CHAPTER 1
Pietro Folino Gallo had been unable to sleep in the hot, stuffydungeon that passed for a ship's cabin, and with four peopleinside, it was ten times worse. He saw his friend's silhouettein the doorway as the man stepped out. Pietro assumed he was goingto relieve himself. In the dark of night, there was an eerie silencearound the upper deck of the ship, apart from the pounding of thebig steam engines below.
His friend, when going out, had not noticed him propped up in hisbunk and had assumed everyone was sleeping. As Pietro sat there,he thought he heard a strange, muffled croak coming from outsidethe door and then a small cluttering sound, as if something had beendropped onto the deck. An uneasy feeling came into his stomach ashis ears strained for any other sound. The man who had gone outsidehad not returned. Thinking that he should see what was going onoutside, he picked up his trusty knife, which he left in a small nooknext to his head, and opened the door just in time to see a man's legsdangling in front of him.
Instantly, he assumed the legs belonged to his friend. Stepping silentlyaround the legs, he could see illuminated against the smokestack aman's silhouette pulling on something, maybe a rope. The man abovesaw him just as a knife blade sank deep into his midribs. The manabove let the rope go and clutched at the knife deep in his upperstomach. With a stifled groan, he tumbled forward, landing onlyinches from where Cudoni had fallen.
Gurgling and gasping for oxygen, Filippo Cudoni had alreadyloosened and removed the rope around his neck. It had been thestrength in his arms that had saved him.
Pietro watched silently as his friend cast the rope aside. By this time,Giovanni and Peppino, who had heard the bodies hit the deck, hadwalked outside as well. Filippo motioned for all to be silent. Herolled the groaning man over and recognized him as the sailor whofollowed the captain around. He had Pietro's knife stuck in his upperabdomen. Filippo pulled the knife out and handed it to Pietro afterwiping it on the man's trousers. The man was still alive and groanedin agony as the knife came out.
"What do we do now, Filippo?" Giovanni asked quietly.
Filippo pointed to Giovanni and Peppino and then to the man'sarms while he took hold of the groaning man's feet, and withGiovanni on one arm and Peppino on the other, they threw theman overboard. The burly sailor screamed as he realized he wasbeing thrown overboard, but the big steam engines continued topound away.
They noticed the next day that the captain had a new burly sailorfollowing him around everywhere, and the rest of the trip passedwithout any further major incident. Although the weather turned alittle cold, with a chilly northerly wind blowing towards the middleof the trip, the rough weather that Filippo had experienced duringhis first trip did not eventuate. Because of the cold weather, the heatfrom the engine room made the little cabin livable.
On a cold Saturday, the first day of November 1902, the smallship sailed into New York Harbor. The small steamship dockedjust after midday. Filippo, his two brothers, and Pietro were someof the first passengers to disembark. Most of the passengers wereoff the boat when about twenty police, carrying guns and batons,descended on it. The passengers still on board were held back asthe police carried out a thorough search of the vessel. During thepolice search, the captain of the ship and his crew were detained onthe wharf. The police were carrying boxes down the gangplank,when suddenly, the captain jumped over the edge of the wharfinto the harbor.
Filippo and his group had moved back into the crowd that had collected,and they watched from a distance as the captain disappeared.
During the ensuing confusion, the burly Roman sailor who had firstaccosted them also jumped overboard and escaped.
The four stayed at the same boarding house that Batiste Raso hadtaken Filippo and his brothers to just over three years ago. The nextday, they caught the train to Philadelphia, and a connecting train toPittsburgh the following morning. Late that afternoon, they arrivedat the Pittsburgh railway station.
Filippo took his two brothers and Pietro Folino Gallo to the boardinghouse that he had shared with Antonio and Gennaro. He went tosee the landlord and found that Gennaro was still staying there buthad not returned from work. Filippo organized rooms for himselfand his brothers to stay in until they decided what they would do.Filippo decided to leave Gennaro a note saying that he, Giovanni,and Peppino were at Zio Nicola's place and that Gennaro should gothere. Next, he took the three to Zio Nicola's place.
When they arrived, Zia Theresa, Palmo, and Fiore were home.Filippo introduced his younger brothers and Pietro Folino to them.Zia suggested that the new arrivals wait there while Palmo went andtold Luigi his brother had arrived, and Fiore went over to the FolinoGallo residence and told his uncle and aunt that Pietro Folino Gallo,their nephew from Falerna, had arrived with Fiore's three Cudonicousins.
On the way back from the Folino Gallo residence, Fiore calledaround and told his other Cudoni cousins that Filippo and two moreof his brothers had arrived from Calabria.
By eight that night, all of the relatives living in Pittsburgh hadcollected at Zio Nicola's place. The only ones missing were Brunoand Angelina Curcio. Zia told Filippo that Angelina was about sixmonths pregnant and was expecting at about the end of January. Shewas really big, Zia said, and it would not surprise her if she had thebaby much sooner. Filippo was busy talking and answering questionsand did not read anything unusual into what she might have beenhinting at. He did not think of working out the day that conceptionmight have taken place.
