Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-17
First Blood Split at Croton
Dam.
A SERGEANT SHOT DOWN
Troops Are Encamped at the Dam
Trouble is Expected When ali At
tempt is Made to Start. Wptk-
More Troops. }


Croton Landing, N. T.. April 17.--The
first bloodshed as the outcome of the
strike at Cornell dam was the LIES blood
OF Sergeant Robert Douglass, Of the Elev-
enth separate company of Noun Vernon.
who was shot dead by an unknown assas-
sin while he was relieving the guard at
$50 o'clock tonight. The widest excite
ment prevailed throughout the camp as
soon as the news of the assassination
spread to the different tents n the SOL
diers are frantic over the crime.
The point where h sergeant fell Is
known as post No. 10, which was in
charge of Corporal Mcdowell. 1t is sit
uated on top of a hill, near Little Italy.
where armed strikers were seen drilling
or marching about early this morning,
brandishing rifles and shot guns The
spot is high over the huge pile of ma
sonry, and from it. one can command Il
view of the country on each side up and
down the Croton valley.
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: Lord,
boys, I'm shot," and Immediately fell to
the ground. 1t was pitch dark at the time
but Mcdowell and the others fired a vol
ley into a clump of bushes nearby with
out hitting anyone. No one saw the flash
or heard the sounds of the shot which kill
ed Douglass and it was a most myter-
ious affair.
Meanwhile the men picked up the fall
en- ergean and carried him down the
hill on a stretcher, but as soon as they
cached Douglass tent the poor fellow
died without saying a word. Lieutenant
Glover, with a squad, went up to the hill
top where they made a thorough search
but failed to find any person up there.
Then the guards We're called in and con
centrated in the valley with the exception
of those placed at the cable station,
where the shooting took place.
At about 1890 o'clock tonight the dep
uty sheriffs who were guarding the cable
u 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
darkness. A few minutes later while the
deputies thought there was no person
near them three shots rang out from the
direction of Little Italy but the sheriff's'
men was not injured.
At about s O'Clock two Italians who
We're found within the line when search
ed by the soldiers. each was found to
nave a loaded revolver on lin. The SOL
diers extracted the cartridges and return
ed the weapons to the men who were al
lowed to go away. When Sergeant Doug
lass was Killed he a one of these same
cartridges in his pocket, and as he was
OF the men who unloaded the weap-
ons, it is thought that the shot which kill
ed ain was fired by one of the men who
H40 nRRn QYtnVN0d IN -o E~- ~
their empty pistols scarcely an hour pre-
viOus.
Croton Landing. N. Y, April 16.-
Troops arrived at Cornell dam TO-DAY.
There was no disturbance, and tonight
there Is no indication of any outbreak
by the strikers. At present the Fourth
and Eleventh separate 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 vas
going to be made to work on the dam,
dispersed.
From the New York newspapers they
earned 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 II a. m. a telegram was
received from Consul Bianchi, advising
them to be quiet. It was after noon
when the train carrying the troops ar
ived here. Their arrival was noted by
an Italian OF a bicycle. who remained
long enough to count them and Their
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 messenger rode with
all haste to the Bowery. Before the, dep
uty sheriffs about the works knew Of the
arrival of the troops the strikers were
aware OF 1t. There was a blowing of
horns, and while the troops were rest
ing at the station waiting for the word
to move. 40 armed Italians. carrying an
American flag and two Italian flags.
crossed the hill to the Bowery. They
We're watched with interest by the dep
uty sheriffs.
When the troops We're approaching the
dentally discharged their rifles, but no
one was hurt. AS the troops swung into
the narrow Ian called the BoWery, a
strange sight met their eyes. About 200
men were on h broad sidewalk. Flags
were hanged from the windows and held
by the men. who rowded on the stoops.
About 20 Italians with mandolins and
guitars were seated on the walk playing
a lively tune. Today is Easter Monday,
a holiday in Italy.
The militiamen pitched their camp in
side the ground where construction work
on the dam is temporarily suspended.
Everything is quiet, and the company
says 1t will make no attempt to begin
work until General Roe says SO. It is
now thought an attempt will be made on
Wednesday.
Strike Leader Rotella says tonight that
there will be no trouble.
New York. April 16.-Late this after
noon Major General Roe ordered the
Seventh regiment to assemble at the
arInory. Tonight Companies B and H
left the armory for Croton dam.