New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-28
SICILIANS DRIVEN TO FURY.
OPPRESSIVE TAXATION CAUSES A RIOT
IN PATERNO.
THE MOB ATTACKS THE MAYORS HOUSE AND
BURNS THE OcrRoI oFFICE-THE PREFECT

THE MOB ATTACKS THE MAYORS HOUSE AND
BURNS THE OCrROI oFFICE-THE PREFEcT
OF CATANIA FINALLY RESTORES ORDER
Palermo April 27-There riot to-day In Pa
terno a city miles northeast OF Catana. Inc
popuace which consists chiefly Of the lower classes
became incensed against the imposition oil the COM
munal taxes and made demonstration whch al one
time threatened to become extremely serious. Ihe
rioters attacked the house Of the Syndic or Mayor
and smashed the windows and destroyed a number
OF street lamps They then set fire TO the ONCE or
the octrci where the tax on provisions etc. entering
the city is collected and to number OF sentry boxes
and they destroyed. The mob was In most
dangerous humor and the gendarmes were poweriess
to quel the disturbance. The military were called
out but the rioters stoned the troops. severely
wounding IN officer and three soldiers An attempt
made to open the prison and release the con-
vc,s. but this prevented by the troops me
situation was becoming extremely critical when the
Project OF Catania arrived on the Scent lie hnally
after several fruitess attempts induced the crowd
to Listen to him. He promised that some OF the more
burdensome grievances of the people would be re-
dressed, and by his conciliatory attitude ultimately
Gained the passions Of the mob, which then dls-
persed.
The riot In Palermo shows that the Socialstic or
CARNATIONS OF the Easel have not been disbanded
despite the amnesty granted to Barbato, di Felce,
Bosco and other leaders by the Rulini Cabinet,
which has replaced that OF Crispi. These Deputies
had been sentenced to Imprisonment. and were re-
Gently set at liberty. They have travelled through
Sicily since the adjournment Of the Chamber, and
cou1seed moderation and patience to their cleo
tors. while preaching however. the Socialistic doc
trInes. But the peasants. and especially the Ia
borers In the sulphur mines in the Catan,a district
had preserved their organizations called the
Easel" which often during the last three years
raised the flag Of revolt IN different parts OF the
island. These mel, whose sufferings and ill-pad
labor depicted in The Tribune at the time OF
the first outbreaks have little faith That the enorts
OF their Deputies may bring improvement 70 their
deporable condition, or In the promises OF the Gov
eminent They had expected that the late Premier
Crispi. who IA a Scilian. and who was formerly a
revolutionary Garibaldidn. would do something Tor
them. They were deceived in their hopes; they re-
yolted and many OF them were killed 10y Crispis
gendarmes Now, the Easel could hardly rely
upon the conservative Cabinet OF Rudini Tor an
ameloraion OF their situation, and this explains
The riot al Palermo 1t is to be hoped that the
trouble will not extenu. as before. all over Sicily,
and that the nsurreconiss Will listen to the voice
OF the Socialist Deputies. who advising patience,
AT least until It shall be known whether or not the
Government Will repeal the fiscal laws which are
crushing the Sicilian ldborers.