The sun., 1900-04-17
TROOPSATCROTON DAM
Striking Italians Face to Face With a
Well Armed Force.
RUMoRS OF DYNAMITING.
The Strikers Declare That the Fight
WIN he Continued sUhtii the
Contractors Accede to
Their Demands.

Croton n. ". April 1G-Thc 700
striking Italians at Croton dam are now
confronted by. in addition TO the 300
deputy sherifts already on the ground,
nearly coo drilled men, including Squad
ron \ of Manhattan, Troop G Of Brook
Ism. the Fourth Separate company of
Yonkeis and the Eleventh Separate
company OF Mount Vernon.
There are vague rumors Of dynamite
being used ly the Italian strikers te
break the Ola >Grotun dana and flood the
,iotor valley, which would entail i!u-
mcnsc damage 10 property and pronahiy
lGS. Of ilr. Just how ana why such ru-
mors got into circulation are hard mat
tors II lind out. There is no doubt that
ihc ltulians are in possession Of q lot of
dyuamilc and they are Wei drilled in
! lie hanlliug Of the explosive. The old
Ram is entirely unprotected. but the stlik-
ris cuud ;.uin nuthing in their fight with
the contractors ON tho nGw works by such
an act.
When thr men knew that the militia
was ordered to the seef!e, there were
growls and mulmrlings of increased dis
content, and the recognized leader of the
strikers made no secret Of the fact that
the fight wOHld be continued until the
men got what they demanded. y meet
ling of the strikers was called for early i'll
the day. but only IL few of the leaders
turned up ut the appointed place, Bowery
bridge, which is just below the WORKS,
at that hour.
They talked excitedly with each other
and then returned to their homes. along
the Bowery, without having, seemingly,
agreed upon any particular plan of ac-
tion.
The strikers say they have money
enough saved to keep them for several
months, and as soon as the soldiers sc
away they will renew their interference
and do d lot of damage.
There are several boatloads of cement
living at the docks here, and it is needed
badly to continue the work of building
the new dam. The strikers say the con
tractors viii not be permitted to haul it
and it is to guard against any attack il
q this respect that the cavalry has beeI
:. sent here.
u Anbuscade Feared.
a When the contractors attempt to car
cement from the wharfs to the work
l. with the cavalry escort, the teams WI
have to pass through thicket of wood.
e and this is where the danger is feared
The strikers are heavily armed. and pict
points watching the movements of th
contractors and the deputy sheriifs no
guarding the works.
The strikers were put through II dri
by a big Italian, who carried saDe
When information reached Superinten
cnt Goldsborough that the strikers H.
made such a threatening demonstratio
he mt once took steps TO try to nave u
authorities disarm the men. Ihis VIII
no easy task, as the Italian aDorcrs IL
armed with Ninchesters, rifles. shotgu
and revolvers while many of them cai,
clubs yard long.
II is learned that applications for wf
rants for the arrest of the leaders ma
been made TO the proper authorities, y
arrests may occur in the very near
ture. Early in the day nearly l1o OF !
1-1- strikers gathered on the top OF tne
near what is called Little ltaly, Il
~. thov wore talked to in Italian by
~; leaders who had met at the Bow'
. bridge earlier in the morning. WHAT
-. nurnort of this talk was could not
=: learned hut instructions were undouD'
~; ly given by the leaders.
- About 40 of the men on the hill "
\. armed with riaes and shotguns Many
y: thc others carried reyolyers and two
.: them had hatchets. The leaders refu
# to talk of their plans, but they lool
s:;; .:; like fighting every inch of the ground
-! which they base their demands. Ey'
*: thing in the valley below is at sta
~ still.
~ There were over 200 deputies seattle
Sss around the werhs scar the new dam
%: they had nothing to do except to su
&ss their clubs l~zily and talk on the pc
sSss t,iities Of the ncEt eor dass.