The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-10-15
TROOPS ORDERED OUT
Sent to Croton Dam to Subdu'
Italian Strikers.
BlO0DSHED AND DEATH RESULT.


The Strike Mt Croton Dam Assumed I.
Serious Aspsct-The shori6 Appealed
to Governor Roosevelt For Troops
Tho Cause OF the Trouble-First Trial
OF Strength Between Opposing Forces.
New YpaK Crrr (spsciaD.-Ths strike
among tho italian employees on the now
Croton Dam for m increase OF wages as
sumsd such alarming proportions tina!
nearly six hundred troops. over half ol
them calvary. were ordered to tho scene o!
tho strike to preserve order and protect
property.
The contested ground In westchester
County Is three miles from the Csoson Land.
ing station OF the Now York Central road.
Il Is to the east OF the road Ia the Croton
Valley. At this point the lam that Is to
check the Crotou water and form an I'm
msuse reservoir Is being built. On each
side Of The narrow stream bills rise to the
height OF more than 200 feet.
Tho trouble WAS due to demand OF the
mon for greater pay. They had been
working ten hours day for Si.25 day.
and they demanded Sl.50 for eight hours
work. There were employed on the WORKS
about 400 Italians aud about 200 men oil
other pationnlities. The latter wero Gun.
ployed largely In the moro responsible
places and took no part In tho strike.
Tho principal leader aud spokesman for
the strikers was Marcello Ro:ello.
The troops ordered to tho Croton dam.
almost as great In numbers As the strikers.
were made up thus:
Squadron A. tho crack cavalry company
OF Manhattan.
Troop G, q similar body, OF Brooklyn.
Two companies OF infantry OF the First
Regiment, ono from Yonkers and ono from
Mount Vernon.
Sheriff Malloy came to New York City at
the request OF Major General Roe. COM
manding the National Guard. aud after a
series OF conferences with all the parties
interested made q formal demand upon
General Roo for the assistance OF the MIL
itia.
General Roe had previously communi.
Gated by wire with Governor Roosevelt,
and the latter was quick In his response.
directing the head OF the National Guard
to grant the demand OF the Sheriff II one
was made.
The cavalry force numbered $50 men and
Officers. Each man carried q sabre. re-
volver ana a carbine. Captain G. I. Dsbs:-
doisc commanded Troop c. u Brooklyn.
and Major Oliver B. Bridgenan command
Cd Squadron A.
The Seventh Regiment OF this city was
ordered out and sent to the scene OF action.
The Grst blood over :he strike was shed
when an unknown man shot and killed
Sergeant Robert Douglas. OF the Eleventh
Separate Comp pany, OF Mount Vernon. The
Sergeant was mak!ug tho rounds with u
corporal's guard relieving the seneries.
An air gun was the weapon. No report
was heard. Shot through tho abdomen,
Sergeant Douglass fell to the ground eI-
claiming to his little command:
"Boys. I've been shot; load quickly and
hre!"
4 volley rang out from the muskets OF
the militia men. M answering shot came
back from tho unseen enemy. Sergeant
Douglas was taken back to the camp aud
he died within ten minutes after arriving
there.
Strike leaders declared that the men were
In favor OF peace and would o1or no
violence. The shooting closely followed =
peace declaration by one OF tho leaders.
For the last avs weeks 1t Ia said the
Italians had been getting ready for any
strike, and had bought nrms and ammunl-
ton. From Sing Sing they obtained
rifles and pistols, and from nearby towns
they purchased ammunition. They also
bought three cases OF reviewers from
Q gunsmith In Sing Sing. While 1t was
known that they had arms, Il was not
thought they we're ~ we'll supplied as they
arc until the first test OF strength was
made between them and the deputy shsr-
IFS.
This test came when It was decided to
fnr ~
to operate the pumping works at the dam.
which nays to DO kept going day aud
night, and at 7.3o a. N. orders were given
for IN engine to 20 down and bring up
some cars OF coal lying ready. The strikers
saw tho engine como out. and thinking
that the contractors were about to try to
start up without making settlement with
them, they swarmed out OF the houses on
the hill and down tho hillside toward the
works. They came armed with clubs,
stones, shotcuns and revolvers.
Engineer Jacoby had no sooner got his
engine out than II was surrounded. Thev
threatened to kill him then and there II hs
tried to run tho engiae. The handful OF
deputy shsrlfs who were present were
poworless to drive OF tho crowd. and they
and Jacoby decided to give up the at
tempt. Jacoby loft tho engine and then
the Italians retired to the hilltop, but left
U Suatu On WoSCu 10 pIoNout u toEtncE a.
tempt.
On tho bill whore stands tho company's
once was little knot OF men. One OF
their number. with pair OF field glasses.
took In the pic ture and counted the rides
and revolvers In sight. In the group was
Sheriff Molioy. OF Westchester. When he
saw the Wincbestors and the showing In
arms made by the strikers he said:
"This thing calls for troops. Ny a On
cannot cope With = situation like this"
After the Incident had passed and little
Italy hill was pstrolled by u few strikers
word was received there would be no dep
relation committed unless there was an
attempt to put mon to work. Tho Sheriff
left for White Plains to consult Governor
Roosevelt by phone In regard to calling
out troops.
As hs left the dam to drive to the Croton
Landing Station he passed through the
Bowory, where ons or rwo Italians were
leaning ON rifles outside saloons. chatting
about the trouble rs though It were moth
ing.
Reported Boer Peace Plan.
Before the Boer peace deputation lef,
Milan. Italy, It u stated. they opened. Ia
tho presence OF Dr.. Leyds. sealed dis.
patches which they brought from Pretoria.