New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-10


slightly injured. but the other escaped
without a scratch. When the hrst eN-
citement had been controlled, another
hatch cover was opened and enough OF
the freight removed TO enable the
workers TO reach within striking dls-
lance of the flames that were rapiiiy
shooting through hold No. 8.
A steam pipe was inserted ana steam
driven into tn, hold Soon the FIRE APP
peared 10 be Inder control, but captain
Claret resolved not TO take any chances
and at o'clock turned his prov tow
ard Halifax.
IL was well that he did so, for that
night the fire gained Roadway. finally
reaching into the adjoining hold.
Throughout the night the crew fought
desperately. doubtful Of the outcome
but determined TO stand by to the last.
Gale flinders Work.
Yesterday they got the upper hand
Of the flames. Meantime the weather
became unfavorable, and early to-day
a heavy southwest gale arose. inns,
combined with a thick fog, compelled
the steamer TO remain of Sambro for
some hours. and she did not reach an
chorage until early afternoon.
Describing his experience. one OF the
officers said:
~ was down below Wednesday af-
ternoon when at AIS o'clock | heard
tremendous explosion. The snip
trembled from stem to stern with the
force Of it. rushed on deck. Dense
smoke was already pouring out OF the
holds. In few minutes the deck be
came so hot ! could hardly stand near
the spot whence the smoke was com
ing. IA. =
There was n large quantity OF
freight on top of No. 4 hatch. II was
bound down by stout cables. we
pitched into that freight and had 1t on
in iig time Then we put a steam pipe
down. When we let the air into the
hold YOU should have seen the blaze.
don't want to see anything like 1t
again when ! have nothing under me
but a shin. We were fully twenty-four
hours getting the flames under con,
troll They started IN No. hold and
extended to Hold No. 4. Fortunately
for us there was no ammunition IN
those holds The ammunition was sep
arated from the ire by stout bulk
heads.
There is no doubt whatever that a
bomb did the work. When | was work
the most suffocating fumes. The gases
smelled like a boiling rum factory, II
YOU know that odor.
when we left New YORK ! felt that
we were in for trouble
Longshoremen Looked Suspicious.
This officer explained that he had not
liked the looks of some of the long
shoremen who had loaded the vessel
and said that as she steamed down the
harbor a launch was passed, the occu-
pants of which shouted "Mlnnehaha,
down. down" at the same time point
ing 70 the water. "You cannot tell
me" he concluded. that these fellows
did not know bomb had been placed
in our ship
One Of the crew said: 1--WE knew on
Wednesday morning something was
wrong. because the captain ordered the
boats to be got ready. | said to my
self The old man has got wind OF
submarine.' When the explosion oc-
Cured everybody rushed on deck, and
| ran to the side and looked for the
wreckage, for l was sure we had been
torpedoed.
"There was no wreckage TO be seen
anywhere. Then the smoke began TO
pour out Of the matches. | knew that
il was a bomb that had done the dam
age"
Knew How Explosion Felt.
G. Leonard, able seaman. who went
up with a hatch cover, commented; 1T
was an explosion, all right. | have been
there before, and | know. Me and my
mate, Wright, were pretty well shaken
up by the shock. Wright was splicing
a piece Of rope at the time, and the
splicing was thrown overheard.
1--WE did not see any suspicious char
acters around the pier at New York,
but | suppose it was a bomb that did
the work"
Heavy jets Of steam were still being
poured into the holds tonight and will
be kept in operation until it is felt safe
to take off the matches.
While no definite arrangements have
been made, it is probable that lighters
will be sent down to Quarantine, and
on these the cargo in the foreholds
will be unloaded and brought to the
city Under present conditions II has
been deemed advisable not to bring the
st amer to a city dock.