Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-07-08
Wireless from Captain DOn'i
Say What Caused Explosion
on Board Minnehaha.
MAY ARRIVE TOMORROW
Over 5000 Tons of Ammuni-
ton on Board Burning
Liner New York Officials
of Company Admit.

special by United Press Wire.
New York, July 8:-With a heavy
cargo of ammunition the big Atlantic
transport liner Minnehaha is racing
back to Halifax today with blaze
in one of her holds A wireless
message from Captain Claret last
night reported the steamer $40 miles
east of Halifax and that the blaze
was not serious, being confined to
the No. hold.
The first report that flashed
through shipping offices here imme-
diately revived the declaration OF
Frank Holt that he placed a trunk
of explosives on big steamer clear
ing for England Saturday. Another
theory was that the Minnehaha
might have been fired by one of the
band of German spies known to be
keeping close watch OF the depar-
ture of ammunition laden steamers
from this port.
The fire that attacked the liner
was caused by an explosion, Captain
Claret wirelessed to the Atlantic
Transport Company's offices here
this afternoon. The blaze is under
control, the commander said. The
captains wireless failed to state
what caused the explosion. His mes
sage lent color to the possibility that
Esse dynamite trunk Of Frank Holt
might> have found its way aboard the
ammunitfon-Sa carrier before she clear
ed for LIVERPOOL Sunday afterRsun.
The message refzyrrA--tt1 the New
York office to the Cape Race wireless
station at 12;40 this afternoon.
Fire caused by explosion. Now
controlled by suffocation and steam.
Much smoke In holds. Deemed it
expedient to make Halifax Due At
entrance Halifax harbor at about
o clock Friday morning. Advise
agents. Signed, Claret."
The belief that the mysterious fire
aboard the Minnehaha resulted from
Hollis activities was further
this afternoon when It
was pointed out that the Minneha-
has pier in North river was very
near the pier from which the Phila-
delphia and Saxonia sailed last Sat-
urday.
In his letters to his wife at Dallas,
Tex, Holt hinted his dynamite trunk
might have been placed aboard the
or the Saxonia, sailing
Saturday. The Minnehaha, 1t was
learned this afternoon, was original
Iy scheduled to depart for Liverpool
Delay in placing her cargo
caused postponement until Sunday.
Obviously Holt would not have
known Of this at the time he wrote
his letters, only officials of the line
being apprised of the vessels exacN
time of departure.
Holt declared he placed a trunk
jul of explosives aboard a steamer
leaving New York Saturday Search
If the liners Philadelphia and Saxo-
lia, which sailed Saturday, failed to
'eyeal any explosives. 1t is thought
possible that Hollis explosives were
placed aboard the Minhehaha and
he belief that she was to sail Satur-
lay and the fact that the exact hour
If her departure was secret caused
Iolt's miscalculations Officials of
he line declared they had absolute
y no information as to the origin of
he fire.
According to best available infor-
nation the vessel carried about
5000 tons OF ammunitions of all
Iind. Officers of the company,
hough admitting the presence of
mmunition, refused to state exactly
low much was aboard.
c. W. Thomas. of the Atlantic
transport line, declared today that
t was highly improbable that Holt's
runk of explosives started the fire
N board the Minnehaha. The fact
hat the steamer carried no passen-
.ers made the idea that a trunk
night have slipped aboard almost alb
urd, he said. While the Minnehaha
vas being loaded from Tuesday to
unday extraordinary precautions
we're taken to keep strangers away
rom her dock. Thomas confirmed
he report that the Minnehaha car
fed 8, 900 tons of ammunition.