The New York herald., 1921-07-14
Sheriff PASSES HAT,
ENDING SOVIET WAR
Long Islands First Upris-
ing Comes to Speedy
End.
WORKERS ENTRENCHED
Abandoned by Contractor,
Seized House on Brown
ing's Preserve.
SURRENDER TO CAR FARE
Italians Were Simply Waiting
for Their Back Pay to
Arrive.
SURRENDER TO CAR FARE

When Charles W. Smith. Sheriff OF
Nassau county, arrived yesterday in
the keepers lodge on Edward w.
Browning's game preserve near Bell
more. L. l.. he discovered he would
need all the deputies and constables he
could call together, not to mention as
many State policemen as were avail
able, before advancing on the first
stand Of Soviet rule on Long Island.
He had been called to the Browning
preserve sprawling $50 acres Of
hill, valley. stream and woods well
stocked with small game and fish
by Frank y. Wood Of Roosevelt, agent
for Mr.. Browning. He and Mr.. Wood
met at the keepers lodge and there
the Sheriff was told that forty one
iaborers. chiefly Italian and Spanish.
had taken up their abode in a bunk
house near the big lake. They had
been there three weeks and did moth
ing but prowl around the place. fish,
ing and snaring small game and birds.
None was armed.
Three weeks ago. Mr.. Wood explained.
New York contractor abandoned a
job of dredging the lake and left the
forty-one workers behind. When he did
not appear. 1t was explained, the men
simply sat down and waited for some
thing to happen. Hunger stirred twen-
ty-one and these went out seeking work
an iOJ,h 60
worked during the day but at night
returned to the bunk house. They were
sinister looking lot and were given
to shows of anger when approached
by persons not Of their number.
Sheriff Smith mobilized ten deputy
sheriffs and constables. He telephoned
the State police at Port Washington
and was REINFORCED by two troopers.
With Mr.. Wood and a few employees
from various parts of the Browning
lands, re advanced upon the lake. The
Sheriff and all his men were provided
with automatic pistols. The lake and
the bunk house are surrounded by
wilderness of unkempt vegetation.
powders and trees. When this natural
protection was approached. the Sheriff
depioyed his troops in fan-like forma-
ton. vM
From behind a large rock shaggy
head appeared. The Sheriff and his
men surrounded the sentry. He either
did not understand what was being said
to him or decided on sullen reticence.
But from behind other rocks and trees.
and. finally. out OF the bunk house, ap-
peared nineteen others--the entire
council and then one of them advanced
to the Sheriff. announcing himself in un-
mistakable Italian dialect as the spokes-
man.
He explained hat the contractor had
gwen them but four days pay since
hiring them that he had conveyed
them out from New York city and that
they were now penniless. All they
wanted, he assured the Sheriff. was a
square deal. When the contractor had
suspended payment. he continued, the
men sent committee to him and he
had offered to compromise by paying
each man s.. That. the spokesman said.
would not do The contractor owed them
various amounts ranging from S57 to
S64. Why had they remained on the pre-
serves? There was no other place to go.
The Sheriff ana Mr.. Wood agreed
the story sounded reasonable. but they
insisted the twenty leave at once The
working twenty-one would be dealt with
later. SO the Sheriff started to pass the
hat. He collected IS that way and
when it was found this would not be
sufficient 10 pay for the transportation
of the twenty 70 Brooklyn he and Mr.
Wood made UP the deficit, saying they
were sure that Mr.. Browning would re-
inburse them. Apparently satisfied.
the twenty Sovietists departed.
Then Sheriff Smith prepared for the
coming of the workers. He nailed up
the windows Of the bunk house and
placed n quantity Of hydrogen sulphite
In the middle OF the floor OF the bunk
house just to make the place untenable
Then they nailed up the door The
packs containing the belongings OF the
absent twenty-one were tossed into the
cook tent And thus entrenched. the
Sheriff and his men awaited the home
coming Of the absentees.
But nothing spectacular happened. A
dozen OF the left-wingers arrived and,
as they came were given their packs
and car fare to Brooklyn. They ap-
peared TO be delighted with the arrange
ment.