Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-19
THE SITUATION IN ITALY.
Description of Affairs at Carrara and
Vicinity.

Vicinity.
The press correspondent returned yester-
day to Rome from Carrara and Massa di
Carrara, where the state of siege has been
proclaimed owing to the attempts Of anar-
chists to start a revolution in the district
He found both towns somewhat more ami
mated than usual although trade has been
resumed and public confidence seems to
have been restored. Cavalrymen ride inces-
sanity through the towns and infantry with
nxed bayonets patrol the streets. All sol.
diers on duty in the towns have orders to
prevent groups from gathering in the
streets.
The recent outbreaks in several parts OF
the country were due undoubtedly to an.
archist propaganda, as Premier Crispi said
The anarchists selected Carrara and Mas.
sa di Carrara for their most comprehensive
plot because there they found the most ad.
vantageous conditions. The workers in the
marble quarries are the most abandoned
lot OF laborers In Italy. A host Of them are
give false names and whose Identities could
be esta blished in but few cases.
The QuarrelsOme Quarrymen.
They earn fair wages, but their work Is SC
hard that applicants at the quarries are few
and the overseers must take whom they can
get without discrimination concerning any
thing except muscle and endurance. Many
OF the quarrymen camp in almost inacces-
sible spots above the quarries and go to
town only during the fetes. They are SO
Quarrelsome that fatal fights frequently oc.
cur in their camps.
II has been found almost impossible to
discover the identity Of any murderer among
tnem as every man knows that vengeance
Will be sure If he betray a comrade In the
case or such q general agitation q G
at present the Identification of the guilty
would be still more difficult than usual.
Even when the criminals among the quar-
rymen are known 1t Is difficult to arrest
them, as watchers on the high rocks near
the camp give warning of the approach of
the gendarmes and the fugitives can hide
themselves beyond chance Of discovery in
the forests or the labyrinthine galleries of
the works. The Quarries are very old and
for long time 1t was customary to keep
battalion from the garrison in view of the
men, as their recklessness and brutality
constantly threatened outbreaks.
The inclination Of the workers to rebellion
had long been proverbial, yet. some ten
years ago, the troops garrisoned near the
quarries were reduced greatly. The anarch-
lists began at once to scatter their propa-
ganda among the laborers.
First Anarchist Group in Italy.
In 1885 several violent revolutionists who
had been expelled from Belgium and Switz-
erland went to AvenZa. near Carrara, and
founded the first anarchist group In Italy.
The district in which the quarries are situ-
ated was consequently the original hotbed
of anarchism in Italy. The new movement
spread rapidly. In the last months the
leaders had collected money and arms, es-
tablished an understanding with the work
men Of Piza, SpezZie and other icenters OF
workingmens interests. and finally planned
to start revolutions simultaneously in sew
eral provinces. They were to plumber the
houses of the rich, set fire to the public
buildings, open the prisons and rally to the
cause of revolt every man who should show
himself ready to pillage and fight against
the authorities.
The outbreak near Carrara on last Satur-
day evening was the initial move, but the
further execution Of the plot was thwarted
by the swift action of the authorities II Is
known that the anarchists killed on Satur-
day night between Carrara and Massa and
on Tuesday at the Fassola bridge were
much more numerous than the troops
thought. The anarchists were eager to con-
ceal their losses and carried most of the
dead bodies OF with them. More than 2, OOO
anarchists of the Carrara district have TAX
en- refuge in the mountains Strong bodies
of troops are following and surrounding
them. The fugitives are in need of food
many of them are without sufficient cloth
ing. The cold is so intense that with many
of the revolutionists IT soon will be a choice
between surrender and death from exposure
Most of them are expected to yield soon to
the police.
The country round the Carrara and Massa
district is tranquil. The rural population of
Tuscany and Liguira is especially hostile to
the anarchists.