Everybody in Pittsburgh wanted to know how everybody in Sambiase,Falerna, and the surrounding area were. How were the grandparents?Had things changed much in Sambiase? Filippo told his cousins whohad family back in Calabria that he had been to see their familiesand passed on their regards and vice versa. He told Zio Nicola thatNonno and Nanna Cudoni were getting on but were still okay fortheir age. Nanna was hard of hearing, and her eyesight was getting alittle poor. They sent their best wishes to Zio Nicola and his family,but they would like to see them before they passed away, Filippo toldthem. Zio Nicola said that he would like to return to see his parentsand brothers before too long.
Gennaro, who had come as soon as he read the note Filippo had lefthim, was glad that his three brothers had come to join him, but hewas disappointed that Antonio had been called for military duties andwould not arrive until 1904. He informed Filippo of all the thingsthat had occurred in Pittsburgh while he was away. It appeared theSicilian Cosa Nostra had been more active over the last few months.The group had been targeting Sicilians primarily, but all Italians wereat risk. The police were still unsure who its ringleaders were, butGennaro, through his sources, knew who most of the chiefs were,or so he thought. Gennaro did not tell his brothers he was keepingcompany with a red-headed Irish woman whose brothers were partof an Irish group.
Filippo had taken two flagons of French wine to his uncle's place,and they drank as they talked. Tomasi commented on how good ittasted. During the conversation, Tomasi was asked how sick his son-in-lawwas and if he was getting any better. Tomasi told them thatBruno had been away from work for three weeks and appeared tobe getting worse rather than better.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Filippo told Tomasi. "What's the problemthat he's got?"
"We are not sure," Tomasi replied. A note of worry and concernflickered through his voice as he replied.
As it was Monday night, most of the men had to return to work thenext morning, so most could not stay too long. Pietro went to staywith his brother Luigi. Gennaro and Filippo took their brothers backto the boarding house. It was eleven thirty by the time they got backto the boarding house. Along the way, Filippo asked Gennaro justhow sick Bruno was.
"From what I have heard from Angelina's brothers, it sounds liketuberculosis to me. There are a number of men working in that minethat have got it," Gennaro told them.
The next morning, after Gennaro left for work, Filippo took Giovanniand Peppino for a tour of Pittsburgh. They had promised to pick upPietro, so they made a slight detour to pick up Pietro Folino Galloat his brother Luigi's place.
The newcomers had already been impressed by the different wayof life in the New World. The sheer size and scale of things wasvastly different from what they had been used to in Calabria. Theroads and railway trains, the means of transport that simply were notavailable in Calabria, made them aware of just how advanced peoplein America were compared to Calabria. While they marveled at theprogress of the industrial growth around Pittsburgh, the ugly sightof the smog, smoke, and soot that lay over the city was intimidatingand not encouraging, to say the least.
They spent the day walking to, looking at, and discussing some ofthe factories and other places they had seen where they might wishto work. In the end, all three said that they would prefer to workwhere there was someone they knew or who could speak Italian.Luigi had told Pietro that he might be able to get him a job where hewas working. Filippo was going to see Jack Benson the next evening,and he would see if Jack had any work for the three of them. He wasquietly confident that Jack might be able to find them some workon the railroad.
Late that afternoon, they dropped Pietro off at his brother Luigi'splace and returned back to the boarding house. Gennaro was alreadyhome and cooking when they returned. He told his younger brothersthat they would also have to get used to cooking.
"Mamma's not going to be here, boys, so you will have to get usedto doing your own cooking and cleaning; otherwise, you will needto find yourselves a good woman to do it for you," he told them.
The next afternoon, Filippo went to see his friend Jack Benson. Itwas about six when he arrived, and his good friend Jack was justgetting home. The two shook hands.
"It is great to see you, Phil; we thought you may have decided to staythere after all," Jack said, warmly greeting him.
"This is my second home. I had to come back. Anyway, how areyou and the family, my friend?" Filippo squeezed his friend's handas they looked at each other. "Jane, Tracy, and the rest of the family?They are good, yes?" Filippo asked with a touch of a wry smile onhis face.
"Come in and see Jane, Phil. Little Benny is growing so cute andcuddly now. Jane is looking after him this afternoon," Jack told him.
Jack led Filippo into the living room.
Jane heard the door open and called, "Jack, is that you?"
"Sure is," Jack called back, "but come and see who I have with me, dear."
Jane was happily surprised to see Filippo. She went over and gave hima big hug. "I'm so glad to see you have come back, and safe. How areyou and your family back in Italy and here, Phil?" she asked whenshe stopped hugging him.
