New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-15
THE STRIKE LEADER TALKS.
PREDICTS A RIOT IF CONTRACTORS PUT ON
NEW LABORERS

William Casalo. the leader of the strikers
predicts a riot tomorrow if the company puts
new laborers 10 work at that time. Casao has
been employed the dam q common laborer
at 81 - day. With his fellows he demands
81 80 He speaks the English language nuenty
ana often acts Interpreter in the service
Of Superintendent Goldsborough:
we not 10 be browbeaten by show of
force" ne said TO a Tribune reporter. The
troops have been ordered out. What for? The
contractors say TO preserve peace That is not
the reason. 1t is to beat into submission.
It is 10 allow work to be continued. Thus the
contractors will have some pretence of an ex-
ouse TO offer to the Aqueduct Commissioners
that they fulfilling the provisions of the con-
tract. Our demand for higher wages must be
granted first
There he concessions until the m
mon laborers receive 81 30 a day and the stone
drillers 81 ~. These men get 81 25, which
is not sufficient 10 pay for even their food. They
nave TO pay S14 to SIS month for board and
lodging. Therefore. when from Indictment
weather or other reasons these laborers are not
bile 10 work more than ten days in the month.
their wages for that time do not amount to
more than So or Sl3. A man can't live on that
That is the reason are sitting around
our houses; that is the reason. too, why not
rock shall be set in the dam there.
We have used no violence as yet. When the
contractors attempted to begin work this morn
ing we made a demonstration, to be sure. but
nobody hurt. We had guns. but we didn't
shoot them; and rocks. but didn't throw
them. All did yell. and that all we
needed to DO. You see, the contractors made
bluff by opening up operations by sending
-dinky' engine down the track. We thought the
signal was in earnest and we got ready for 1t.
We stood across the track and yelled and
shouted until the engineer did not know which
way he going. So he at last decided he was
going the wrong way. and pulled the lever the
other way. He beat a retreat he did, and that
was all there was to it. You see, this dinky'
engine really run up to the boilers of q
pump which is used 10 keep down the level Of
the dam. II the pump stops the dam overf1ows
Yes. had guns. some of us Some of the
women had scalpers under their skirts. l had an
old horse pistol myself. 1t hadn't been shot off,
though, for going on twenty years
I'VE might have a few bullets flying
though, If it hadn't been for the Italian Consul
You see he told he going to have a talk
with Superintendent Godsborough. He said he
going to ask the company for an increase in
wages, and that there should be further
demonstration until he had completed his mis-
sion. He talked fairly and obeyed him.
The cause of calling out the troops is that
the company keeps bringing in cement in
wagons from the shore. We held up Of
these trains last Thursday. Il just crossing
the Bowery Bridge. which crosses the gulch be-
tween the works and the village. Another train
of cement wagons was brought in to-day We
held ii up for some time by show Of force, but
finally dispersed upon the request of the Italian
Consul. This cement which is being brought In
is not needed al the dam. There work
men there TO use il, For this reason it would
seem that the company is getting ready for new
laborers. None viii go in. however unless our
dc q re OF