The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-03

forms are Needed.
ROME, Jan. 2.-Dispatches received
from Sicily to-day show that the anti
tax movement has made great progress
in the province OF Trapani. Several
days ago the dis:ontent in Campo Bello,
town OF 5000 inhabitants near Ira.
pani city, had become so threatening
that tho town council had passed o
resolution abolishing the wheat octroi.
AS protests against this action the
millers refused to reduce the price of
flour, and the bakers announced an in
crease in the price of bread.
When these measures became known
yesterday morning about a thousand
men and hfty or more women of the
working class gathered from the town
and the surrounding country and began
marching through the streets. Tho
police who tried to dispense them were
put to flight.
The rioters set fire to all the public
buildings except the town hall. From
these buildings the fire spread to private
houses. While d largo district was in
| flames the mob left The owners and Off .
ctals alone to fight the fire, and marched
to the prison and took it by storm. All
the prisoners were liberated.
| The soldiers, who had been confined
| in their barracks. were driven out by
| fire, and then turned their attention to
saving the rest of the town. They were
very rorbearing, and did not fire or uso
| their bayonots upon the mob.
Third of the Town III Ruins
Nearly third OF the town is now in
ruins. Many families that were burned
out walked the streets all last night
The whole town looks as if it had
suffered from heavy bombardment.
Among the buildings destroyed were
every mill and every miller's house in
tho place.
At Salemi, town of $1,000 inhabit
ants, in the same district with Campo
Bello, fires were started by anti tax
rioters shortly before dark yesterday,
and half-a-dozen buildings were burn :
ing by s o'clock. Fires were set by
rioters in several smaller towns also,
and in the early evening the whole dis
trict seemed ablaze.
The troops, although provoked by the
rioters repeatedly in Salemi, did not
fire. Several rioters were arrested after
q struggle. A private was shot in the
cheek and captain in the stomach.
AT Pletri Perzia, town of IL 900 in
habitants, near Caltanizetta, an anti
tax mob set fire to three public build
ings and tried to get at the rest, but was
prevented by troops who had been
called out to protect them. The rioters
made such determined attacks on the
military in their efforts to reach tho
buildings that eventually the order 10
| fire was given.
Five Killed by the Soldiers
Five were killed and many were
wounded by tho first volley. The second
volley fred over the heads of the
rioters was followed quickly by the dis
solution of the mob.
The town council in Marineo, near
Palermo, abolished the wheat octroi on
Saturday, but the millers and bakers,
like those in Campo Belio, refused to
reduce their prices. The people rose
yesterday and tried to destroy tho town
buildings, but were driven off by the
troops after several stubborn fights, in
which three rioters were killed and
several more were wounded. The troops
continued to guard the houses o. the
millefs and bakers and the public build
| lngs throughout the night.
| The communal councillors of Syracuse
! have taken steps to quiet the populace
| by lowering the wheat tax. Tho an
nouncement Of this policy yesterd ay
morning was received with Joy through
out the city, and the governor was
| received with tremendous enthusiasm
when he entered the theatre last even
ing.
The dispatches from Trapani, giving
details of the riots in Campo Bello,
arrived during cabinet council this
morning. They were read first by
Premier Crispi who at once communi-
Gated them to his colleagues.
Trying to PacIfy the People.
Several Sicilisn deputies, who have
great influence with tho people Of their
districts, have started for the islands to
help in the work of pacifcation
Premier Crispi expe cted until this even
ing to go, but the alarming reports re-
celved from the last dispatches have
caused him to change his plans. He will
not visit Sicily for the present, as he
deems his presence in Rome as in
dispensable.
A mass meeting OF all the classes in
Palermo last evening appointed a
deputation to report formally to the
government what reforms were most
needed in Sicily, las the government
was but ill.informed by the officials
representing it on the island
The witty ,ayings of Geo. w. Monroe. IN
"Aunt Bridget" have "a mirth provoking