Evening journal., 1900-04-16


Croton Landing, N. Y. April 16.-
IIostilities between the strikers and
the sherlff's forces at Croton dam, at
Croton-On-the-H Hudson, began early
Saturday morning. A party Of men
alleged to be strikers made an at
tempt to cut the cable at one end OF
one of the suspension bridges, and
were charged upon by deputy sheriffs.
There was a lively fight and the ma
rauders were driven away from the
vicinity of the bridge. In the con-
fiict two deputy sheriffs were wounded
Last night Sheriff Molloy went to
New York and made a demand on Cen
eral Roe for troops. AS a result this
morning General Roe ordered out the
Eleventh separate company of Mount
Vernon, Squadron A of New York and
Troop c of Brooklyn. These troops
will number 16O infantry and $50 cav
airy.
The striking Italian labor rs, whose
homes are in the vicinity of the works,
are behaving themselves excellently
thus far. but underneath their assumed
quiet there is a stubborn resolve not
to go back to work nor let any out
s!ders.take their places until the con-
tractors agree to pay the increase Of
wages demanded. Strenuous efforts
are being made by Italian Consul
Branchi and Commander Delehanty to
bring about a settlement of the diff
flculty. A great deal of weight will be
brought to bear on the contractors to
give in in part, If not entirely, to the
demand of the striking laborers, and
IL the contractors do not make conces-
sions there is no telling what trouble
may crop up.
Angelo Rotella, the recognized
leader of the strikers, said yesterday:
This is fight to a finish. We earn
more money that we are receiving and
contractors must pay us for our work.
The state should protect us, and in
stead of sending deputies and soldiers
to help the bosses they should compel
them 10 treat us rightfully. Ours is a
just cause. We only ask for fair play.
II the bosses attempt to bring the other
laborers here we shall prevent any
work being done, and If the military
come to help them we will fight the
soldiers. The bosses will have to give
us our rights and until they do not
duOLntI nlOnt Will NC put III AAc HAaNE
on the big dam"
Last night Leader Rotella, when in
formed that the troops had been or
dered out, said:
"Only some of our men are armed,
but they will all be armed in the
morning. We will resist every at
tempt by the contractors to renew the
work with strange men, and we will
fight If necessary until the troops get
here. They can keep the troops here
for two months. but we can afford to
wait six months. and the contractors
will be sorry when the troops go
away"
Rotella spoke earnestly, and his re-
marks were listened to by a crowd OF
his countrymen, who voiced the same
sentiments in manner which showed
undoubted determination.
The strikers are all well armed with
guns and pistols, and in this regard
they have a decided advantage over
the sheriffs deputies, who have only
long night sticks and revOlvers. The
deputies are in a valley. while the
strikers command 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
half way up the hillside in case a fight
should take place
The feature of yesterday was the
mingling of the strikers and the depu-
ties at the Easter service in the little
Roman Catholic chapel in the valley,
which was built by the contractors.
The majority of the congregation is
made up of the strikers and their FAM
lilies and it was feared that when they
would come in contact with the min
ions of the law there would be trouble
The very opposite occurred, as the men
greeted each other amicably.
Rev. Father J. j. owens, the parish
priest, celebrated the Easter Sunday
mass and in addition to the regular
choir there was a mandolin and guitar
quintette, the leader Of which was the
leader of the strikers, Angelo Rotella
Father Owens counseled the strikers
to obey the law and shun the saloons