ships were duly warned by wireless, but no bombs were
found aboard them, nor were any confederates of Muenter discovered. On
July 7 the steamship Minnehaha reported by wireless a "fire caused by
explosion" under control.

Incendiary bombs had been discovered aboard four freight steamships
sailing from New York for Havre in April and May. On July 12 Secretary
of the Navy Daniels, acting on advices received from The New Orleans
Picayune, directed the naval radio station at Arlington, Virginia, to
flash a warning to all ships at sea to be on the lookout for bombs
supposed to have been placed on board certain vessels, and warning
particularly the steamers Howth Head and Baron Napier that information
had come to the Navy Department that explosive bombs might have been
placed on those two vessels. All ships were requested to try to
communicate with the Howth Head and the Baron Napier. On July 11 a
written threat to assassinate J.P. Morgan, Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the
British Ambassador, and destroy by bombs British ships clearing from
American ports, thus carrying out some of the plans of Erich Muenter,
was reported in a letter signed "Pearce," who styled himself a partner
and intimate associate of Muenter. This letter was received by The New
Orleans Times-Picayune.

Two more "Pearce" letters were received on July 13 by an afternoon
newspaper of New Orleans and by its Chief of Police, saying that Erich
Muenter had taught the writer the use of explosives. On the same day
the Samland of the Atlantic Transport Line and the Strathlay,
chartered by the Fabre Line, survived attempts to destroy them by fire
bombs, and on July 15 "Pearce" threatened in another letter to destroy
the Rochambeau. A bomb thought to be intended for the Orduna in a car
loaded with coal consigned to the Cunard Line was discovered at
Morrisville, N.J., on July 18. The Washington Times, the Philadelphia
Public-Ledger and the Brooklyn Eagle received on July 16, 19 and 20,
respectively, letters from "Pearce" declaring that henceforth persons
leaving America on British ships would do so at their peril, and
harking back to the German Embassy's warning before the Lusitania was
torpedoed. On July 26 an SOS call was received at the Fire Island
station, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and by the coast guard ship
Mohawk, but the distressed ship's appeal for help was broken off
before her name or position could be given. "Pearce's" letter to The
Brooklyn Eagle reads as fol