The Bowbells tribune., 1900-04-20
DEPUTIES ON GUARD.
FEARS OF TROUBLE AT THE GRO
TON DAM STRIKE.
Three Hundred Deputies Guarding
the WOrks-Everything Is Quiet,
stick for an increase of Pay
Strikers Say IL Outside Help Ia
Brought In They Will Fight-Mi-
litia Has Been Ordered Out to Pre-

Cr0ton Landing, N. Y, April II. -
While everything was quiet and peace
full in the neighborhood of the Croton
dam last night, narly 800 armed depu-
ties were guarding the works and each
one Of them was guessing as to what
to-day would bring forth. The striking
Italian laborers, whose homes are in
the vicinity of the works, behaved
themselves excellently. But under
meath their assumed quiet there is
stubborn resolve not to go back to
work nor let any outsiders take their
places until the contractors agree to
pay the increase of wages demanded.
Strenuous efforts are being made by
italian Consul Branchi and State Az
bitrator Delhanty to bring about
settlement of the difficulty. Much de-
pendS on the outcome of 4 conference
which is to be held in New York be-
tween the two contractors and Gen.
Roe and Sheriff Malloy. n great deal
of weight will be brought to bear on
the contractors 40 give in in part, IL
not entirely to the demand of the strik-
ing laborers, and if the contractors do
not make concessions there is no tell
ing what may turn out within the next
twentyfOur hours. The strikers are
very determined in their demands, and
swear if outside labor is brought here
they will fight tooth and nail to pre-
vent it. Angelo Rotella, who is the
recognized leader of the strikers, said:
'"ThiS fight is to 4 finish. We earn
more money than we are receiving and
the
Contractors Must Pay
for our work. The state should pro-
tect us. and instead of sending deputies
and soldiers to help the bosses, they
should compel them to treat us right
fully. Ours is a just cause. We only
ask for fair play. II the bosses at
tempt to bring the other laborers here
we shall prevent any work being done,
and if the military comes to help them
then we will fight the soldiers. The
bosses will have to give us our rights,
and until they do not another stone
will be put in Its place on the big DAM
Rote]la spoke sarcastically and ear
nestly. and his remarks We're listened
to by crowd of his countrymen, who
voiced the same sentiments in Il man.
ner which showed unGGubteu deter
minatioi. The strikers are all we'll
armed with guns and pistols, and in
this regard they have 8 decided ad-
vantage over the sheriff. posse, who
have only long night sticks and thirty
two-caliber revolvers. The deputies
are in valley while the strikers COM
mand the adjoining hill. With the guns
the Italians could riddle the sheriff's
men. who. in turn. could not send a
bullet from their revolverS halfway
up the hillside in case fight should
take place. There were several addi-
tions to the ranks of the deputies yes
terday and there are now nearly 300
of them at the works. Most of them
are being fed at a nearby boarding
house. and many OF them complained
Of being insutticiently supplied with
food. In addition to this they claim
that they are made 10 work overtime
and threats Of q strike among them are
current.
Militia Ordered Out.
New York. April II. Gen. Roe an
nounced that he had received a formal
written demand from Sheriff Malloy
of Westchester county to call out 500
Of the Italian laborers' strike Mt the
Croton dam. He said that Sheriff NAL
10y came down from Westchester and
gave him the demand in person. Gen.
Roe has decided to order out the
Fourth separate company Of Yonkers,
the Eleventh separate company of
Mount Vernon. Squadron \ of New
York and Troop C of Brooklyn.