Evening star., 1915-02-02
TRIES TO BLOW Up
BOUNDARY BRIDGE
German Admits He Put Dyna-
mite Under United States
Canadian Span.
SEEKS TO STRIKE BLOW
AT ENEMY'S COUNTRY
Great Excitement Is Caused on New
Brunswick Side of st.
Croix River.


attempt to destroy tho railroad bridge
spanning the st. Croix river. which
forms the international boundary
line between eastern Maine and
New Brunswick, was made early
today. One of the three spans of the
structure was blown up by dynamite
The attack on the bridge caused great
excitement OH the New Brunswick side,
where rumors of a German plot spread
| rapidly and resulted in an immediate
| Investigation by the provincial an
| thorities. Inquiry was also begun on
| this side. and this led to the arrest at
a local hotel of a man who gave his
name as Warren Van Horn. Accord
ing to the police. the prisoner said he
was an officer in the service of Ger
many, but refused to divulge his rank.
Claim He Confessed.
The police assert that he admitted
that he exploded the dynamite under a
mite cap and a plan OF the bridge
were found in his pockets.
Van Horn, according to the police,
described himself as thirty-seven years
old. He is five feet eleven inches in
height and weighs about 200 pounds
He is smooth shaven.
The arrest was made by Deputy
Sheriff George w. Ross, who was ac-
companied by a Maine Central railroad
detective and two Canadian officers
from McAdam junction. New Bruins
wick. He was removed to the United
States Immigration rooms. where he
| was closely guarded. Deputy Sheriff
Ross notified the United States mar
| shall and the United States district at
torney at Portland, asking for instruc-
| tions.
Carries German Flag. y
When taken into custody at his room
in the hotel Van Horn made no re-
| sistance, but is alleged ID have told
the officers the circumstances of the
dynamiting. He seemed unable to speak
! very good English. No papers Were
| found to identify him. In coat
pocket he carried a German flag.
Asked why he had dynamited the
made the simple explanation that his
country was at war with Great Britain
and that Canada was a part of the
enemy's country. He said, according
York. having left that city on Friday
night and arrived here Saturday. I'm
mediately after discharging the ex-
plosive he returned to the hotel As
ed frost-bitten thumb. His clothing
| had been incrusted with ice and was
soaked through.
The bridge is the connecting link be-
tween the Maine Central and the Ca
madam Pacific tracks, the Canadian
Pacific having traffic rights over the
former road from Mattawankeag to
the boundary. This is the through
route from upper and western Canada
to the maritime provinces directly
connecting Montreal with the ports of
81. John and Halifax.
Short Route for Shipments.
In the winter season st. John, y. B.,
is the principal eastern port of Canada,
and thither- have come from Montreal
and farther west great quantities of
provisions and other munitions Of war
for shipment to England and France
The shipments have passed over the
bridge which it was sought to destroy
This is the most direct route from the
west as, cutting across the state of
Maine, it is several hundred miles
shorter than the northern route oper-
ated by the Canadian government
which follows the St. Lawrence river
to Little Metis. Quebec, and then turns
south to Moncton, st. John and Halifax.
The loss of the bridge would delay
but not interrupt the transportation of
war materials to the coast.
May Seek Extradition.
Van Horn was made prisoner of the
state of Maine. To avoid possible COM
plicatlons the local authorities made
no further move pending advice from
the federal government. The Canadian
authorities indicated that they would
Immediately make representations at
Washington, with a view to eXtradi-
tion, on the ground that the dynamit-
ing had been done on the Canadian
side of the border. On the other hand,
it was said that Van Horn would be
defended against extradition, baslng
his claim on the protection of the Unit
ed States on his assertion that he had
committed an act of war and that his
offense was political.
Railroad officials. after a careful ex-
animation of the bridge, declared that
as damage was concerned. Sleepers
were blown out. the rails were twisted
and a girder was damaged, but the
foundation of the span was not injured
and repairs can be made within a day.
Temporary repairs were to be made
at once SO that cars could be pushed
across one at time. A plank walk
was laid across the ice for the use of
the passengers in crossing the river.
m