The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-19

Italians Respond to tho Malta whistle
and Fight With Railroad MN.

Italians Respond to tho Malta whistle
and Fight With Railroad MN.
The Spokane Spokesman, OF Decembe- Q, gives
an interesting account of the three f.ours OF
fighting at Wenatchee on the night of tee 18th:
The trouble was started by the luck of a
drunken gambler named Tom GuillanH He 10
a big, husky fellow from Missouri and worked
on the Great Northern grade at interyalS through
the summer. About once in six weeks se would
quit work and come to Wenatchee, spec ding all
his money in wild carouse, drinking straight
whisky like water. 30 long as he had ISoney he
would frequent French Annie's place, oie of the
toughest dives in the town, and spend rssarly all
his time with one of its inmates, know here as
susette. but formerly called Carrie Leg in Ia
coma. She Is brunette about % years old,
good looking, but with the temper of : vixen.
For the last month she has been living with
Giuseppe Waco, q faro dealer. who 10 ; sort of
king among the Italians here and is sale to have
been driven from New Orleans for his part in
the Malta murders.
Guilland quit work a week ago and came here
getting drunk the first night In two Gays his
money was gone and he has been loafisg about
saloons ever since Last night he was paid an
old debt of Sl2 and about O'Clock begas to play
craps and drink whisky. He played in lick and
quit the game with $40. He next tired stud
poker, and about IL O'Clock started fo>r Vaco's
faro bank with nearly 5000 in his pockst.
Here he contin ued to play recklessly, showing
his winnings i'll the pockets of his ragged over
eoatand pulling them out again by the double
blers and loaiers gathered around htn and
watched the game with wild eyes ans bated
breath. Finally Guilland threw all his money
on the table in heap and bot on queens and
aces. The pile was counted and fouuGeso con-
tain $3.50. Waco took the bet with an ugly grin
which died out when he saw Guiland he'd won.
He paid the bet without q word bts1 when
Guiliand wanted to double it Waco confessed
that the bank was broken.
Susette was upstairs, but heard the news and
started to the gambling room, saving .he was
her and would not let her pass. Guillara came
up and pushed him aside, walking off 9th the
woman.
Before they had gone a block dozen stalfans
led by Waco surrounded them, and wh.e some
attacked Guillant the rest tried to carr away
the woman. Guiliand fought like tiger,
knocking down two or three with his fsts efore
he could draw his revolver. The screaur1 OF the
woman brought crowd OF men from al sides
and a band of graders rushed to their co.lrade's
rescue. Waco gave peculiar whistle aloi in 4
moment the street was filed with Italians,
some of them but half-dressed, aud armed with
knives, clubs and stones. The rsilrotci men
gathered in group. with dpilIand AID the
slowly, firing as they went aud calling fc1, help
As they fell back others Joined them and finally
they made stand in front of saloon.
The Italians pressed them closely at Fl rst, and
many list fights occurred. but when the graders
opened fire they gave way until there wss q
space of twenty feet between the two sarties
Across this space stones. clubs and brsckbats
flow In a regular cloud, those wha were
knocked down being carried TO the rear5of the
rnobs Three graders. who had been sabbed
with long knives. were carried into the-saioon
and the woman was spirited away in tt7 dark.
ness.
About ten minutes after the graders has made
their stand q band of twenty Italians charged
on them from the rear, ana those on ths other
side closed in at the same ting For
a moment it seemed as If the rail
readers would be wiped out, hsit by
some blunder their foernen comme4ced q
cross.fre from both sides at the sans time,
most OF the bullets passing the graders and en-
tering their own ranks. This, together with the
tire OF the graders, forced them to fall lack in
confusion. Before they could rally the silroad
men were reinforced by nearly fifty me;,, who
come down a side street on the run. TIE Isal-
ians reunited their forces and fell back several
blocks. carrying their wounded. Both SaYties
gradually broke up into small bands an5 scat
tered through the town. Whenever o.sposis %
factions met there was q skirmish, ge.eraIlv
ending IN the defeat OF the Italians, bug there
were no more general engagements. The feud
continued until dawn, wnen both partIe1 scat
tered and got out Of sight