New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-24
LAB0RERS RIOT In A PIT.
RESERVES CALLED OUT.
Italians and Irish CLosh-Part of
Workman's Cheek Bitten out.

A. the bottom Of an excavation thirtv-ava
feet below the level Of the street on the south
/ east corner Of Twenty-ninth-st and Broadway,
where a hotel is being erected by the Fuller
Construction Company, fifty Italian laborers and
seventy Irish rock drillers fought Yesterday
afternoon The reserves of the West Thirtieth-
ST station had 10 quell the riot crowd of
| about 1000 persons collected in Broadway and
Tventy-ninth-st- TO see the fight. causing the
Broadway 10 be blocked. Guests in the
Gilsey House, which is opposite the excavation,
also saw it from their windows After the riot
was over the police arrested two Italians
John Kennedy. of No. 172 East One-hundred-
and-twelfth-st.. a rock driller. had a piece bit
ten out OF his cheek, it is alleged. by Lorenzo
Vito Of No. $50 West Sixty ninth-st. one of the
prisoners, and Richard Sweeney the foreman of
the work Of No. 1892 Second-ave. was struck
across the back with a four-foot wrench. it is
alleged, by Luigo Vito. the other prisoner,
brother Of Lorenzo The injured men were taken
10 the West Thirtieth-st. station, and an ambu-
lance was called from the New-York Hospital.
After having their wounds dressed the two men
went TO the Jefferson Market police court. where
the Vito brothers were arraigned.
The story told by the compliments against the
Italians was that the fight started through a
quarrel between Lorenzo Vito and Kennedy.
Kennedy was running a drill, and, il is said,
Vito began 10 censure him for taking. some tool
he wanted TO u5e. Kennedy charges that Vito
then struck him, and the fight started. In few
seconds the Italian. who is six feet tall had
Kennedy pinned down on the ground, and. it is
alleged deliberately leaned down and bit piece
out Of the driller's left cheek.
The man screamed with the pain, and every
workman in the excavation stopped work 10 go
70 the assistance Of one or the other of the
fighters. Ntos brother, Luigo, seeing that Lo-
reno was getting the better of it, seized a four
foot wrench, II is alleged and kept the crowd
back from the combatants. Kennedy's cries.
however, so excited the rock drillers that they
finally made rush Sweeney. their foreman, be
ing at their head Then, it is charged, Luigo
Vito swung the wrench and Sweeney fell groan-
ing with pain from a blow his back This
seemed TO be the signal for all the other laborers
to begin fighting. Up in the street were several
drivers Of sand and earth wagons. They appar-
entity svmpa taized with the drillers and began 10
stone the Italians.
Patrolran John !. DAILY Of the West Thir
tieth-st. station. is stationed on the Broadway
crossing. He heard the noise. and rushed down
the ladders 10 the bottom Of the excavation. He
was swallowed up in the crowd of fighting men
and pushed this way and that His helmet was
knocked of his head by 4 stone thrown from
above. and. becoming desperate he drew his re-
volvcr. The sight Of the weapon cleared a space
around him. and he managed 10 get to where
Lorenzo Vito was kneeling on Kennedy chest
DAILY told Magistrate Deuel. in court that the
italian had blk age raised over his head, ana
was about 20 strike Kennedy's head when he
knocked the man down with his club. Thomas
IIobush. Of No. 1871 Second-ave.. driller, took
the axe away from Vito and held the Italian
until DAILY arrested him.
At the point Of his pistol Daily drove the Ital-
ian I'D the ladders TO the street before him
When nearing the top Of the ladder the italian
heard the drivers Of the sand wagons crying
out threats at him. and he refused to go up.
The policeman prodded him with his club, and
several Of the drivers reached down and grabbed
the Italian. who was hustled TO the sidewalk
Once there the drivers set on him, and ne Ia
borer received many blows in the face trdm the
drivers fists. he screamed with terror, ana
begged the men not to Kill him. ana many lay
drove the men away from his prisoner. Al the
first opportunity DAILY telephoned 70 folice
Headquarters and the West Ihirtieth-st- STA
ton was informed Of the riot. The reserves I'M
der Roundsman Shattuck were sent 70 the *
cavation and they drove away the drivers VINO
were throwing the stones from the edge AS
soon the laborers below saw the poIlcenleh
they shouted with derision az them but Rounos-
man Shattuck told the men TO draw their clups
and arrest every man that resisted them AFTER
q few Of the Ia borers had been dubbed into SUD-
mission the fighting stopped. and Luigi VITO
WIS arrested on Sweeney's complaint. The men
were so denoralized that only a few or them
went back 70 work several going home bleeding
from, cuts in their heads made by the stones
thrown from above or from some weapon used
BY the lshorers .-oo go, =,
cor examination to-day Neither appeared 70
he able 10 make any statement because or the
fright NJ had received