New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-01
FIRE A HUNDRED SHOTS.
SEVER4L HIT IN RIOT.
Wh0IeSaIe Arrests Made IN FIT
teentb-st. Battle.

a battle between the police and a score of
Italians took place in Fifteenth-st. last night
in which over hundred shots were fired Sew
eral policemen and a number Of Italians were
injured. but none seriously. The police made
wholesale arrests, the reserves of the East
Twenty -second-st- station and policemen from
the Union Market and Fifth-st. stations being
needed TO put down the rioting. The neighbor-
hood was intensely excited all night.
For a long time there has been a gang known
the "Flyaways' around Fifteenth-st. and
Aveuue 3. All its members are Irish. The
Italians have been moving nOrthward to Four
teentE and Fifteenth SITS fo- some years and
two years ago got 10 Fifteenth-st.. with the re-
sui that the "Flyaways' havs made life hard
for ther1 Numerous fights have taken place
between th-rn. A contest Of Italians and Irish
in 'Tory'' Mistretta's grocery at No. 543 East
Fifteenth-st. last night, started the rioting-
It was a small affair until Salvatore Mis-
tretta who was sitting in a second floor win
dow Of No. "a East Fifteenth-st. fired his re-
voIve- out of the window. He did it to attract
the poltca he says Patrolmau William p.
Mills ran up. rappirg his nightstic5 on the
way and taking Policeman John P. Ayres with
him They ran into Mistretta's apartment and
dragged him 10 the street. under arrest.
AS soon as the Italians in the street saw this
the fight with the 'Flyaways' did not interest
them and tEey tried to rescue their country
man
1t seemed 10 be in the minds OF all to get the
Italian away from the police at once. and rush
was made at the two policemen They held
their man until they and he were hustled into
the grocery store of Tony Mstretta. Salvatore
was then grabbed and hurried into the back part
of the store
Then Mill, and Ayres drew their clubs. They
heat the Italians in front Of them over the head
and tried To shove their way back TO their
former prisoner, but failed.
The Italians already had been reinforced by
other Italians. women and men, who showered
the two policemen with cans Of beans and other
vegetables The cans were heavy and the
officers were staggered by them. Potatoes.
turnips beets and big cracker cans balance
weights and baking powder cans were flung at
the TWO men. who AT last drew their revolvers.
Both were cut and bruised and they flOurished
the weapons at first 10 frighten their assailauts.
The Italians also drew weapons and opened
fire Nobody was hurt in the first round Then
the Italians gave another round of cans and
vegetables. using also lot of beer bottles BY
this time three policemen from the Union Mar
ket station had come to the aid of the East
Twenty -segond-st police They drew their re-
vo!vers. and the riot became battle. Shots
were fired until TevOlverS We're emptied. The
grocery was wrecked and the place filled with
smoke.
Salvatore Mistretta, the original prisoner, was
In front of the Italians. His daughter, Sarah
seventeen years old, had joined the crowd. and
when the firing began she rushed through the
mob 10 protect her father. She saw a pistol
aimed al him. and. throwing herself in front of
him, received a shot in the right hand She fell
down, and the fight went on over her body.
James Flaherty, a driver, of No. 243 Avenue
r, who joined the police. shot in the face.
Andrew MiStretta il is charged, shot him. He
was taken to Bellevue Hospital Edward Roach,
q driver. of No i2l Fast Fifteenth-St., shot
in the ear. Both men were dragged out Of the
fighting mob ana sent away.
Mills had then teIephoned for the reserves and
ambulanCes Captain Gallagher of the East
Twenty -SeCond-St station and fifteen men came
in the patrol wagon. in time 10 join the fight
The police and Italians had been battling for
twelve minutes. Captain Gallagher plunged into
the affray, and received can OF beans in one
The split and partly mashed. As
Patrolman Myers, of the Reserves, ran into the
mob. Italian showed weapon in his face. but
Myers grabbed it and hit the Italian over the
head with it till he dropped. Patrolman John c.
Sheridan. of the Mulberry-st. station who was
passing in plain clothes, Joined the fighting. He
fired at. but not hurt Then he Joined
the battle and used his club TO good effect,
coming out unSCathed.