Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-12
FIGHTING THE TAX ON MILK.
Italian Mobs XIII a sherfn and Defy
the Troops.

The opposition Of the poorer classes in
Italy to the milk tax has led to rioting and
bloodshed. A fatal riot, similar to that
which took place on Saturday at Partenico,
Sicily, is reported from Giardinelll The
rural population are bitterly opposed to the
new communal tax on the sale Of milk. and
a riotous crowd vented their Indignation
against the communal council for imposing
the tax.
The mob wrecked the communal building.
and dragged on the ground two carabineers
who tried to summon military reinforce
ments. When the troops arrived they found
at the head of the mob several women. who
carried aloft portraits of the king and
queen. and screamedi Down with the
taxesp'
The officers in command OF the troops APP
pealed to the women TO be quiet, and called
upon the mob to dispense. but no heed was
given to their words. Several shots were
fired by the rioters before the troops re-
ceived orders to shoot After the first vol
ley the mob retreated, carrying away sew
eral killed and wounded.
AS soon as the troops were withdrawn
the rioters gathered again, entered the
rooms Of the sheriff and killed him and his
wife. The leaders cut the heads from both
bodies, stuck them on poles and carried
them thus at the head OF the mob through
the town.
riots, four were shot dead by the soldiers
and two were wounded so severely that
they died within an hour The other two
on the death list Were the sheriff and his
wife. Ten persons who were wounded are
still alive. The majority of them will re-
cover.
A riot, resulting in the death Of a peas
ant and the serious. IL not fatal burning Of
a constable. occurred Sunday at the town
of Bitonto. The people were celebrating q
religious festival, and at night had a large
quantity Of fireworks that they intended TO
set of. The gendarmes and customs
officers interfered to prevent the fireworks
display, on the ground that 1t would be
dangerous.
The people resented this action. and when
the officials persisted in their determine
The gendarmes were getting the worst or
the encounter. when they were ordered 10
fire upon the mob. The order was obeyed
and a peasant was killed This added TO
the fury OF the mob. and the fighting was
renewed
The gendarmes, apparently not wishing TO
fire into the crowd again, slowly retrested
to the police station
This place was stormed and captured.
In the meantime a constable. named
Curci, fell into the hands of the mob, and
somebody suggested that he be made q
torch of. This suggestion was hailed with
yells and cheers Of delight
A quantity OF petroleum was procured
and poured over the unfortun ate constable.
A match was then applied to his clothing.
and In an instant he was enveloped In q
mass Of flames.
| Just at this moment a body OF gendarmes.
who had come from another quarter Of the
| town, made a rush with drawn swords uron
the mob, scattering them right and left
with blows from the keen blades.
| Coats Were torn of and wrapped about
| Curci. who by this time was unconscious.
and the fire was extinguished- He was hor-
ribly burned. his face being almost unrec-
| oenizable. He was attended by physicians.
| who. upon examining him. gave Il their
| opinion that he had inhaled fire, and would
| IN all likelihood die.
| The sendarrnes then turned their atten-
| ton to the rioters In the station house. ard
| soon put them TO flight Many Of the rnon
| were wounded