The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-09
PARENTS RIOT AT A SCHOOL
FEARED BLACK HAND WOULD
DESTROY 4 NEWARK BUILDING.

nc larger lbNH ltliN ANV OOhNA ~ W
hc the rest ofthe primary children a. leaders
In the Seventh avenue public school in
Newark didn't enter the school building
Yesterday morning when teachers tapped
he bells, but stood against the brick walls
n the Italian tenements on the other side
q the avenue silently. They were afraid.
They spoke, in English, Of the Black Hand
and Of buildings, school buildings, being
blown no simply because the Black Hand
Is made up Of bad men who just can't help
icing bad enough TO blow up schools. And
they talked Of powder. which Is generic for
al explosives.
A collarless, undersized man wearing
brown %corduroys hurried around the corner
from Factory street.-the school runs along
Seventh avenue from Amity place TO Fac
'orv street and joined the awed group Of
half.growu bows that stood huddled to-
gether. a. II for protection across thu
street from the school. A little knot Of
Italian mothers joined the dark skinned
man and the recalcitrant larger pupils.
More women CAM and the muttenngs Of
tho growing crowd grew louder. and all the
time they gazed anIiously toward the win
lows Of the school.
Within the school building were almost
4 7Oo little children, most Of them born
~ Italian parents. There Principal John
NcIaury was walking from room to room
irving to do something that would quiet
the dark little boys and girls who fdgeted
IN their seats. who were fearful to stay
IN A room that was 10 explode any moment
"a every boy and girl had predicted for
DAYS that it w~ould-And not yet scared
IN the point Of sheer terror that would
make them jump Historically from their
SEATS and scramble with screams for the
stairway and mother arms and safety.
The principal had gone TO the school
almost an hour earlier than usual yester-
lay simply because Of the fear that had
Kept the little ones from their play at recess
in the last few days and which had caused
them to stand in timid groups against the
fdrthest from the fated building
and to build up higher and higher nameless
rhings that soon were to happen. The
Principal knew from the chatter Of the
children that had come to him from yard
and corridors before classes began that
hey had told the gruesome tales at home
he night before and that the mothers
quite az frightened as the children.
Outside, the mutterings in the avenue
had now grown 80 loud that he pupils
could hear their mothers calling 70 them.
All the class rooms settled TO a perfect
silence and the children sat and listened
10 the increasing murmur outside. Above
Il all came sudden piteous cries Of mothers
who wanted Ciccillo or Gaetanello or Car
melina, and Francesca or Gaetano or Car
rnela knew that their mothers were calling
10 them by their pet names, and the little
mes wanted TO go 10 them.
Soon there we're loud poundings on the
rront door. More than 1900 mothers and
we're out in front Of the school by
hat time and were storming the main
entrance. The ~janitor. Carmine Flippone,
opened a little window and shouted 70 the
throng in their own tongue:
Fools he said. .sFoolsl Go away
No child will be injuredl Go awayi'
They threw sticks and stones that changed
against the metal grating that covered the
glass, and cursed and tried again
10 break in the doors.
Principal McLaury a few minutes before
his had run to the telephone in his ONCE
n get permission from DR.. Addison Poland,
.uperintendent OF schools in Newark, TO
dismiss the pupils and close the school for
he day. The principal had persuaded
several mothers before the big mob arrived
20 away and that all was we'll. but now
he thing was getting beyond him. MIR.
NcIaury was Unsuccessful in getting the
,unerintendent at the first attempt and
Iefore trying again he t~elephoned to the
Second precinct police station and asked
for help. Capt. Brown sent over Policemen
SlcDermitt and Williams.
Perhaps a fire hose OF the olatter Of
mounted police would have cowed and
catered the mob that the " policemen
ran into, but by themselves they we're i'm
uotent to quiet the mothers. The women
the policemen around and rpped
blue uniforms and again surged toward
he main entrance to the school. In the
midst Of the two policemen's troubles Police
'aptain Brown trotted down the street
with ak or seven reserves behind him, {
md they too we're swallowed, helpless,
IN the whirlpool.
On his own responsibility then Principal
.\IcIAury decided to dismiss the 200 chill
lrcn, who now were approaching the point
Shere they would be beyond all control.
He would march them out OF the side doors,
he principal decided, 600 out through the
tmitv place door and 900 out the Factory
rect door. while the parents fought un-
knowingly in front OF the main entrance
M Seventh avenue. He yelled through a
window to Policeman Williams to watch
no Factory street door, while he himself
would be on guard at the Amity place side.
Mothers saw Williams scurry around to
he side doorl and some doubtless had
card the shouted directions 70 the police
nan TO look after the children as they
,ama out. Around the corners then after
he policemen spilled the crowds TO either
Ioor and thevscaled the fences and waited
They were 10 have come through the
ioors two by two, the children with their
aaobers al the head OF each class beating
and the little ones singing America
n A grand chorus and the bluecoats beat
ng a lane for them so that they might
m roh 10 the open, singing and unframed.
hats what the principal instructed his
eachers and the children TO do, but he
taken some things into oonsidera-
Each class wal formed into line In the
.adous classrooms and the teachers took
heir place brayely at the head Of ac1 little
,omnanv and awaited the word 70 march
nto the corridors with step measured TO the
Of HMy Country, It's ofThee, AMI /
stomp down the stairs to the school yard
md end it. And at the tap Of a big gong the
lido doors we're opened.
The Italian mothers flooded into the
hiding instantly. School principal and
lluecoats we're lost In the shrieking crowd, |
md while they still shouted 20 the women
10 stay out mothers we're swarming up the
Iour flights Of steps that ascend from a
NJ rotunda In the centre Of the building.
A. stair corners they jammed and swore
md allied on God and the saints TO let them
their children. Down the steps toward
hem came the children singing.
Put they sang scarce two lines. They