Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-10
OXFORD CENTRAL RAILWAY.
Work Of Its Construction Will Begin
May 1.

Paris Me. April 9.-BostOn capitalists
have become interested in the oxford
Central Electric Railway and the work
n, construction will begin May !. at the
min, where is stopped so suddenly In
1907 No other railway in New England
has 80 sensational a history surrounding
its earlier days Work upon the longest
freight electric railway in the state be-
gan early in 1897. Contractor Davis OF
Boston, with a large crew of Italians
from the same city. had graded the most
difficult part of the roadbed by the mid
die of the summer. The promoter OF the
railway was in Boston to raise money
by selling bonds of the road.
The Italians who had not been paid.
began to clamor for their money. AFTER
turbulent scenes they seized Contractor
Davis and imprisoned him in hut IN
the forest at Rice's Junction In water
ford The superintendent of the road has
tened to the scene and was also seized
by the angry Italians and put INTO the
same hut. The Italians declared 'iia'
they would put these men to DEAN upon
the morning of q stated day unless 'he!
were paid for what work they had zone
on the roadbed. Subsequent develop
mcnts have shown that the enraged ltal-
ians really meant to execute these men
If tbeir terms were rot complied with.
The sheriff. accompanied by priest, WIS.,
tied Rice's Junction and was convinced
tho mon could not be released without
bloodshed.
During the night before the cay on
which the Italians had threatened to
kill the American prisoners two state
detectives, A. p. Bassett of Norway aud
e. Ar Wormell of Bethel, with swift
horses. went to Rices Junction and res
cued the prisoners by strategy. Whlle
getting away shots were exchanged be-
tween the Italians and Americans De-
tectiye Bassett was wounded in the arm.
During the same evening an Italian was
killed by knife in the hands OF fellow
countryman, in a dispute about the Amer
leans. The man who committed this
homicide afterward died in the hospital
ut Worcester, Mass, from a knife wound.
Before his death he confessed and told,
the story of the homicide at Waterford.
About midnight the body Of the muir
dered man was carried 10 At SUdi iNei
that flows through the great forest In
the vicinity of Rice's Junction.
A grave was dug in the river bed ana
the swift current quickly removed al
signs of any disturbance of the earth
beneath the river. Later on the same
night Norway was thrown into a state
of excitement by rumOrs that the ltal-
ians were marching toward the village.
threatening violence. But the march
was q long one and before the Italians
arrived at Norway they had cooled down
to n reasonable point They We're fed
day or two at the expense of the town
and then transported to Boston by Nor
way and Waterford.
1t is said that South Paris will be the
first village in Maine to have municipal
ownership of electric lights and power.
It has been de citied tn hold the annual
county convention Of the w. G. /. L. at
Bethel in May.
A meeting of South Paris Public Libra
~ Association has been called to see II
the books shall go tree to the. inhabi-
tants of the village If the corporation
will raise small amount annually to
nEslhtatn .tkeslibrary. Z Z