The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-08
ship AFIRE.

Continued from Page One.
ment concern was felt in shipping
circles for the Minnehaha's safety be-
cause of the possibility that the flames
might reach her great cargo OF ex-
plosives.
The Minnehaha carried no passen-
gers according to officials of the line
Cleared From New York Sunday.
The Minnehaha cleared from New
York at p. m. Sunday for Liverpool.
The Atlantic transport office today
refused to confirm the information
regarding her war cargo. But it was
pointed out here that no mention was
made of the vessels departure in the
ordinary list of sailings. The liner,
apparently to safeguard herself
against submarine attack, slipped
quietly out of the harbor.
The first report that flashed
through the shipping offices here i'm
mediately revived the declaration of
Frank Holt, Morgan's assailant and
terrorist, that he placed a trunk of
explosives aboard a big liner clearing
for Europe Saturday. Another theory
was that the Minnehaha might have
been fired by one of the band of Ger
man spies known to be keeping close
watch on the departure of ammun1-
ton laden steamers from this port.
.- Trunk OF Explosives.
Holt declared he placed a trunk
full of explosives aboard a steamer
that was to clear from New York on
|
liner Philadelphia and the Cunarder
Saxonia, which sailed on that date,
failed to reveal the explosives. 1t was
thought possible today that Hollis ex-
plOsiveS were placed aboard the Min
nehaha in the belief that she was to
sail Saturday and that the fact that
the exact time of her departure was
secret caused Hollis characterization.
Officials of the line, however de-
clared they had absolutely no infor-
nation as to the origin of the fire.
The Minnehaha is one of the largest
vessels of the Atlantic Transport line.
She is a twin screw steamer, dlsplac-
ing 1914 tons and is 500 feet in
length. with a IS foot beam. She was
built in 1900 at Belfast and is regis
tered from that port. The Minnehaha
was built as a big passenger carrying
boat. She had four decks and was
equipped with wireless.
Time to Place Explosives.
She was here about a week taking
on cargo before she sailed for Lon
don last Sunday, July 4. Holt made
his attempt on the life of j. P. Nor
gan at Glen Cove last Saturday, July
3. He would have had ample time,
it was pointed out, to place a bomb
aboard the Minnehaha during the five
days preceding this, while the yes
sci was taking on her cargo here.
The Minnehaha should reach Hall
fax, it was said, tomorrow forenoon.
I'VE don't open and examine every
package or parcel taken aboard, an
official of the line said, but we exer-
else all reasonable precautions to pre-
vent the placing of bombs aboard our
ships"
Inflammables on Board.
The Minnehaha manifest shows that
she had aboard 1, 00U cases of cordite,
2,8OO cases of loaded shrapnel shells,
14OO cases of trinite tuluol, 1,50S
cases of cartridges and 175 cases of
cartridges.
Among the inflammable material
aboard were 65 packages of petrol
eum 1880 barrels of oil and 1,941
barrels of wax. The chemicals in
cluded SO barrels of formaldehyde and
95 barrels of boracic acid. There was
also aboard 230 horses, 223 cases of
automobiles and a large quantity of