The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-02-02
Attempt to Dynamite Bridge
at International Bound
airy, VancebOro, Me.
EXPLOSION DID NOT
WRECK STRUCTURE
Werner Horn, Captured in Hotel
Admits His Crime - Claims to Be
Officer in German Army-c Canadians
Anxious for His Extradition.

! NAoi'4A'o Ills SAihue - CLAIMS to Be
i Officer in German Canadians
Anxious for His Extradition.
NANCEBoBO, Maine, Feb. AN
attempt to destroy the railroad bridoe
spanning the ST. Crojx river which
forms the international boundary line
between eastern Maine and New
Brunswick was made early today.
One Of the three spans Of the strnc-
! ture was blown up The bridge Il tba
connecting link between the Maine
Central and Canadian Pacifc tracks
the Canadian Pacific having traffic
rights over the fcrmer road from Mat
tawamkeag to the boundary.
rms IS the through route from upper
and western Canada to the maritime
provinces directly connecting Montrea,
with the ports of st. John and Hall
fax
The attack on the bridge caused
great excitement on the New Bruins
wick side whore rumors Of German
plot spread rapidlv. An investigation
is being made
Inquiry was also begun on this ,loo
and this led to the arrest at a local
MOTEL Of man who gave his name as
Netner Nan Horn. According to tho
police the prisoner claimed to be an
officer IN the service Of Germany. but
refused to tliyulge his rank
/ The police assert that he admitted
that he exploded the dynamite under a
section OF the bridge and that a dvna-
/ mite cap and a plan Of the bridge were
found IN his pocket
Van Horn. according to the officers.
/ described himself as - years old He
4 IS five feet II inches in height and
weighs about zoe. lie is smooth
shaven.
The arrest was made by Deputy
Sheriff George w Ross, who was ac-
companied by Maine Central rail
road detective and two Canadian of
iicers. He was removed to the United
States immigration room, where he was
closely guarded.
Deputy Sheriff Ross notified the
United States marshal and United
States district attorney at Portland.
asking for instruction. When taken
into custody at his room in the horel
Horn made no resistance, but is al
legged to have tcld the officers the cir
eumstanees OF the d4namitng. lie did
not appear TO be able to speak very
good English. There were papers found
TO identify him. In his coat pocket he
Carried = German flag.
The prisoner, the officers say, made
IN explanation that his country was at
war with Great Britain and that Can
ada was a part Of the cnemv.s cnun-
try lie said, according TO the Off
GERS, that he came from New York
: having left there Friday night, arriv-
ing here Saturday.
Immediately after discharging The
! explosive he returned to the hotel As
evidence he displayed frost bitten
! thumb. Ills clothing had been cncrust
i cd with ice and was soaked.
e In the winter season st. John, y b.
! is the principal eastern port OF Can
, ada aud thence from Montreal and
: further west great quantities Of food
supplies and munitions of war are sent
) for shipment to England and France
: The shipments have passed over this
bridge
1t is a part Of the most direct rout,
from the west, as cutting across tn,
i state Of Maine it is several hundred
L miles shorter than the northern rout,
II operated by the Canadian government
ii The loss Of the bridge would della,
III but not interrupt, transportation to tn,
Il coast.
II The arrest Of Van Horn has arouse,
II special interest because of the fact tha
II he was taken into custody on Americal
II territory.
II To avoid possible complications tn
II authorities made no further move
II pending advices from the federal GOV
ernment.
II The Canadian authorities Indicate
II that they would make representation
ii at Washington with view TO extradi
tion on the ground that the dynamit
ing was done on the Canadian side 0
II the border. On the other hand it wa
said Horn would be defended agains
III extradition basing his claim for prC
II lection of the United States on his u,
| sertion that he had not committed a
u act of war and that his offense was pt
- litical
= Railroad officials, after making ear,
II ful examination of the bridge. decide
II that the explosion was failure as fla
II as serious damage was concerned
ii The intention was apparently
II blow out one of the abutments bt
II was not successful. Instead the fore
HI of the explosion was up through tt
II bridge. Sleepcrs were blown npwar
II and rails were twisted Repairs "a
II be made within day. The fouudatit
II was not damaged. Temporary repai
II were made so that ears could be pusht
II across, -.e at a time, within a fe
II hours by wrecking crew from Ba
II gor. A plank wharf was laid aero
II the ice for use of passengers in eros