Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-17
The Explosion at Bremen.
ThOlmpxOn's Confession.
THE MOST COLD-BLOODED
OF CRIMES.
He Has Accomplices in New York
DEATH OF THOMPSON.

Bremen December 16. Thomasseu, the passen-
ger on the Mosselle, and owner of the cask Of dy
Mantle which caused the terrible disaster at Bre-
menhaven, has confessed his guilt, saying he has
accomplices at New York.
1t is hoped he will recover, that full particu-
lars Of his crime can be obtained.
The Weser Zeitang says, authoritively, that it is
now proved that the author of the catastrophy
was passenger named Thomassen, who has ac-
knowledged himself not only the possesser Of the
barrel which exploded, but that he intended to
bring it on board the Moselle for the purpose of
sinking that vessel.
The motive of this piabolcal scheme appears to
have been to procure exaggerated and fictitious
insurance, and to share afterwards with others.
Thomassen is quite conscious, and answers all
questions, but the bullets have not been extracted
from his head.
From what is known, the barrel prepared for
this shameful work, was made strongly by a
Bremen cooper, and parttioned, one part contain
ing the dynamite and the other the apparatus for
exploding it The plan probably was that the
apparatus should be ignited by clock work after
Thomassan had landed at Southampton, whittier
he took passage, and where, probably, the goods
would be shipped
He intended to place his hellish machine in the
Deutchland, but it was not ready in time. The
Weser Zeitang adds "In sober words we COM
municate this with certainty that the number OF
victims killed and wounded amounts to one hum
dred and seventy.
"A later uespatcn saws that IhOm1sSen has at
tempted suicide again, by tearing off the dressing
from his wounds.
LATER.
Dresden, December 16. The author of the
fIghtful eyplos ion at Bremen, whose name turns
out to be not Ihomassen, as he registered it on
the passenger list, but VIM. X Thomas, since his
attempt at suicide has male full confession at
Bremen.
He was born in New York. married a New Or
leans lady, and has four children, one baby. He
lived in Virginia during the war, and engaged in
the business of blockade runner, whereby he
grew rich
Since 1866 he has resided here and at Deipsic,
and last at Strethlcn, near Dresden. lie appears
to have lost his money and become embarrassed.
lie was twice in America during the past sum-
mer. The last time, he went without the knowl-
edge of his family, and, when he returned, he
wrote his banker here that he had made arrange
ments enabling him to pay his debts in December.
He highly esteemed by the people about here.
His house has been searched but nothing found
connected with the disaster.
Thomassen died to-day from the effect of inju-
ries inflicted by himself. lie stated that his true
name was William King Thompson and he was a
native of Brooklyn n. Y. His age is believed to
be about 80 years. He confessed that he was
once captain of the vessel "Old Dominion" and
changed his name to avoid being prosecuted for
running the blockade during the civil war in
America. That he bought the explosive material
in the L. s. and had it forwarded to his address,
and that the clock work attachment was manufac-
tured in Germany and was set to explode the
charge in eight days.