Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-09
Vessel Carrying War Ex-
pIosives, on Which Holt May
Have Set Bomb, to Unload.
FIRE IN HOLD PUT OUT,
CAPTAINS RADIO REPORTS
Great Care Being Exercised Because
of Possible Danger to Other
Shipping.

HALIFAX, y. s.. July s.-The Atlantic
transport liner Minnehaha. which
caught FIRE Wednesday on her way
from New York to London with $4,000
tons Of war munitions on board, after
an explosion which may have been
caused by an internal machine sent
aboard by Frank Holt, J. P. Morsan's
as.ailant and perpetrator of the Ma
tiona1 Capitol bomb outrage, steamed
slowly through mist and drizzling rain
into Halifax harbor today.
The Minnehaha entered the harbor at
ave minutes after noon.
Early wireless advices from Capt.
Claret indicated that the flames had
been mastered during the night. that
the blaze had been all but extinguished
and that all danger apparently was
passed.
Flames Were Confined.
The flames were confined to No. 3
hold. which Is a considerable distance
from the spot where were stored the
thousands of cases Of cordite, loaded
shrapnel shells, cartridges. oils and
other explosive and inflammable mate
rial which the Minnehaha was convey
ing to England for use of the British
army.
So far as could be learned from ma
rine officiaIs. none Of the more danger
Gus part of the steamers cargo had
been touched by the flames.
Though speculation generally has
credited the explosion which caused the
before his suicide had made known his
Intention of sinking a transatlantic
liner. there was nothing in the advices
from the steamer SO far as received
fyR m ata n a r..
this theory.
Great Care Exercised.
Great care was exercised in the ar
fangements made to receive the Min
nehaha on account of the latent danger
to other shipping in the harbor from
her high explosives aboard. 50 long as
any vestige Of nre remained in her
cargo. It was at first arranged for her
to tie up at quarantine, where q fire.
fighting force had been collected over
pompletely extinguished she was not
TO be permitted to proceed to the land
Ing piers; possibly not even then.
Tho Minnshaha arrived OF sambro
and q downpour Of rain prevailed.
Bambro head is at the outer entrance
Of Halifax harbof. The following mes
sage. dated s:4S am. today. was re-
cefVe0 1fOu SApL. CldI6t.
Thanks for the wire. Fire appears
70 be steamed out. Think 1t necessary
to discharge some cargo at Halifax.
Investigating upper orlop."
Since the news Of the dre in the
Mfnnehaha's hold was received here
yesterday the department of marine
has had a government steamer in
readiness to go to the assistance of
the liner II necessary.
To Have Formal Inquiry.
Whether the fire was caused by an
explosion Of a bomb placed by Holt
before the Ninnehaha left New York
July is expected to be the subject of
a formal inquiry soon after the steam
ship comes to the piers. if she does. to
discharge cargo, or is certainly out of
all danger.
Suspicion that either Holt or an ac-
complice had placed bomb on board
the Minnehaha was aroused by the
partial fuifllment of his prediction of
disaster to a steamer on her way from
New York to Europe. The explosion
took place on the day he had set for
the sinking Of a steamer. which he be-
lieved would be either the Saxonia or
-, ill., l1lw