The morning meeting was held before 6 a. m., and the strikers finding that no effort was going to be made to work on the dam dispersed before 8 a. m. They hung about the Bowery and waited for news from New York. From the newspapers they learned that troops were on the way.

Before the hour for their arrival the Bowery was filled by Italians, who stood in groups and listened to the talk of the leaders. About 11 a. m. a telegram was received by one of the leaders from Consul Branchi, advising them to be quiet, and informing them of the fact that the militia was on its way to the dam. The telegram from the consul was passed about and had a good effect.

Many Italians, who live in Little Italy hill, left the Bowery and went to their homes. There was no sign of a weapon among them a half hour after the receipt of the telegram from the consul. It was after noon when the troops arrived.

Their arrival was noted by an Italian on a bicycle who remained long enough about the station to count them and then started for the dam. About half a mile from the village he was met by another strike messenger on a wheel, who carried the news about a mile, where a third messenger rode with all haste to the Bowery. Before the deputy sheriffs about the works knew of the arrival of troops in Croton valley the strikers were aware of it.

There was a blowing of horns, and while the troops were resting at the station waiting for the word to move, 40 armed Italians carrying an American and two Italian flags crossed from Little Italy hill to the Bowery. They were cheered by the men in the Bowery and watched with interest by the deputy sheriff.