire gained headway, finally reaching
into the adjoining hold. Thruout the
night the crew fought desperately.
doubtful Of the outcome, but deter
mined to stand by to the last. Thurs
day they got tho upper hand Of the
flames. Meanwhile the weather be-
came unfavorable and early Friday q
heavy southwest gale arose. This.
combined with thick fog. g.compelled
the steamer to remain of Sambo for
some hours and she did not reach
anchorage at quarantine until early
afternoon. A high sea was running
and the boarding Of the ship was DIFF
ficult. The crew had mastered the
flames when assistance from shore was
available.