The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-22
RIOT AT OLD FORGE.
Number Of Residents of That Place OBJ
iected Strongly TO the Construction
Of q Railroad.

Half hundred Old Forge Italians
with their wives and grown up chill
dren. swooped down upon the con-
struction gang of the Susquehanna
Connecting Railroad company yester-
day morning and until court interfered
In the afternoon all operations were
forced to cease.
The company route passes through
three lots on the east side of the main
road, and adjoining the new high
school. The ownership of the lots is
in dispute. The Pennsylvania Coal
company claim an interest in them.
William Repp also contends that he
is part owner of the plot. A New
York state man holds a twenty-one
year lease on ii and a number of Ital-
fans have houses upon 1t.
The railroad company when 1t was
ready to enter upon the land found that
there was a confusion as to the title
and as it could not afford to wait until
the matter was settled, went into court
with a bond of $1,000 to indemnify
against damages, court to assess and
distribute the damages when the mat
ter of ownership was finally decided.
The occupants of the land couldn't
he made to understand that their in
terests were protected by the indemni-
flying bond so to avoid the threatened
trouble the company offered to give
each of them 800 to cover the injury
that might result to their interest in
the property. which in fact amounted
only to the vegetables they have plant
ed on the route of the right of way,
for they do not pay the ground rent,
having simply bought the houses from
the man who leased the land, and who
pays the ground rent himself.
This would not satisfy them, how
ever. They wanted 5000 and they want
ed it in cash. The company realizing
that they could not effect an agree
ment decided to proceed with force,
and yesterday morning directed their
foreman, Frank Reeder to start his
men at work on the disputed lots.
But this move was anticipated by the
tenants and when the construction
gang of fcrty-five men with nine teams
arrived at o'clock yesterday morning
they found a human barricade at the
fence of the first lot. There was some
parleing between the foreman and the
leaders of the opposing tenants, but
they would listen to nothing. They
wanted their money ard they wanted
it then and there. Foreman Reedel
| told them over again of the situation
of affairs. They had only few rails
| off the first fence when they were
| sWooped down upon by the tenants
| and their supporters armed with axes
pick handles and stones. and after {
brief stand the workmen fell back IL
disorder. leaving the barricaders mas
ters of the field.
Foreman Reeder drove up to Scran
ton and swore out warrants before Al
derman Wright for the arrest of th'
ringleaders. He thea went to thu
sheriff and secured Special officer Hen
nv F. Ferber to serve them. At 13O th'
officer reached the place and talked
with the crowd that was lined up a
the fence. They didn't want talk, the!
said; money was what they were after
officer Ferber therefore walked owe
to the fence and started to tear i
down. Three women rushed at hin
with uplifted axes, but when instead
of running he marched boldly to NEE
them they turned and fed.
The others seeing that the officer wa
not to be bluffed did not attempt fur
Their interference and while the Office
held them in check the workmen fin
ished tearing down the fences and get
| ting the teams in on the lots. Gradu
ally the crowd skunk away and at
o'clock everything was quiet and tn
road-bed was we'll under way. n
further trouble was reported.