"Very good—great, Mrs. Jane. You are looking good, beautiful too,Mrs. Jane," Filippo told her sincerely and admiringly. She looked asif she could have been Tracy's older sister.
Jane was a great reader of people and what was on their minds.Women's intuition told her he was thinking of Tracy but was notgame to ask how she was.
"Tracy is great, but she was going over to John's place after school todo some more school planning work. She will be home late. By theway, Jack, you've missed little Benny; his mum left about an hourago with him," Jane told them. "Would you and Phil like somethingto drink?" Jane asked.
"Sure. A cup of hot coffee for me, dear. Phil?" Jack said, looking atFilippo, who nodded in agreement.
"So, my friend, what are you going to do now? Are you going towork somewhere else, or do you want to come back to work on thetracks?" Jack asked him.
"I have two more brothers with me this time and also a friend.Unfortunately, Antonio is not with me this time. The Italian armyrequired him for military service, and he had no choice but togo," Filippo told him. "Yes, I would like to work for the railroadagain if there is more work—and for my brothers and friend ifpossible."
"The Pennsylvania Railroad has always got work for you, Phil.There are several new jobs coming up, and I might be able to findwork for the four of you together," Jack told him. "I am a generalworks supervisor based in Pittsburgh now, and I am informed of allthe new jobs and works. Can you leave it with me till tomorrow,Phil? I should have an answer for you tomorrow afternoon."
Jane came back with two cups of coffee and one of tea. She gave themone each and sat down with her tea.
"How is your family in Calabria, Phil? Are your parents in goodhealth?" Jane asked him again.
"My parents are in good health, but my grandparents are now gettinga little bit old. My grandfather is eighty-two, and he still works onthe land, planting his vegetables and looking after his olive trees. Mylittle sister is now seventeen and a big girl. Italy is still a poor country,and there is not much opportunity to get ahead there, Mrs. Jane,"Filippo told her quietly.
Five minutes later, Filippo stood up to leave.
"Thank you very much for the coffee, Mrs. Jane. But I must go. Jack,can I call back tomorrow afternoon to see how things went work-wise?"Filippo asked his friend.
"Sure, I should be home early tomorrow afternoon, probably aboutfive. Come then," Jack responded.
On the way home, Filippo decided to call round past the home ofBruno and Angelina Curcio. He was a little concerned about Bruno'shealth, but he also wanted to tell Angelina he had met her cousin inFalerna who was the spitting image of her and had become fond ofher while in Italy.
He knocked on the door to their boarding room. Everything lookedand sounded quiet. He waited several minutes before he knockedagain, a little firmer. This time, he thought he heard a noise inside.A few minutes later, the door opened. A disheveled and teary-eyedAngelina opened the door.
He could see that she had been crying. Her eyes were red and slightlypuffed, and it took a few seconds for her to focus on who was at thedoor. When she did, her eyes momentarily lit up, and she gave hima small, wry smile of welcome. She put her arms around his neck towelcome him, but all she could do was sob. Filippo felt more thansaw her very pregnant condition, but with her in this emotional state,it was not the time to talk of such things.
"Bruno's in bed. He is very sick. He's dying. I think he's dying. My God,he is going to die." She sobbed. "I am sorry, Filippo, but I don't knowwhat to do. Please come in and look at him. I don't know what to do."
Filippo followed her into the bedroom. Bruno lay on his back on thewooden bed. He was dressed in a pair of soot-stained once-light-brownlong johns, and his eyes were staring blankly at the ceiling.His face had a dull, pale, shiny, old, leathery look. Sweat was slowlyoozing from his brow and head.
His eyes closed, his body gave an involuntary shudder and groan,and a trickle of phlegm and blood seeped from the side of his mouth.Filippo had seen a soldier accidentally shot through the stomachduring his military days who had looked this way. The soldier hadgone the same color, and towards the end, the symptoms had been thesame as Bruno's. He realized that Bruno was bleeding internally.
"Angelina, we must get him to a doctor straight away. I think he isbleeding inside, and he will die if we don't hurry. Is there a doctorhe has been seeing?" Filippo asked urgently.
"There is Doctor Johnson, but he won't go to see him," Angelinacried.
"Where does he live?" Filippo asked quickly. He realized that itmight already be too late.
"He lives two blocks up on Anderson Street, on the left side of thestreet. It's a high yellow house."
Filippo was out the door as Angelina finished speaking.
The good doctor was having tea but immediately grabbed his bag,and in twenty minutes, they were back.
Angelina was waiting with the door open. Filippo waited at thedoor while the doctor and Angelina went in to see Bruno in thebedroom.
A short time later, Angelina returned. Filippo was still waiting.
"What does the doctor think?" Filippo asked her.
"The doctor had told us he had tuberculosis the time before last timehe came to see him. He thinks his lungs are bleeding and there is nohope anymore," Angelina told him in a flat, forlorn voice. "Could Iask you to do something for me, please?"
