Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-09-21
A SERIOUS ARRAY.
TRoueLE WITH THE ITALIAN LABOR
ERs ON THE OXFORD CENTRAL.
DETECTIVE BAssErr AND THREE irAL-
iANs INJURED, NONE or THEN VERT
SERIOUSLY.

The trouble with the Italian laborers
on the Oxford Central Railroad culmi.
mated In an ARRAY Sunday night In which
Detective Bassett got . bullet In hll
arm and ran for his life, and three Of the
Italians were moro or less injured.
It seems that the Italians, who have
been working on the road for nearly
two months, were promised their pay
the 10Th Of every month, and when Il
was not forthcoming on the 18th OF
September, and they were put OF from
day TO day, they made prisoners In their
camp near Rice's Junction, Waterford,
Of Albert Davis, overseer for the con-
tractors, and l.. B. Wilson, chief engi-
neer Of the road. These men were held
as hostages, the Italians declaring that
they should keep them till they got their
pay.
Saturday morning Sheriff Porter was
sent for, and arrived at Norway that
afternoon, and Immediately went, with
Deputies Garland and Cross, to the
camp. The Italians were determined to
keep the men until they got their pay,
and the sheriff deemed It foolhardy to
attempt their release with small posse.
The hostages were being well treated,
and the sheriff returned to Norway.
Sunday afternoon Sheriff Porter again
visited the camp, accompanied BY Rev.
Father Summa, who was able to talk
with the Italians. The Italians were a.
determined as ever not TO release the
men until they got their pay. They said
they would use the men well, but II an
attempt was made to take them by force
they would cut them into as many pieces
as the company owed them dollars.
Davis and Wilson assured the sheriff that
they were being treated well and were
not afraid, and they thought 1t Was best
they should remain there until the mat
ter was fixed up and the men paid.
Sheriff Porter thereupon returned from
the camp.
As there was much apprehension re-
garding the safety Of the men held by
the Italians, a plan to secure their es-
cape BY stratagem was arranged, and
Deputy Sheriff Wormell, accompanied
by Detective Bassett Of Norway and w.
+. Perkins OF Paris Hill, drove TO the
camp. They got the Italians engaged
In some way to give Davis and Wilson a
chance to rush for the carriage, which
they did, and got In.
The Italians Immediately surrounded
the carriage, and some Of them opened
fire, but the carriage drove OF without
any Of Its occupants being injured.
Though the Italians had to be beaten of
at short quarters. Wormell beat OF one
assailant with dubbed revolver, and
one Of the others In the carriage fired,
but did not hit anybody.
Detective Bassett was thus left stand
ing alone, and the Italians swarmed
around him and grabbed him. He i'm
mediately went out OF his coat, leaving
Il In their hands, and held them at bay
with his revolver. One Of them threw
an axe at him. He lodged and II went
through the crowd behind him, opening
a gap through which he made his es-
cape aud ran. He got bullet 10 his
arm, but kept on running, and finally
fell In with man with team, who took
him In, and he held the Italians back
with his revolver and got away. Late In
the night he returned to Norway.
The casualties are: Detective Bassett,
somewhat pounded and bullet wound
In his arm, not thought to be serious;
one Italian run over by the carriage and
his leg broken; another run over across
the chest, not seriously injured; and q
third Italian given scalp wound by
wormell's dubbed revolver. No Italian
appears to have been shot.
The affair has OF course caused great
excitement.
II Il understood that the Italians will
leave for Boston as soon as they can get
any means to go with. Their interpreter
or "boss" has run away, and they have
no money and no food.
No arrests have been made.