The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-03
DYNAMITE WRECKS |
hDR.DERERS' FORT
. Il
Pennsylvania Constabulary Uses
Explosive to Dislodge BLACK |
Hand" Gang .rass

Punxsutawney; Pa, Sept. s'3.-@-Two
members Of the state constabulary
dead, one dying and two others wound.
ed, is the result, Of q riot with. Italians
at Florence, seven miles from here,
another is slightly wounded and two
are under arrest, while the house in
which the Italians barricaded them
selves is a wreck from dynamite used
by the troopers to dislodge the rioters.
The dead are: Private John Henry,
Philadelphia, shot thru the heart. Pri-
vate Francis Vahringer of Conshoch-
ken, body badly riddled with bullets
and rescued just before the house-fort
was destroyed; unidentified Italian,
shot thru the heart. Hs=.-
Private Homer G. Chambers of
Rochester, Pa, is seriously wounded.
having been shot thru his head and
body' having five wounds, mostly buck
- The battle last night was the 1eroest
Pennsylvania mining region is noto.
r1ous: Fully 800 shots were exchanged
ana that more were not killed or wound.
ed is marvellous.
= So Italian Opens Fight.
The trouble began late yesterday
afternoon when Sergeant Logan went
TO Florence to search for Leopold
his brother-in-law, Bruno Trazzone.
Friday night.
= Logan was in DR.. Bodenhorn's Of
nee when Salvatore Waltzoch, who is
said to be one Of the most desperate
members Of the ''Black Hand"
started a fight with countryman in
front, Of the store where Waltzoch
boards. When Logan placed Walt
zoch under arrest the latter invited him
into the boarding house to prove his
good character. Logan had scarcely
passed the door when an Italian made
a !unge at him with stiletto.
Logan retreated, but before he got
fifteen feet from the building an italian
opened fire on him. Logan returned the
hre, and the two men emptied their
weapons at each other. Logan got one
desperate, was seen to fall back into the
house perhaps fatally wounded.
Battle Becomes Fierce.
Logan, by inquiry of the residents.
learned that he had "Black HandO
man to deal with. He then telephoned
to the barracks at this place and de-
tachment Of five privates was detailed
by Lieutenant Egle to go to his assist
ance. 49,: -.'.,a
r The detachment arrived at. Florence
at 4:30 'clock. Private John. Henry
Immediately started for the house, but
when about twenty feet from it, was
shot down. Chambers and Mullen, in
attempting the rescue of their compan-
ion, were both shot down before they
reached him. A. telephone call was sent
in for the entire force and fifteen
troopers were hurried to the scene.
When the second detachment arrived
at $3.50 O'Clock, and while twelve of
the constabulary 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,
Zehringer, Gross and Cummings, dashed
up the stairs, but were confronted by
three Of the desperadoes, who opened
fire. ...~ss7~,-..-.-. 49, -,..- -. :
= Policeman Slain. ,.:.s i
zehringer fell at the first volley but
the two other men escaped. The gang
then closed the door and there is little
doubt that Zehringer was killed.
Realizing that lives were being sac
rifced uselessly and the storm and
darkness being on, the troops. sent for
carbines and prepared to keep the house
surrounded until morning.
The widest excitement prevailed in
Punxsutawney and nearby towns last
night. Fifteen troopers and several DO
icemen, together with many citizens
heavily armed, remained on guard.
The position Of the watchers was a
perilous one last night, as there are
many treacherous members of the
"Black Hand' in and about Florence
and the surrounding mines. /