New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-14
MAY BE BLOODSHED TO-DAY
DEPUTY SHERIFFS FACING ARMED
STRIKERS AT CORNELL DAM.
ITALIANS REFUSE TO LET OFFICERS OF
THE PEACE CROSS BRIDGE-sAY THEY
WILL FIGHT TO END BEFORE
YIELDING TO CONTRACTORS.

YIELDING TO CONTRACTORS.
One hundred deputy sheriffs and several
hundred armed italian strikers facing
another at the Cornell Dam. 1t is feared
that there may be bloodsned to-day
Yesterday the thirteenth day of the strike
OF the Italians employed on the new dam and
the nearby quarries They sgnalzed 1t not only
by refraining from working themselves but
by refusing to allow other to work, even
forhiddins the fireman to attend to the large
boiler which requires skilled attention
Coleman, Brushaw & Coleman. the contrac-
tors, teephoned to the Westminster County
Sheriff's office, at White Plains, for hundred
deputy sheriffs to be sent to protect the prop
erty and men at work The Sheriff at
gathered deputies from Port Chester. larry
town. Sing Sing and Peekski At 3:OS p. m.
they arrived at the Croton station about
hundred strong. Deputy Sheriff Breese, who
was in command, armed them with long locust
might sticks and gave each a s. calibre self
acting loaded revolver
STRIKERS HOoT AND YELL
After all were armed and equipped they were
loaded into a dozen ordinary wagons,
with boards laid across the sides for seats At
the entrance to the bridge which passes over
the Croton River all of them got out of the
wagons and prepared for business When they
started to go the bridge strikers who were
lined up on the hill opposite the other end Of the
bridge. began to boot. yell. blow horns and to
wave handkerchiefs of various colors as signals
to the other strikers to assemble. They came
focking over the hills from all directions. AS
the deputies advanced the strikers yelled
stand back! Keep back!"
AT the same time the Italians jumped around
in most lively manner picking up big stones,
which they threatened to hurl from the high
embankment on which they were assembled at
the peace officers if they did not stop. On the
centre of the hilltop the Italians had planted
large iron water pipe trained upon the bridge.
which at first gave the idea of gun.
CONSULTATION WITH LEADERS,
Deputy Sheriffs Breese and Kuss advanced
and held a consultation with the leaders of the
strikers. The latter said they did not want to
defy the law, but they had become tired of star
walton wages of ST % and 81 80 day for labor
and hand drillers and they wanted 81 80
and 81 go a day. They did not want any con-
fict with the deputy sheriffs, but said they must
not come across the bridge. they the leaders,
would be able to restrain the mob.
The strikers were armed not only with clubs.
but with revolvers dirks Mr.. Breese, seeing
that his one hundred men could not cope with
the three hundred or four hundred enraged
strikers, whose numbers were constantly in
creaSing a. the horns were blown, ordered his
deputies back. He decided to send for a rein
fOrCement that he could dictate terms and
enforce them. He marched his along the
north side of the Croton River and far the
contractors office. the hillside. from which
there is a suspension foot bridge leading over
the river to the engine houses. The deputies
filed over this fra bridge, and in this way finally
got within the works. In about hour rein
forcements of fifty came from Peekskill
and Croton.
MOLLOY TREATED WITH RESPECT.
Sheriff William " Molloy arrived on the scene
about o'clock. He treated with great
respect by the Italians. He had consultation
with the superintendent, and came away de-
termined to have big force the ground by
to-day If that force is not adequate he will call
out the militia
1t looks If there will be a clash between the
strikers and the representatives of the law to-
day. The strikers are hot headed and bitter, and
say that will shed every drop of blood in their
bodies before they will give in to the contractors
The Sheriff has done all he possibly TO
make the deputies comfortable In the con-
tractors buildings and to feed them. Some of
the came without oVercoats.
Cornell Dam has been several years in process
of building, and is not more than half finished