The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-06
ITALIANS TAKE MOUNT VERNON
POLICE UNABLE TO COPE WITH
FURIOUS STRIKERS.

Compel Negroes who Took Their Places to
Join Union in Terror OF Death-Driye
Others From WOrk-Are Camping in
Woods-More Trouble Feared To-day.
MOUNT VERNON, N. Y, May 5.-A mob Of
$50 striking Italians who we're employed
by the T. +. Crimmns, the New York con-
tractor, in relaying the tracks Of the Union
trolley road, marched through the streets
Of Mount Vernon and Pelham to-day
armed with clubs and pickaxes, and COM
PEELED nearly all of the other Italians en-
ployed in those places to Quit work.
The strikers completely outnumbered the
local police and this afternoon Chief Foley
had to call out the reserves. They were
sent to the home of William Archer, the
New York contractor, who owns man
sion at Corcoran Manor in one Of the
finest sections of Mount Vernon, to protect
a gang Of men who were grading his
grounds.
When the police arrived in Corcoran
Manor they found about. $50 Italians gath
cred in front OF the Archer residence. The
foreman for Mr.. Archer said that the striker
had threatened to kill him and his entire
gang II they did not join the strike.
Chief Foley, with his revolver drawn.
rushed into the mob followed by Rounds
man Reilley and Detective Walters and ar
rested the strike leader. He gave his
name as Louis Demarti. He fought the
police desperately and after they threw him
down three of them had to sit on him while
he was being handcufed Two charges
have been made against him, inciting
riot and resisting arrest.
terror, and many of the fashionable women
locked their doors and fled upstairs.
The strike leader was loaded in a patrol
wagon and taken to the station house.
after which seven policeman charged on
the mob with their revolvers ana night
sticks and drove the strikers across the
line into Pelham, where they are now en-
camped in the woods.
More rioting is feared for tomorrow when
Contractor Crimmins expecte TO bring
carload Of negroes here to take the places
OF the strikers. Every policeman ana
deputy In the city has been notified to be
ready to report at the station house AZ
The rioting Of this morning began when
the strikers visited First street, where the
tracks are being relaid, and found that
gang OF about fifty Southern negroes had
been brought to Mount Vernon IN me niens
and put to work Ias IN sa ns1noes becane
SO terrified that they fed, leaving their
nicks and shovels. Later nearly all the
negroes were marched to the headquarters
OF the strikers, where the Italians compelled
them to join the union and taks an oa.n Oh
LOYALTY. The police were 80 Tar outnum-
bered that they were powerless:
The strikers then marched TO Scuth
Columbus avenue, where Frank Nordone
and Charles Delane, contractors, are cott 1I,g
streets through the Oakley properly, iol-
lowed by the police In; patrol wagons:
After failing to induce the man at work there
to join them they started to storm the
dipsinrs in a body but were held In check
bv the police. The contractors pacifed
the mob by permitting deiegates 70 enLer
men were working there. After finding
that there we're not, delegates tried to per.
suade the men to join the union:
Suddenly the main body Of Nsiisns who
had been standing on and on n,s sn rs.d 5oo oTer
ins heavy clubs and rocks and yelling like
demons. Tho men in the trenches threw
down their picks and shoveis and leaving
The rioting was stopped by. Contractor
Delane making a speech promising to give
to all his men an increase in wages;
The $50 Italians then marched to the
Pelham reservoir where they compeheo
wOrkmon emplOycQ tHcIC w Jim
Then they surrounded the mansion Of Mr.
Archer.
The strikers belong to the new Rookmen
and Excavators' Union, and as most OF
them are heavily armed trouble 70 feared
unless the contractors grant their demands
which are for Sl.5 a day for eight hours
work. They have been receiving $50
for ten hours work. The negroes who
were forced into the union to-day are
unable to participate in the meetings as
the proceedings are entirely In the Italian
language. They say they joined the
strikers because they feared they would
lose their lives II they refused.