The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-26
WOODSlfEN ALARMED,
hut the italian Lnborers woro Not had
ns Runor Had Described Them.

NonTHwooD. Juno 23.-After nearly two years
OF argument md INDIGESTION the farmers and
woodsmen OF this township have realized that
Italians arc not so bad as they supposed.
Whom 1t was reported that a gang OF Italians
had been employed to work on the new Her
kimer. Newport and Poland Railroad tho
farmers mutterings boded Ill for tho work
men. and whom they began to clean their rifles
and load them ready for action the prospect
was ominous 1t Is n rare thing for even n
woodsman to keep his gun loaded at home
excepting in the hunting season. When the
men met at tho stores in the settlements they
forgot to talk about tho weather and the pros
pects for crops and devoted all their remarks
to them blamed Eyetnlians." At the sewing
parties and after church tho women dwelt on
tho same subject and shuidered as they re-
rcated awful rumors OF the wickedness OF tho
Italians. 1t was said that each one carried a
big knife and a big pistol. and that it
would not he safe for q lonc, woman
kidnapped children. and some OF the women.
who lived far from school ut the etge OF tho
woods. declared that They would not allow tho
men folks could spare the time to go with
thcm; Ono good wife. who can handle q rihe
chicken at twenty yards. remarked that she
guessed she'd carry her gnn, when she went
1tS the Hny Of
living ns Whsn tsS aid did sehsT calm
never turned out a rougher boxing lot.
Some lived in old barns. and q gang. Of
house s Prospect AND Gong S Mills lis that
had been abandoned by the owners hccause
tns read had 6Ssn oos. s Its
half off their hinges; 1t arched the highway.
and whoever wished to go between tho two
the daytime the rassareway was dark and
gloomy. but at night it was forbidding. and
made timid folk anxious H The Italians used
the house only rs II place for sleeping. Their
camp fires in Il. the adjoining fields, could DO
looked moro iorDiddinE than aver to the coun-
try people who passed that way;
old felor's imps." u woodsmnn said to a crowd
ct R1nsilsld d. one OMEN nisE hs.t Ls Nell an sams
alongside o their fires an then they'd go out
kinder into the black ugin. chest like the par.
son son says: ono mint ye'd see 'em an the noxt
GRACIOUS" his vile said. hut they skeered
me hal'tq death Yer ought tor hey seen their
the ono yer cut the ham with"
II WAS true tnat the tb lans Soud be
when they sorped o Work to
Another thing that made folks dislike them
was their apparent incyity; In this locality
morning, squire. or How do. Stranger"
Who nodded to tho italians When they ICY met met
them on the highway were discouraged by not
to
Tho distrust OF the Italians had one queer
result, Up to the time OF their arrival locks.
bolts. and bars were almost unknown few
houses had tho safeguards but they were
iority Of cases, the keys were missing, Thieves
nre unknown here; ono reason. POSSIBLY heinS
that there Is very little ito to siIa and as folks
the houses viii! allow. the doors wcre mover
shut against the passcrs;hy either light or
that condition. Locks were put on IL great
many houses. and bolts and bars on some
open when they wen. out for awhile. and at
night the barn doors and house doors and
seemed to 10 waiting for the outbreak. and
the feeling was So intense that the Italians
would not have fnrod well If any crime had
As time passed and the Italians continued to
re peacrable revusion OF sentiment came
A few OF the tenmsters who were employed by
the company to draw logs reported that the
Italians were apparently harmless and we'll
meaning. and that thcir seeming ncivility was
due To their ignorance Of tho customs OF tho
country The, dreadful looking knives. tho
tenmsters said, were used for harmless, pur,
their new friends said but tho majority
VINO could live on dry bread anI DO happy happy
and who did not remonstrate when the fore
men Sw0re at them n1u Kicked them about
They were viii ling to- obligc. and were cheer
full in spite OF the hard work they had to do
for small wages II IL team stuck IN the mud
they were always ready to lend hand. and
they asked no thanks: and those who used
tobacco always had . pirrful to spare.
Consdcrin all things boys" said ono OF
the Transfers recently at q little gathering OF
farmers aud woodsmen in Hodges Hotel 1T
kinder seems t. meez II wo wron.ed ON n
look. They ain't no angels. cz know Of. an
They're purity homey hut YOU knows as we'll
ez do that some white folks. not far from
hero fight when they're rilcd same cz tho
Eyctalians. m no blame ter EN-. nuthcr. A
man who amt got tho spunk ter fight back
amt worth shucks."
That speech was well received. although the
expression Of similar sentiments n year ago
would hayc subjected tn. speaker to sus.
have vanished. md the natives 60 down to
find nothing to alarm then in the conduct OF
the Italians. and speak Of them as "amusin'
an harmless critters" The locks and bolts
are beginning to get rusty for wants OF use.
Open doorways are becoming common again.
and the rifles hang on their pegs unloaded
NATIVE AFRICANS IN OUR HARBOR.