Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Locals Drive Off Italians, Austrians and Poles in Haywood County, July 20, 1921

Mountain Natives Attack Foreigners

Asheville, July 20—Resentment over the importation of foreign laborers in the lumber industry in Western North Carolina is believed to have led to an attack early Sunday morning on 24 Italians, Austrians and Poles at a lumber camp owned by the Suncrest Lumber Company in Haywood county.

While sleeping early Sunday, they were attacked by three men who were later assisted by four other natives of the mountains, according to members of the group who arrived here Tuesday, having walked the entire distance of 36 miles to Asheville. One among the number, a Pole, who spoke better English, stated that the sudden attack so far as he knew had been unprovoked, and that the suddenness made it impossible for the 24 foreigners in the camp to offer organized resistance. One Italian bore a small scar on his cheek, said to have been inflicted by a member of the attacking party.

The band of foreigners are camping on the outskirts of Asheville and say they will leave for Philadelphia, where they had been living prior to coming to Haywood county about three weeks ago.

From The Charlotte News, July 20, 1921

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