Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-30
KILLED BY RIOTERS.
Terribly Tragic Affair Among
Italian Ditch DiggerS.
TWO GANGS AT WARFARE,
And One of Their Foremen, Pitts
burger, lmpaled on Pickaxe,
TURNS AND KILLS HIS ASSAILANT.
Several Men Injured and Half Dozen
Arrests Already.
TWO GANGS AT WARFARE,
TURNS AND KILLS HIS ASSAILANT.
THE INQUEST AND THE BAD OUTLOOK

What promised to be most serious riot
occurred yesterday morning among the
italian laborers employed upon the new
pipe line of the Monongahela National Gas
Company, near Cooper's Mills, Fallowheld
township, Washington county, in which
one man was killed and several wounded,
and one was seriously. But few particulars
could be learned by THE DISPATCH re-
porter, who hastened from the city to the
scene. as the Italians, who were almost the
only witnesses, refused to talk.
As far as can be learned, the trouble
originated in an argument between two RI
val contractors. One named George Butche,
whose Pittsburg address is. Hotel Roma, llS2
Penn avenue, had gang OF 80 men en-
ployed at filling in the ditch.
As only about dozen were needed for
the work, the Superintendent, H. c. Young,
ordered him to transfer portion of his men
to the control of another contractor, named
Joe, to be used in digging. This he re-
fused to do, and, calling his men of, he
went to the others quarters and proceeded
to insult him. One word led to another,
until Butche struck Joe a severe blow In
the face, whereupon the latter's gang
Jumped out of the ditch and started for
Butche and party, who were not at all back
ward
IT WAS FRIGHTFUL.
For few minutes the battle was wage6
furiously; heads, arms and faces were badly
cut. Finally one of Joe's men, whose name
cannot be learned, rushed up behind Butche
and dealt him two blows with pickaxe,
one Of which crushed through the skull,
and came out on the left side of his head,
below the ear.
Butche wheeled instantly, and, drawing
a revolver, fred into the crowd, striking a
workman named Grombatista Ricci and
instantly killing him. As he fell the
others ceased their warfare, and, with excla-
nations of horror, threw aside their tools
end fed in all directions.
Bucthe's assailant was struck by a shovel,
and his head was laid open. He, however,
took to the woods and has not been seen
since.
The body of the murdered man lay on the
ground from $50 A. NJ. to 5 o'clock P. NJ.
when it was taken to Monongahela City.
Butche was also taken there on the o'clock
train, and received medical attention. He
is not expected to live.
ARRESTS WERE MADE.
EFive of the ringleaders were arrested by
Marshal McCleary and Constable Bohanna,
and are now in Jail in Monongahela City.
They will receive a hearing to-day.
The Italians are terribly excited over the
affair No work was done on the ditch
yesterday, ard visitors to the camp were
looked upon with much suspicion. A gang
of 25 new workmen from Pittsburg were ex-
pected last night, and, from all appear
ances, their reception was to be anything
but pleasant one.
Coroner j. F. Kennedy, of Mononaghela
City, has impaneled a jury, consisting Of
the following named citizens: j. NJ. Cradle.
F. E. Baird, w. c. Hodill. w. G. Robin
son, and B. F. Bently.
The Italians have carved large cross on
the tree where the victims fell, and per
formed a most peculiar religious ceremony
In connection. An interpreter who tried tc
obtain some information Tor THE DIsPATCH
representative was uncermoniously elected
from the camp.
George Butche has merely been in the
habit OF boarding at the Hotel Roma, 1132
Penn avenue. He had not put in an ap
pearance there, however, since Saturday
morning, and Mr.. Passetti, the proprietor
stated last night that Butche's movements
had been extremely uncertain.