Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-10
TRAILED BY HOUNDS.
The Return to Pittsburg Of
an Italian Foreman Who
Has Been Missing.
HE WAS HELD AS A SLAVE
By a Band of Colored Men in the
West Virginia Mountains
GUARDED EVEN WHILE HE SLEPT.
He Escapes, but Is Tracked by Bloodhound
and Armed Men.
HE WAS HELD As A SLAVE
GUARDED EVEN WHILE he SLEPT
He Escapes, but Is Tracked by Bloodhound
and Armed Men.
AWFUL FIGHT WITH THE SAVAGE BRUTE

like a message from the dead, Charles
Stein stepped into the keystone Employ
ment Agency yesterday. For nearly ayear
he and band of Is Italians have been miss
ING. and when Stein showed up yesterday
the managers of the agency could hardly
realize that it was he.
The keystone Agency furnishes laborers
for all over the country and sends large
numbers to West Virginia to work IN the
mines and on new railroads. Last March
Stein and 25 men were started down there.
They were to 60 to Thompson Bros, con-
tractors on the Norfolk and Western, In
Logan county. This county lies along the
kentucky line and is one of the widest
parts Of West Virginia. The country is
hardly settled and law is unknown. Stein
and his men got as far as Dinglsstown on
their trip There they stopped for iood
ana to locate Thompson Bros. The town Is
on the line of the Norfolk and Western
road and a couple of hundred colored men,
rnder charge of two white men, were
camped near the town.
Italians Are Held as Slaves.
Stein was given something to eat, but
when he and his party tried to 90 on they
were stopped by a number OF the colored
men. Their opposers pulled revolvers and
told the Italians that they would have to
stop there and work or be shot. The for-
eicners had to stay. They worked there
Tor several days on the railroad and got
nothing for ii. The colored men guarded
them while they worked, and even while
thew slept they were watched Alter
week of their slavery, Stein and a number
Of his companions decided to make an at
TEMPT TO escape. AT midnight, while the
guards slept, they stole away down the
valley. The men travelled along the bed of
a creek all night, and as the day began
10 break they climbed the mo untain
side. Stein knew thae the colored men
would follow the water if they pursued.
lie thought by getting on the top of the
mountain the pursuers would be eluded.
Tie plan worked admirably When the
Italians reached the summit of one of the
highest mountains in West Virginia they
were nearly worn out, and even though it
was March day, laid down to rest
Pursued by Armed Men and Dogs.
ABOUT HOOu liGA Std ICu On lnS bldlup
acaiu. 1t was about the middle of the aft
ernoon that they came to place where the
ground was free from underbrush and q
clear view of the valley below was OBJ
1ained. Looking down they saw party of
colored men, armed with guns, moving
hiong al a rapid rate, and recognized them
as some Of the employees of the white men
at Dingisstown. The Italians were not
noticed and escaped. They continued
along for some time, when a dog
was heard barking in the rear. Looking
around, Stein saws he saw a big bloodhound
crashing through the underbrush. The dog
was coming straight at him, and he had
nothing but his knife to protect himself
with. To run was useless Every man
stood his ground, and, with drawn knives,
awaited the hounds coming. There was
no one with the animal at that time. The
dog made a dash for STEMS throat. The
little Italian jumped aside, and, as he did
so. plunged his knife deeply into the
hounds side. A minute later a half dozen
gtilettos had been driven into the animals
flesh The big brute was soon killed, and
the Italians hurried on. They felt sure that
the dog belonged to 4 party of pursue-s,
and had followed the scent faster than the
men, and every minute expected to see q
crowd OF armed colored men come in
sight.
Hiding From CoIored Pursuers.
After travelling halfa mile Stein led his
brethren down the mountain side, where
the underbrush grew very thick. They hid
there, and had not been secluded long until
voices were heard above them. Soon over
B dozen stalwart colored men passed by,
swearing about the Italians and the loss of
their doc. After this the foreigners made
good their escape, and couple of DAYS
tramp brought them to the Kentucky line.
Here they got into mining camp among q
lot OF whites and blacks. The Italians got
work from Wangen & Bailey, who were
sub-contractors on q railroad line which was
building Stein worked for this firm until
month o. two ago. He was paid in checks,
and yesterday he exhibited over
ice checks for 81 each signed by Wangen
* Bailey. He said the contractors had
never paid him cent of money, and just a.
he WAS going to quit both members of the
.irm skipped, leaving several thousand
dollars worth of this worthless paper
Stein was the only member of the party
who came back to Pittsburg. The other:
are scattered he knows not where, aud
thinks that some of them were killed al
Dingisstown. He worked his way back to
FittEbUrg by GLOW stages.