The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-17
Three Shots Fired from "LittIc Italy,
at a Group of Sheriff's Deputies,
but No One Injured.
ALL QUIET DURING THE DAY
TROOPS GREETED WITH MUSIC ON
ARRIVAL AT THE DAM.
Trouble Predicted by the italian Con-
sui General-Status of the Southern
Railway OperatOrs' Strike.

SfSOlON IANDlI>G, April TO-
The first bloodshed as the outcome of the
strike at the Cornell dam was the life's
| blood of Sergt. Robert Douglass. of the
Eleventh separate company, of Mount Yer
non, who was shot dead by an unknown
assassin while he was relieving guard at
ten minutes to o'clock tonight The
widest excitement prevailed throughout
the camp soon as the news of the as
sassination spread to the different tents.
and the soldiers are frantic over the crime.
The point where the sergeant fell is known
as Post 10, which was In charge of Cor
poral Mcdowell. 1t is situated on top of
the hill near Little Italy, where armed
strikers were seen drilling or marching
about early this morning brandishing rifles
and shotguns. The spot is high over the
huge pile of masonry, and from it one can
command a view of the country for miles
on each side up and down the Croton val
ley.
Douglass was talking to Corporal Nc
Dowell and the other members of the
guard when he suddenly clapped his hands
to his stomach and said, Boys. I'm shot!''
and Immediately fell to the ground. 1t
was pitch dark at the time. but Mcdowell
and the others fired volley into clump
of bushes near by without hitting any one.
No one saw the flash or heard the sound
Of the shot which killed Douglass, and it
was a most mysterious affair. Meanwhile
the men picked up the fallen sergeant and
carried him down the hill on a stretcher,
but as soon as they reached Douglass's tent
the poor fellow died without saying a word.
Lieutenant Glover, with a squad of men,
went up to the hilltop, where they made a
thorough search, but failed to find any
person up there. Then the guards were
called in and concentrated in the valley
with the exception of those placed at the
cable station, where the shooting took
place.
SHOTS FIRED AT DEPUTIES.
At about 1880 o'clock tonight the deputy
sheriffs who are guarding the cable house
on the east side of the river saw three
figures lurking near the place and the
deputies fired their revolvers at them. The
figures disappeared quickly in the dark
ness. A few minutes later, while the depu-
ties thought there was no person near
them, three shots rang out from the direc-
ton of Little Italy. but the sheriffs men
were not injured.
At about o'clock this evening three
when searched by the soldiers each was
found to have a loaded revolver on him.
The soldiers extracted the cartridges from
the revolvers and returned the weapons
to the men, who were allowed to go away.
When Sergeant Douglass was killed he
had one Of these same cartridges in his
pocket, and as he was one of the men who
unloaded the weapons it is thought the shot
which killed him was fred by one of the
three men who had been allowed to go
free with their empty pistols scarcely an
hour previously.
arate militia companies are in camp in
the Croton valley and a cavalry troop
from New York is at Ardsley. Early this
morning the strikers held a meeting and
finding that no effort was going TO be made
to work on the dam, dispersed. From the
New York newspapers they learned that
troops were on the way. Before the hour
for their arrival the Bowery was filled by
Italians, who stood in groups and listened
to the talk of the leaders. About IL a.
a telegram was received by one of the
leaders from Consul Branchi, advising
them to be quiet and informing them of
the fact that the militia was on its way to
the dam.
COUNTER DEMONSTRATION.
1t was after noon when the special train
from Yonkers carrying the troops arrived
here. Their arrival was noted by an Ital-
ian on a bicycle, who remained long enough
about the station 10 count them and then
started for the dam. About half a mile
from the village he was met by another
strike messenger on a wheel, who carried
the news about a mile, where a third mes
senger rode with all haste TO the Bowery
Before the deputy sheriffs about the works
knew of the arrival of troops in Croton
valley the strikers were aware of it. There
was blowing of horns, and while the troops
were resting at the station waiting for the
word to move forty armed Italians carry
ing an American flag and two Italian flags
crossed the Little Italy hill to the Bowery.
They were cheered by the men In the
Bowery and watched with interest by the
deputy sheriffs.
,.nen the trops had been rested and the
wagons carrying the camp equipment had
been loaded the march TO the dam was
begun. When they were approaching the
Bowery three nervous milltiamen accident
ally discharged their rifles. but no one was
hurt. AS the troops swung into the mar
row lane called the Bowery strange sight
met their eyes. About 200 men were on
the broad sidewalks. Flags were hanging
from the windows and crowds of people on
the stoops. About twenty Italians with
mandolins and guitars We're seated on the
walk playing a. lively tune To-day is
Easter Monday. a holiday in Italy.
The militiamen pitched their camp inside |
the ground where construction work on the |