The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1906-09-06
.BAII[EN|1HAACKAAND
Bloody Encounter Between Desper,
ate Foreigners and Pennsyl-
vania State Troops.
TWO WERE KILLED AND -FOUR WOUNDED,

Fight Was Started by an italian Resisting
an Officer Whom He Attacked With a
Stiletto - Assassins Surrounded and
Their Refuge Burned Over Their Heads
Troops Used Searchlight.
Punxsutawney, Pa, Sept An a
bloody battle Sunday evening be-
tween foreigners and the twenty-one
members of Troop D, state copstabu.
larry in which fully five hundred
shots were fired, two troopers were
killed and one fatally wounded, while
three other persons received bullet
wounds. The murderers are now sur
rounded in house at Florence mine,
seven miles from here, and at day
light the attempt to capture them will
be renewed Further loss Of life is
feared, for the besleged Italians are
well supplied with arms and ammuni.
ton.
The trouble began late Sunday af-
ternoon when Sergeant Logan went to
Florence to search for Leopold Scar
lat, who is charged with shooting his
brother-in-law, Bruno Trazzone, Fri.
day night. Logan was in DR.. Boden-
horns office when Salvatore Walt
zoch, who is said to be one of the
most desperate members Of the Black
Hand, started to fight with coun-
tryman in front Of the house where
Waltzoch boards. When Logan
placed Waltzoch under arrest the lat
ter 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
stilletto, the weapon passing between
his arm and body. Logan retreated,
but before he got Is feet from the
building an Italian opened fire on him
with magazine shotgun. Logan re-
turned the fire and the two men emp
tied their weapons at each other:
Logan got one buckshot wound in the
foot and the desperate was seen to
fall back into the house perhaps IA
tally wounded. Logan, by inquiry OF
the residents learned that lie had a
Black, Hand man to deal with. He
then telephoned to the barracks at
privates was detailed by Lieut.. Eagle
to go to his assistance. The detach-
men arrived at Florence at 4:30 o.
men arrived at Florence at 4:3O o.
clock. Private John Henry immedi-
ately started for the house, but when
about 20 feet from 1t was shot down.
Chambers and Mullen, in attempting
the rescue of their companion were
shot down before they reached him.
A telephone call was then sent in for
the entire force and fifteen additional
troopers were hurried to the scene.
When the second detachment arrived
at G:30 o'clock and while twelve OF
the constabulary kept firing Into the
windows and front doors, six police
men made a rush for the side door,
which they battered in. Three of the
officers, Zehringer, Gross and Cum
mings, dashed up the stairs, but were
confronted by three Of the despera-
does who opened fire. Zehringer fell
at the first volley, but the other men
escaped. The gang Immediately
closed the door and there is little
doubt that Zehringer was killed as
several shots were fired inside after
the door was closed. Realizing that
lives were being sacrificed uselessly
and the storm and darkness coming
on, the troopers sent for carbines and
prepared to keep the house surround
ed until morning. The widest ex-
citement prevails in Punxsutawaney
and nearby towns Fifteen troopers
and several policemen together with
many citizens heavily armed are on
SuarQ. OlAlteu lldiidho Oo"iu a. N
besieged house, but 1t is not known
how many are inside or the number
implicated in the shooting. The po-
sition of the watchers Is perilous
one as there are many treacherous
members of the Black Hand in and
about Florence and the surrounding
mines.
The policemen have riddled witt
bullets the house where the despera-
does are lodged, but 1t is not known
with what result Their fire has been
returned but without any regard for
aiming the guns as anything seen
inside the building is at once
the target Of a volley Of shots from the
watchers.
The report that the house in which
the riotfng Italians took refuge was
burned has been confirmed at the
,ffice Of the state constabulary here.
The situation at the scene OF the
trouble has Quieted down and there
are no further fears Of trouble.
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