New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-04
WOMEN SHOT DOWN
BY STATE MILITIA
Mrs. Dominiski TeStihes
That Soldiers Set Fire
TO Camp Tents.
SOLDIERS lNSULTED
THEM, THEY DECLARE
Colorado Victims Tales of Mas
sacre Make Deep Impression
at Industrial Hearing.


at Industrial Hearing.
Ig., one fearful moment did Mrs
r,-v Pe.ruccj have yesterday, while
.,,.;frinc before the Federal lndustrla
commission IN he Metropolitan Build
;,r Tha. was when she described
Inv she had lost her three children
/, n, Battle Of Ludlow" out in
Colorado.
For the res, o; the time she wa
m the stand. dry-cyed, but with ar
occasional halt, she told Of the death
Il two women and eight children II
hat towns BLACK Hole" last April
Ro,b Mis-. Petrucci and Mrs. Marga'
-, pominiski. who preceded her. pic
.,rsd the hardships they had TO en-
sprs in the mining districts. They
F,re brought 10 New York by the
United Nine Workers Of America tc
relate their stories for the first time
following the refusa' Of Colorado exec.
g.ires 20 allow the Ludlow "inci.
G,nt" 20 be included in the Commits,
SION. records last Nay.
T never saw a church in any OF
the coal camps SAID Mrs. Dominiski
except at Trinidad. There were nc
halls where people might meet. but
here we're always rlenty OF saloons
We had to trade in The company
aores. although the prices of pro-
vision, we're higher than in The nearby
towns
Not Allowed TO Buy Outside.
But we weren't allowed 20 buy out
side. Whenever I got a chance. l did
but i I'd eve~ been found out, my
husband would have been discharged
Mrs. Petrucci's tale Of the diff
cul,es at Hastings was similar She
lived there in one Of the company's
houses, and there were no church
facilities at all. she said.
when We were living in the tent
colony al Ludlow we had a better time
than a. the camps, and liked it bet
Ter"
The largest crowd Of the week was
in the assembly hall when Mrs. Pc.
trucei was called TO the stand. She
mounted the steps leading TO the plat
form quickly, and sat down at the
small table Still in mourning fol-
her three children, who were smoth-
cred 10 death in the BLACK Hole" she
had on a long. black coat and BLACK
silk handkerchief at her neck. She
wore no hat.
Answering the first few questions
NJ. Petrucci showed apparent ncr
vcusrcss. She toyed with her hand
ksrchief and placed her little finger il
the corner Of her mouth as she tolC
Commissioner Walsh that she had beer
born in Hastings. Col
She left that town. she explained
at the age Of thirteen and was mar
ned three years later. She is nov
,Venty-four years old. In a clear
sympathetic voice, a brief description
Of her early life followed This she
brought down 70 the time when hcl
husband went out with the striker,
at Ludlow, and the family removed tC
tie colony.
"ln Rsmcv. where you say you wer,
living until September. 1913, did yot
have any unpleasant experiences Will
The militia" she was asked
"0h, yes" she replied. I'VE haC
10 move so We would not be insultcC
by them"
She then told Of the events Of Apr
10 Of last year, when the Greeks il
The colony were celebrating their Eas
ter.
In the "Black Hole"
What time did you leave your ten
On the following day, April 20?' wa
me next question.
y did not come out until ! founC
cut u was on FIRE. Then | left witt
ny children. People were shouting
Look out for the militia and so
Tan 10 another tent that had base
nent in 1t. II was just back Of mine
aud was No. 5S Ours was No.
Many persons saw me as ] hurried
With the children. Even the guards
shouted. That frightened me-
The woman said she hoped 10 be aol'
70 protect her children, 30 she entered
NE cellar, which was about six fee
below the surface. The door was open
eat in her haste she did not shut II
Is she ran in.
How did it come to be closed" was
asked
\ do not know"
Asked 90 describe what happened IN
ue cellar room. the witness said whct
ahe entered there were already three
Somen and several children in IT, A.
see drew word picture OF the base
ment in which so many persons lives
Asa been lost, Mrs. Petrucci was clearly
aeetso, and not few in the audience
re likewise moved by her story.
Mrs. Costa and her children were N