The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-03
State CORStabuIay Loses Might
With DespefadOes
BLACK HAND is IMPLICATED
Murderers Are Now Surrounded In
House Near PunxsutaWney, Pa,
and Town is In Widest
Excitement.

Punxsutawney, Pa, September 2.-In a
bloody battle this evening between for
eigners and the twenty-one members OF
Troop d, state constabulary, in which
fully 500 shots were fired, two troopers
were killed and one fatally wounded,
while three others persons received bull
let wounds. The murderers are now sur
rounded in a house at Florence mine,
seven miles from here, and at daylight the
attempt to capture them will be renewed.
Further los sof life is reared for the be-
sleged Italians are we'll supplied with
arms and ammunition. The dead:
Private John Henry aged 96. Phladel-
phia
Private e. zehringer. 80 conshohocton.
Fatally wounded:
Private Homer c. CHAMBERS, Rochester,
Pr.
Others wounded:
Private William A. Mullin OF Harris
burg. First Sergeant Joseph Logan Of
Dubois, George Felitzky, aged 12
Black Hand is implicated.
The trouble began lare this evening
when Salvatore Waltzoch said TO be one
of the most desperate members of tha
Black Hand, started a fight with a coun-
tryman When Sergeant Logan placed
Waltzoch under arrest, the latter invited
him into the boarding house to prove his
good character. Logan had scarcely
passed the door when one of three Italians
in the house made a lunge at him with a
stiletto. Logan retreated, nut before he got
fifteen feet from the building an Italian
I IA
fire and the two men empted their weap-
ons at ach other. Logan got one buck
shot wound in the foot ana the desperate
was seen to fall back into the house per-
haps fatally wounded. Logan then tele-
phoned to the barracks at thisaptaee and a
detachment Of five prlyates was detailed
to go to his assistance.
War Preparations Unceasing.
Private John Henry Immediately started
for the house but was shot down. Cham
bers and Mullen In attempting the rescue
of their companion were both shot before
they reached him. A telephone Gull was
then sent for the entire force, and fifteen
additional troopers were hurried to the
csene When the second detachment ar
rived, and while twelve of the constabu-
larry kept firing into the windows and
front doors. six policemen made a rush
for the side door which they battered in.
Three of the officers. zehrnger, Gross and
Cummins. dashed up the stairs, but were
confronted by three of the Italians who
opened fire. Zehrnger fell at the first
volley, but the two other men escaped.
Quick as a flash the gang closed the door
and there is little doubt that Zehringer
was killed.
Realizing that lives were being sacrihcer
uselessly and the storm and darkness be-
ing on, the troopers sent ror carbines and
prepared TO keep the house surrounded
until morning. The widest excitement
prevails
Fifteen troopers and several policemen,
together with many citizens. all heavily
armed. are on guard. Sixteen Italians
board In the besieged house, but 1t Is not
known how many are inside or the num-
Der implicated in the shooting
Position Is PerIlous.
The position of the watchers Is a peril
Gus one tonight as there are treacherous
members of the Black Hand In and abour
III.