The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-12-17
F OR e IG N.
THE BREMEN EXPLOSION.
The Number of Victims One Humid
red and Seventy.


BREMEN, Dec. 16.-Thomassen, the passen-
ser On the Mosel, and owner of the cask of dy
nauise which caused the terrible disaster at
BreMerhaven. has confessed his guilt, saying
ne ma accomplices in New York. 1t is hoped
ne wiitrecover so that full particulars of his
crime caA be obtained.
The Weer Zeitang says, authoritive1y, that
it is now proved that the author of the catas.
trophe was passenger named Thomassen, who
mas acknowledged himself not only the possess
sor OF the barrel which exploded, but that he
intended brlnglngit on board the Mosel for the
purpose OF sinking that vessel The motive
tor this diabolical scheme appears to have been
to procure exaggerated and and fictitious in
surance, and to share afterwards with sthers.
Thomassen is quite conscious and answers all
questions, but the bullets have not yet been ex-
tracted from his head. From what is known.
the barrel prepared for this shameful work was
made strongly by Bremen cooper, and par
titioned, one part containing the dynamite, and
the other the apparatus for exploding it. The
plan probably was that the apparatus should
be ignited by clock.work, after Thomassen had
landed at Southampton, whittier he took pas
sage. and where probably the goods would be
shipped. He intended to place his hellish ma
chine in the Deutschland, but it was lot ready
iu time. The Weser Zeitung adds, I'm sober
words we communicate this, with the certainty
that the number of victims killed and wounded
amounts to one hundred and seventy.
A later despatch says that Tnomassen has
attempted suicide again, by tearing Oft the
dressing from his wounds
There is no change to-day in the condition of
Thomassen. He has fully confessed, and re-
vealed the names of his accomplices, but the
authorities will not allow any further particu-
ulars to transpirs for the present.
DRESDEN, Dec. 16.-The author of the fright
full explosion at Bremen, whose name turns out
to be not Thomassen, as he registered it on the
passenger list, but William K. Thomas, since
his attempt at suicide has made full confess
sion at Bremen. He was born in New York,
married New Orleans 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 be has resided here and at Leipsic,
and last at Strethen, near Dresden. He APP
barrassed. He was twice in America durin G
the past summer, the last time he went with
out. the knowledge of his family, and when he
returned he wrote his banker here that he had
made arrangements enabling him to pay his
debts in December. He was highly esteemed
blythe people about here. His home has been
searched, but nothing found connected with
tho disaster.
BREMEN, Dec 16.-Thomas died to-day from
the effects of his injuries inflicted by himself.
He stated that his true name was William
Brooklyn, N. Y. His age is believed to be
about 81 years. He confessed that he was once
captain of the ship "Old Dominion" and
changed his name to prevent being proeecuted
for running the blockade during the evil war
in America; that he bought the explosive ma
terial in the United States and had it forward
ed to his address, and that the clockwOrk at
tachment was manufactured in Germany and
was set to explode the charge in days.