The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-09-03
FORT DYNANITED,,
BLACK HAND LOSES
IN FATAL BATTLE
COnStabulary of Pennsyl-
yania Finally DislOdgeS
Italian DeSperadOeS.
TWO PRIVATES KILLED
Three Italians Killed, Two
Bodies Being Cremated
in Burning House.

80 - 80 4 ~ - - 49,
PUNXSUTAWNEY. Pa, Sept 3.-The
hloodiest night IN which the State con-
stabulary has thus far engaged came TO
an end at 4 o'clock this morning, when
a stronghold IN which Italian members
of the supposed Black Hand had taken
refuge YVES dyuamited and then burned
10 the ground But before this dramatic
chapter of a tragedy at Florence, a min
ing town seven miles from here was en-
acted. five lives had been sacrificed
and a fourth was hanging in the bal
Rnce. The dead are:
Private John Henry aged twenty
OF Philadelphia, shot through tho heart
Private Francis Zehringer, aged thirty.
OF Conshohocken, body riddlcd with
bullets and rescued just before the
house fort was destroyed.
Unidentified Italian. shot through the
head.
Two unknown Italians. their bodies
cremated
The seriously injured.
Private Homer c. Chambers. of Ro-
chester. Pa. shot through the head and
body having I'VE wounds, mostly buck
shot
William a. Mullen, Of Harrisburg, shot
through the right foot.
George Fthtzlly, aged twelve son OF
Steve Felitzky, a miner, shot through
the leg.
Trouble Grew Out of Arrest.
Sergeant Joseph Logan of Dubois,
VINO was at hrst reported among the in
jared, and whose attempt TO make an
arrest caused the outbreak. was not
hurt
Logan went 10 Florence yesterday az
ternoon 10 arrest Leopold Scarlet who
was charged with having shot Bruno
Trazzone. Friday night. Instead Of cap
turing the man he was after Logan
happened 20 see a hght between Saliva
tore Waltsocchi and another forcisae-.
He arrested the former and went into
his boarding house 10 give the fighter
chance 10 prove his good standing.
once inside il is said an Italian made
"a stab at Logan with a stilletto and as
he reiterated outside some one fired with
a shotgun. Logan Jurne4 ana emptied
his revolver into the doorway, then
ran.
Logan telephoned 10 the State con-
stabulary headquarters here and Lieu
tenant Eagle sent five privates 10 the
scene Of the trouble.
Unexpected volley Is Fatal.
They marched boldly To the house
from which, 10 their CONSERVATION,
vouey was hred and Private Henry
fell dead with bullet through his
heart. The others retrcatcd. Privates
Chambers and Mullen rushed up TO
bring their comrade back, not knowing
he we5 dead. Another volley greeted
them and both were wounded. Mullen
got a few buskshOt througi. his right
foot Chambers was caught - his
comrades and sent 10 Adrian hospital.
Today il was stated that he was rest
ing comfortably, although seriously
injured.
Another telephone message was sent
10 Punxsutawney, and fifteen more
troopers were SEN. "a cessation of hos
tilities ensuing pending their arrival, but
the uninjured men vigilantly watched
the house fort
With the re-enforcements a fresh at
tack was made on the fortified Italians
They were fired on from i'm 'front.' while
a small detachment attempted TO rush
the side Loor. They broke IN and Pri-
Yates Zehringer. Cross. and Cummings
ran up the staIrs.
a volley wa fred upon them from the
head of the steirs and Zenunger fell.
His companions fed out Of the hall and
the door was slammed shut
Imprisoned Mans Body Riddled.
Then came shots from inside the house
and 1t meant death to their imprisoned
comrade Events proved tnfs was true.
for Zehringers body. when found to-
day, was riddled with shot From this
time on the Italians were in a state OF
siege. Firing continued. the opponents
taking shots at each other at Intervals.
Capt. j. F. Robinson arrived late in the
night and Il was determined finally to
dynamite the house, since the besieged
Italians were thought to have a good
supply Of ammunition
A dozen sticks of the stun were se-
cured and a bOmbardment of the house
fort began. Sticks of the explosive
were set on The Italians continued
10 hre ON the constabulary until finally
one corner OF the house had been shat
tered sufficiently 10 permit of a IRE
brand being thrown in.
Dynamite Wins Battle.
The firing ceased. suggesting that
the mouse was deserted by its OcCu-
pants or that they were killed or wound
ed, Believing this TO be the case. Cap
tain Robinson made a rush on the
house fort
A shattered door was pushed in and
the troopers found the fort nearly de-
serted, Only two foreigners were left
OF all the crowd which it was believed
had given the State police so much
trouble, and these offered no resist
ancC They were quickly placed under
arrest and the house searched ID
stairs a dead Italian was found with
bullet through his head Next the
body of Private ZehringeT was found
The dead were removed and the house
was burned.
Seven Italians are now under arrest
II rs believed that a number escaped
during the night