Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-07-08

Inc Mlnnenaha, II was learmsd this
afternoon, was originally scheduled
TO depart for Liverpool on Saturday.
Delay in placing in her hold about
$4,000 tons OF war munitions caused
postponement of her departure until
Sunday Obviously, Holt would not
nave known of this at the time he
wrote his letter, only officials of tho
line being fully apprised Of the ves-
sells exact time of departr re.
Officials at the Atlantic Transport
offices, while admitting that tha
theory that Holt was responsible fol
| the fire aboard the munitions carrier.
was strengthened by Captain Clarets
latest message, still doubted the
story. They refused to suggest what
might have started the fire, pending
detailed report from the ships conn
mander
This afternoons message from this
Minnehahas commander. however,
relieved anxiety felt here Tor the vesl
sells safety. 1t was the first word
heard from Claret since his first mes
sage, sent nearly twenty hours ago
That the fire gained headway aftef
the first message was sent at $50
p. m. yesterday, was indicated by the
wireless from Claret this afternoon.
In last nights wireless he reported
that the blaze had been confined to
hold No. g. This afternoons message
indicated that the flames attacked
other holds.
The Steamers Manifest.
The Minnehahas manifest shows
that she had aboard 1000 cases of
cordite, $500 cases of loaded shrapnel
shells, 400 cases of trinite tuluoI.
1,548 cases of cartridges and It's cases
of safety cartridges.
Among the nfiammable materials
aboard were sixty-five packages OF
petroleum, 1890 barrels OF oil and L.
941 barrels of wax The chemicals in
cluded eighty-three barrels of for.
maldehyde and ninety-five barrels OF
boracic acid. There we're also
aboard 230 horses, 223 cases of auto
mobiles and large quantity of Zinc
and copper plates and products
C. W. Thomas, of the Atlantic
Transport line, declared today that
1t was highly improbable that Holt's
trunk of explosives started the fire
aboard the Minnehaha. The fact that
the steamer carried no passengers
made the idea that a trunk might
have been slipped aboard almost alb
surd, he said While the Minnehaha
was being loaded, from Tuesday to
Sunday, extraordinary precautions
were taken to keep strangers away
from her dock
Thomas confirmed the report that
the Minnehaha carried $4,000 tons Of
ammunition.
The only message from Captain
Claret was sent at $50 last night
and received here at IL p. m. 1t stated
that the fire was not considered
Serious at present" Officials adj
mitted that the absence of further
news has given rise to some misgiv-
ings.
Ammunition in Holds Aft.
mo. hold, where the blaze is re-
ported, contained only general
cargo, and no war munitions" said
a statement given out by the line at
1925 "All the ammunition aboard
the steamer was carried in holds aft.
THE Minnehaha is one of the most
modern freighters on the sea- She
carries a crew of about 100 and was
especially fitted for fighting fires, For y
that reason we do not believe the
fire can be serious
According to best available IN
formation the Minnehaha carried
about Is, 900 tons of ammunition OF al
kinds. officers of the company,
though admitting the presence OF am
munition, refused to state exacty
how much was aboard.
The Minnehaha's normal speedE.As
sixteen knots an hour. The wireless
from Captain Claret last night, re-
porting her position as $40 miles essl
of Halifax was sent at IL o'clock iast
night.
WASHINGTON, July s.-Navy DE-
partment officials could not say tH-
day whether or not the Minnehana
was one of the ships which receiver
Tuesday nights wireless warning oi
Frank Holt's assertion that pomN
was planted on an eastbound trans
Atlantic liner.
Though the wireless calls We're SPY
cifically intended for the Phiiaael.
phia and Saxonia. it was stated.
was taken for granted that atne'
ships would listen in"
The theory that Holt was sSiun
sible for the Minnehaba nfc 80
quite generally ccediLca.