The Portland daily press., 1897-09-21
IspEc1A1 TO THE rREss.l


ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Waterford, September 20.-State Detec-
tive Albert P. Bassett and at least one
Italian were shot last night during sue
cessful attempt to rescue the Boston con-
tractors who were prisoners in the hands
of the 225 striking Italians on the Oxford
Central Electric railway. Bassett is badly
wounded, but his injuries are not mortal
and his surgeon says will cause no per-
manent injury.
His escape was one of the most thrill
ing adventures ever encountered by q
Maine officer. He had running fight for
almost a mile with two hundred angry
Italians and more than one hundred shots
are said to have been exchanged, while
the air was full of waving knives, re-
volvers and clubs.
1t will be remembered that L. B. VIII
son, chief engineer of the road and Albert
Davis, the superintendent of grading,
were in thes hands of the strikers, the
former since Saturday, the latter since
Friday. The situation of Mr.. Davis was
critical as the strikers asserted he had
money and must pay them before this
morning or they would kill him.
When the officers first visited the camp
of the strikers Saturday afternoon, State
Detectives Wormell of Bethel and Bassett
of Norway accompanied them and
thought they could then rescue the prison.
er by, strategy. But Mr.. Davis did not
want to take the risk and Sheriff Porter
did not think it advisable at that time.
Last night the two state detectivestwent
alone, except two men to drive their
teams. to try their scheme. Rice's juno
tion, where the strikers camp is located.
is lonely junction of country highways
in the forest at least mile from the
nearest habitations, except the board
shanties of the Italians.
Worme1 drove down from Bethel with
a two horse team and driver, Bassett
came up from Norway with the fastest
horse he could get and Will Twombley an
experienced driver. These teams were
placed on the highway perhaps ten rods
from the nearest italian habitation
Wormell was to have charge of the teams
I2Ao AlAdl OSSopOs Wl1l1O OdoSObu dbUI1tCUe5u
the attention Of the strikers and remained
to delay pursuit
Bassett went among the strikers, who
were somewhat acquainted with him, as
he had visited the camp several times.
They received him cordially and allowed
him to go where he pleased. While talk
ing. laughing and playing with the
toll fbo -
Wilson and Davis the plan for their
rescue, which was to run for the teams at
favorable moment. This time Mr.. Davis
consented to make the attempt, as 1t
was his only chance for life, while Wilson
had always been ready to make the at
tempt. During the day the two men were
allowed to walk about the camp, of course
always surrounded by guard. At night
they were confined in a prison SO close
and narrow as to be place of torture. 1t
was about sunset and the Italians allowed
| the prisoners to go to the carriages to talk
with Wormell surrounding them, and the
teams with hundred armed men.
Meantime, Bassett in another part of
the camp was playing games with the
Italians, such as throwing hat in the
air and trying to hit it with a stone,
building big bon fire and driving away
spectators and team which the strikers
asserted was on Italian land"
The pleased Italians patted him on the
shoulder saying: "Good fellow; good
fellow" and more and more gathered
around him till Wornell considered the
critical moment had come and gave the
signal. Davis leaped into the double
team, Wilson into the single one, as
previously arranged, and the drivers
whipped the feet horses into gallop to-
ward North Waterford. The small guard
was SO surprised that the team passed
them before they fairly realized what 1t
meant. The next instant they pursued
the teams shouting, gesticulating and
shooting. But the swift horses quickly
distanced them.
It was almost exactly five o'clock in the
afternoon when the teams started, but
thick clouds and the forest shadows made
the light dim and uncertain.
An instant later 225 frenzied Italians
had surrounded Bassett, shouting "you
blame. you blame, we KILL we KILL and
waving clubs, bushes, knives and re-
volvers. One of them rushed through the
crowd swinging an axe and struck at the
detectives head with all his strength.
Bassett lodged the blow and the axe few
from his assailant's hands making for an
instant an opening through the angry
mob.
Bassett ran for his life through this
opening, while blows from clubs and
other weapons were rained upon his
shoulders and several shots fired.
One italian who stepped before him he
shot in the head in self defense. His re-
volver was soon empty and as he threw
back his macintosh to get another which
he had in his belt an Italian caught the
garment and tore it from his body. An
other tore off his coat, while third was
beating him over the head with long
untrimmed bush, and others striking
him with clubs and shooting at him.