The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-08
SCARED PARENTS MOB SCHOOL
"BLACK HAND" HOAX STIRS
ITALIANS TO FRENZY.
Children Of Is2 Quietly Go On With Les
sons While Police Dispense Crowd
That Was Ready 10 Storm Doors-No
School Threatened, Says Maxwell.

That Was Ready 10 Storm Doors-No
School Threatened, Says Maxwell.
Three or four very excited Italians ran
along East 1Osth street past Second avenue
yesterday afternoon and stopped in front
OF Public School 172. There they began to
shout and gesticulate. Their cries brought
more Italians, both men and women.
The newcomers were told that the Black
Hand was going to blow up the school,
and they, too, began to scream, yell and
wave their arms.
The news went around the school dis
trict in twinkling, and soon 1000 Italians,
whose children were inside the building
unmindful Of any trouble, were surging in
the street yelling for their youngsters to
run out and save themselves.
The children inside heard the racket, but
their teachers Gained them and there was
no excitement Outside, however, the
crowd grew more and more frenzied. At
215 man ran breathless to the East l04th
street police station and told Capt. Herlihy
that there was a riot in front Of the school
and panic inside. The captain hustled
the reserves into patrol wagon and drove
at a gallop to 10sth street. When they ar
rived the mob was working up courage
to storm the school and drag the children
out
There's no danger. Get out Of here!'
yelled the cops; but few Of the Italians I'M
derstood what they said. and only jabbered
back, BLACK Hand! Black Handl'
Capt. Herlihy saw that argument was
useless, 80 he told his patrolmen to clear
across Third avenue. Even there the
police had some trouble to keep them
circulating. :,
Capt. Herlihy went inside the school and
had a talk with the principal, Miss M. F.
Brangan; The principal and the captain
ment to the Black Hand rumor to dismiss
the school at that time and as the scholars
were not at all excited and were actually
in ignorance Of what the disturbance out
side had been about the classes were con-
tinued until O'Clock, when the school was
dismissed as usual.
When the boys and girls appeared on the
street some Of them were seized and Rugged
by their hysterical parents, who were not
yet treasured by what the police had told
stood. Even two hours later crowd OF
small children followed every one who
went to the school and piped, School goin'
T. be blowed up
started the rumor that made all the trouble,
but 1t could not be traced.
these Italians up here really think that
there Is black hand society" he said,
1and I suppose some bit Of conversation
about, it which was misunderstood caused
the whole trouble.
The number OF similar scares recently
In various schools in this borough and
Brooklyn moved City Superintendent Of
Schools Maxwell to issue a statement yes
terday afternoon. in which he declares that
no threat against school has ever been
made.
"The whole difficulty" he said. seems to
arise from stories which children tell to
each other and which are passed along
until they find credence because of their
vagueness. The child takes one Of these
stories home. and 1t is Instantly believed
by some ignorant elders. Parents are
particularly requested to inform their
children that these rlmors are entirely
baseless, and the public may rest assured
that If there be any occasion for alarm the
school authorities will take every pre-
caution"