The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-05
PRICE TWO CENTS.
CAPT. WILLIAM K. THOMAS
TRACING THE ATTEMPT IRON THA
sTElMSHIP MOSEL.


Scores Of Lives to have been Sacrificed as .
Means Of Getting Insurance Monoy-The
Almost Incredible Narrative Of the Plot.
The English and German detectives. In
tracking the movements OF Capt. wm. King
Thomas or Thomsssen, learned that he was ia
Liverpool for time In October, and while there
tried 10 eject Insurance upon box represented
to contain $4,000 in specie which ho was aboue
to ship In the Celtic. He actually shipped the bon
IN the Celtic, but did not get an insurance poll
Icy. The next heard OF Thomas was whom be
appeared az the plotter OF the narrowly averted
destruction of the Mosel. Some further io-
formation concerning the monster had been
supplied by the opening Of box purport-
ing TO contain treasure that arrived In tho Cel-
tic n the 24th of October, and that has since
been kept In the baggage room OF the W hite StaG
WIN WIN bis .treosmre" bo.' The of,ee,s Of IN.
steamer now recall genial rather handsome
man Of middle age aud middle height, who's:
whose ewes beamed good nature through pair
OF gold. trimmed spectacles. When he GOT
aboard, be seemed somewhat troubled about
the box, but after II had been slowed away in
the specie room," he made himself a fayorite.
Tho Celtic arrived Sunday, Oct. "a. Capt.
Thom as baggage was inspected aud duly lssed
by Custom House Inspector classy. The little
box that had been carried In the specie room
again became source OF trouble 10 the Cap
tain. He told Inspector Glassev that II con-
tanned specie, ana that he would call for It az
ashore. Glassey was willing, but Mr. Pennell,
superintendent Of the pier, demurred at being
NJ ade custodian Of such valuable property He
was willing to put II into the baggage room II
his responsibility could end there. Tbis an
noyed Capt. 1homas and at last he told Glassey
that II didn't matter much where II was put, as
II contained only cartridges. He wished to
leave IL there until he could make arrangements
for a shooting expedition IN the far West.
The box accordingly was left there. Capt.
Thomas did not claim tho box afterward, and 10
was put tor safe keeping into the baggage room.
After the Celtic sailed, Inspector Classy detor-
mined to see whether 1t contained any dutiabs
goods. The outer covering Of well-worn oil
cloth cut away, the wooden lid was pred
up and r then inside metallic case became
lid was replaced aud fastened.
The box remained unsuspected In the baggage
room until sunday; Then tho publication OF OF
Capt Thomas for dynamite explosion, led the
pier officers TO look at the box In the baggage
to Superintendent Wallng. He suggested q
complaint against the box TO the Chief tf the
Bureau OF c mbustibles, and an Inspector was
ordered to examine 1t forthwith, but at noon
yesterday the Inspector had not appeared to
90 his duty, and Omcer l. drd ami Kelly, the
cooper Of the pier, volunteered to make the lbs
vestigation,
The utmost care was exercised in pryinQ OF
the lid OF the wooden shell. That disclosed .
steel tuner box with lid that had thumb hole
Ia the centre. This came out easily and let the
light In upon waste paper and old straw bottle
wrappers. LAYER after layer of this packing was
removed, until they came TO more suspicious
material. On the bottom OF the steel nox was .
package wrapped in paper and strongly corded.
Its size is about i0Asxt inches. II wds keut In
its place by two piethoric canvas bags. The in
vestisators handled them cautiously until they
were found to contain nothing more explosive
than twenty-five pounds each OF No. bird shot.
This left only the mysterious package to be inves-
tlgated. 1t was lifted out with care. Tho oorda
were cut away. wooden box was relieved Of
Its paper wrsppings; four screws we're taken
out and the lid was taken on, and two more
bags OF shot were visible.
Tue four bags OF shot weigh Just 100 pounds.
ana with tho weight OF the package the ayolr-
dupois Is just about that OF gold worth $4,000.
1t Is supposed to have been Thomas's int ntion
to snip the package as gold II he had been able
to insure II. The dynamite machinery he would
| before the ship sailed. In that case he would
have contrved to he left In LIVERPOOL. As 10
was, he decided to visit TINS city, probably hop
ing to hnd insurance companies that might be
trapped.
CIpt. Thomas was last seen In the Fifth Ave-
nue. Hotel at about o'clock on Thursday alter
noon last.