The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-02-02
Prisoner Claims to Have
Acted Tn Interests of the.
Fatlaerland In Destroying
international Communfca-
tion.
Arrest rs Made On United
States Territory and Pris-
? oner Is Detained In Imn1i-
cation Ofacials' Custody
Pending Investigation.

Vanceboro, Me-, Feb. 2.AAn
attempt to destroy the railroad
bridge spanning the st. Croix
river which forms the interna-l
tional line between Eastern
Maine and New Brunswick was
made early to-day and one Of
the three spans of the structure
was blown up by dynamite.
The bridge is on the direct
line of the railroad from Hall
fax, N. s., and ST. Johns, N b.
to Montreal IT, is 1900 feet
long, consisting of three steel
spans, on granite piers, The
portion destroyed was on the
New Brunswick side of the riv-
er.
A man claiming to be a Ger
man army officer was arrested.
He said he had attempted to de-
kstroY the bridge, because he be-
lieved it for the advantage Of
| the Fatherland.
The bridge connects the Canadian
Pacific tracks with those OF the Maine
Central railroad over which the Ca
madam road has traffic rights between
Vanceboro and Mattawamkeag. It was
built about five years ago. Although
the river is not wide at this point it
runs through broad and deep "a
vine. Until repairs can be made it
will be necessary to transfer passen-
gers across the ice.
The attack the bridge rca1rzaG
great excitement in New Brunswick
where rumors OF a German plot
spread rapidly and resulted In an Ina
mediate investigation by the Prov1n-
cial authorities.
Inquiry was also begun here and a
man arrested. at a hotel The police
assert that he admitted that he ex-
p1oded the dynamite under q section
of the bridge and that dynamite
cap and plan of the bridge were found
in his pockets. His, name was given
as Werner Van Horne and it was said
he is a German army officer
Van Horne. according to the po-i
lice, described himself as 81 years ol3.
age. He, is 5 feet in height and weighs
about 200 pounds. The arrest was
made by Deputy, Sheriff George W.
Ross who was accompanied by a.
Maine Central Railroad detective ands
two Canadian officers from IcAdam
Junction. New Brunswick. He was
grafton rooms where he was closely
guarded.
There were no papers to identify,s
him He carried a German nag.
When asked about the -dynanitings
the police say the prisoner. made the
simple explanation that his country
was at war with Great Britain and
Canada was part of the enemy's
country He said, according to the
officers, he came from New York, hav-
ing left that city on Friday and arrfv-
ed here Saturday. Immediately after
discharging the explosive he returned
to the hotel. AS evidence of his e1-
perience he displayed a frostbitten
thumb His clothing had been en-
crusted with ice and was soaked
through.
Railroad officials. after an exanai-i
nation, declared as far as serious dam
age was concerned the force of the
explosion was up through the bridge-i
The rails were twisted and a girderi
was damaged but the foundation OF
the span was not damaged and re-t
pairs can be made within q day.
Temporary repairs were to be
made at once SO that cars could be
pushed across one at a time. A plank
| walk was laid across for the passeng-
ers to cross the river.