New-York tribune., 1903-04-29
GUARDS AT DAM.
STRIKERS IN B1TTLE.
Deputies Protect Pozcder House and
Dynamite Care on CrotOH RiUer.

Armed guards are protecting the powder houss
and dynamite cave Of the contractors at the
Muscoota Dam. in westchester County Armed
Italian strikers who in the last week have at
tackled men at work several times and been
routed by a deputy sherif~s posse are stlu
hiding in the neighborius hills
Deputy Sheriff William J. Doyle. OF West
chester County. late yesterday afternoon said
he believed he had quelled the disposition to
riot on the part Of the striking quarrynen az
the dam. which Is the Croton River. about
two and a half miles from Katonah. He ad-
mitted. however. that the twenty or more armed
Italians who had taken to the hills and were
still prowling in the vicinity constituted a men
ace to the public peace OF unknown proportions
Mr. Doyle entertained more optimistic view
Of the situation than the superintendent and
foreman for Williams & GerstIe. OF New-York.
the builders Of the dam They were fearful %
attack the powder house, near the works
or on the dynamite in the side OF Mus
coota Mountain, half mile distant. and as
their solicitation. a special guard was placed az
each
THREE MEN DISMISSED
Williams & Gerstie. who have the contracs
for constructing the Muscoota Dam which il
supplementary in the Nex-York City water
supply to the great dam under construction at
Cornell, five miles further down the river are
a
works For two years they have employed in
this work and in the construction OF Golfer dams
a force of about hundred Italians Re-
Gently. ii became evident 10 the superintendent.
so the contractors say, that three Of the assis-
tant foremen were either incompetent or were
deliberately delaying the work Last Friday
these three men were summarily dismissed.
The foreman. who was known only as Frank
protested vehementy against the discharge %
the men and harangued the worknen in their
native tongue About seventy threw down their
tools and left the works, the recaIcitrant fore
man acting as their leader. but about twenty
laborers remained at their tasks Frank and his
discharged assistants demanded that these men
also quit, and, when they refused, the strikers
showered stones upon them from the adjacent
hills. Failing 10 drive the men or by this
means. the rioters went among those who had
declined to strike and drove them from their
work with revo1vers-
The superintendent, Mr. Gerstle's son. ap-
pealed TO Deputy Sheriff Doyle. who lives az
KatOnah. for protection. and. deputizinE and
arming posse Of ten men, Doyle hurried 70 the
scene Doyle first drove the strikers from the
works and then posted his posse to guard them.
The strikers offered no resistance, but hung
about the place in threatening groups. In the
afternoon about twenty approached the tool
house IN a threatening manner. and Deputy
Doyle, observing that the order OF his sentinels
halt disregarded. rushed among tho
strikers and told them that he would arrest any
man who advanced another step The deputy
brandished pair Of handouts and. as his posse
closed in on the rioters. they precipitately fed
the hills. The band led by the depOsed
foreman. and was regarded the most des-
perate OF the striking element. Many OF the
mob had stones in their hands. but the courage
with which they were met seemed to awe them
The leaders We're armed with revOlvers. which
thsy had shown when driving the workTnen out
earlier in the day.
SENT TO WHITE PLAINS FOR GUNS
Saturday night the strikers We're seen prowI-
ing about the works. and trouble was regarded
as imminent Doyle strengthened the position
Of his men and sent to White Plains for more
guns but the day and night passed without an
attack. On Sunday the strikers hung about the
camp all day but offered violence
On Monday morning each striker who aD-
peared on the scene was conducted under guard
10 the Office where he received his pay and was
discharged Meanwhile. under a new foreman
and assistant foreman. about forty men re-
suned work Nearly a dozen OF the strikers.
who said they had left the works only through
fear Of bodily harm, on receiving promise Of
complete protection from Deputy Sheriff Doyle
later returned to work.
H.
the hills all day Monday and yesterday Mem
bers of his band. however, came as near the
works as the guards would permit. protesting
in some cases desire to get their money. They
were allowed to enter the lines and receive their
nav one at a time and were then ordered. under
penaIty Of arrest 10 leave the works and 70 stay
away. On Monday night several groups OF
three or four strikers were seen skulkinE about
the powder house and the interest in that In
significant structure betrayed BY several Of
those paid off yesterday induced Mr. Doyle 20
detail a special guard for the building
Under the protection OF the deputies ABOUT
hfty men were working at a late hour yester-
day afternoon and the valley Of the Croton
seemed as peaceful as ever. but the deputies
and wOrkmen kept a close watch on the neigh
boring hills. from which raid was mOTneEtarily
expected- The sense Of security at the works
will not be restored until Frank has come IN
and received his pay and notice of dismissal
Deputy DOYLE said that while he had already r.
d1ced the guard. he probably would not wholly
withdraw il until the rioters We're known TO
have left the neighborhOOd-
II IS said that some OF the employees OF Will
Jams & CserstIe have been deputized by Deputy
Dovle as peace officers and armed, and thaI
there is a strong armed guard OF the nrT1S
more Trustworthy men at each OF the Dulidinss
of the contractors
MANY OF the strikers boarded at The shanty cf
Michael J. BOve and trouble between them and
the other workrnen is feared when they return
for their belongings. The strikers were paid
from 81 ~ TO So 80 day, according 70 the
character of their service
REFUSES TO VOTE AGAINST TREATY.