Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-08-28

| In view OF the recent assassination
| Of King Humbert by an anarchist the
following complete narrative of the life
and experiences of Ernesta Cravello,
whom people choose to call the queen
| OF the anarchists, is Of timely interest
| Whether. indeed, she possesses such
| grave power over the menacing in
| fuences of the order is a matter of
| speculation. But 1t Is, nevertheless,
| true that she is woman of curious
| personality and Of high strung. I'M
| reasoning determination. 1t Is usually
| true of people of this character
| that they have but limited education.
| In this, Ernesta Cravello is no excep-
| ton. She admits frankly that she
has no learning. but even with the
lack OF this refining influence 1t is
apparent that she Is gifted with siugu-
lar intelligence. This much was ap-
parent the other day when she talked
| long and earnestly with a New York
Journal correspondent.
In appearance the girl Is not at all
| like the other young women employed
In the Paterson silk mills. In the
first place she has n vigorous beauty.
She has large and vivacious eyes, deep
blue In color. and the so called ivory
complexion of the Italian. Her hair
is dark brOwn-very dark. indeed-and
her figure, while we'll proportioned. is
slight and not too highly developed.
At the present moment the young
woman is weaver in the Paradox
silk mills. Her employers say she is
a faithful employee. always to be re-
lied upon and without the usual super
fetal tendencies OF women of her class.
1t has been noted in the mill that she
cares little for the usual amusements
OF the other girls at work on the looms
and that she associates with very few
Of them.
When she was asked whether it was
true that she is an anarchist, she ad-
mitted il without hesitation or re-
serve. AS she said, 1t was part of her
life. and she saw no cause to be asham-
ed of ii. II believe in it all she said,
and | am trying TO make others be-
Ieve as l do" The young woman talk
ed to the correspondent surrounded by
men who displayed n crafty attention
10 every question and answer. All Of
them were members of the anarchist
section of Paterson. and all were dark,
heavy eyed and consistently silent and
mysterious.
Yes" she said. 81 am nm anarchist
Why should l hide it? l believe that
this propaganda will be the salvation
OF the poor / shall try to educate all
that can, and some day, perhaps.
there will be the result-whO knows"
In speaking of these things she had
no reserve.
81 was born in Italy" she went on
''in Bella. of Piedmont. My father is
dead, but my mother still lives. l have
one sister and two brothers. and both
of these brothers are now in America.
One is in New York and the other in
PENNSYLVANIA. No: l do not know the
town. l have been in this country five
years. | was 10 years old when l ar
rived here, and at that time l had no
idea of the ambition in store for me.
l came here merely for work. 1t was
three years ago when l first became
convinced that the real solution of
many things was anarchy. / had learn
ed this from reading and from listen
ing to my friends. They told me much.
1T is all wrong to say that l made
Brasci remove King Humbert. l did
not. We anarchists do not know what
each other does. 1t is an impulse that
leads us to great deeds. We do not
plot together for such an end. Each
one does what he can, and that is all.
No; cannot say that l would do such
deed. l do not think l am brave
enough. But l cannot blame one of us
who believed that it is the right thing.
Why should 1?
Here we have a ruler who is cruel
and oppressive. and he is removed
Shall l blame the agent who removes
linn? No. But l would not do 1t my
self. l tell you that it makes much
difference in the happening of the
thing. When a rich man kills a poor
man do we hear anything of it? No.
But when a poor man kills one that is
great and powerful-ah. there is a great
noise and we hear all. That is the
way.
DO you remember when the kings
soldiers shot down all the poor and
innocent people two years ago at Mil
an? There are women there-women
with children-yet it was soon hushed
up. l think Brascis deed will help our
cause. / did not dream that he would
be the sort of man to do il. He was
very quiet.
Let me tell you now again that such
things are never arranged by our order. |
We never tell man TO 20 and do so
and so. We have no leaders 10 give |
directions. l a leader? l laugh. We |
have no leaders. IL is every one for !
himself. There will be no suffering for |
this act. II is only the poor that suffer. |
Humbert's family have place and |
power. They will not suffer. He is |
taken from his place, that is all be- |
lieve that IL will make one step further |
onward for our just cause. And God? |
DO not believe in God"
The young woman delivered this |
startling fact as casually as II she |
were commenting upon some minor |
But her smiling earnest