120 Years Ago, 1905 Transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“Wild west exhibition startled residents of East Boardman Street. Two excited Italians stood ten paces apart and emptied revolvers at each other – their aim was poor.”

“Two excited Italians stood at Watt and Boardman Streets, three paces removed and peppered away at each other with guns for five minutes. About 15 shots were fired, and all the damage resulting was a wound in one of the shooter’s arms. Another man fell off a ladder because he was scared nearly to death, but he was not injured. Jake Garlo was the man who stopped the bullet and Antonio Crscio was the man who fired it.

“About 10:30 this morning people in the vicinity of Watt and Boardman Streets, were thrown into a state of terror by a lively exchange of revolver shots. Those in the neighborhood ducked back of buildings and behind telegraph poles. A few of the more daring peeped out and saw Antonio Crscio and Jake Garlo emptying revolvers at each other. The men stood about six feet apart.

“The first shot Crscio fired hit Garlo in the left arm near the shoulder. That was the extent of damage done to the combatants.

“The men fired all the cartridges they had in the guns and then Garlo started to chase Crscio. He ran down Watt Street and over the South Avenue bridge with Garlo in swift pursuit. Garlo was the best runner and gained rapidly on the fleeing man.

“Patrolmen James Gibson and Eugene Garde were standing at Watt and Federal Streets when the shooting commenced. They ran down Watt Street and when the combatants saw them coming they fled. Both men paused long enough to re-load their weapons.

“Gibson got to the scene of the shooting first. He hailed a passing wagon and made the driver run his horse across the bridge. Just as Gibson reached the south end of the bridge Garlo caught up with his intended victim and shot at him again. His aim was poor and Crscio escaped without a scratch. Then Garlo walked over to the officer and passed up his gun. Crscio was a little more reluctant, but finally cashed in when the officer walked up and poked his gun in the Italian’s face. The other officer arrived and the wagon was called.

“While the shooting was going on the neighborhood was in a state of extreme terror. Oreste Olivier, a painter, was at work on a ladder beside the Youngstown Macaroni building. One of the bullets passed beside his leg and broke a big plate glass window in the Boardman Street side of the building. Olivier was so frightened he fell off the ladder a distance of 15 feet, and struck his hip on the sidewalk. He received some painful bruises but was able to go to work….

“The immediate argument started in a meat market a few doors north of Boardman Street. The men had an argument there during which references were made to their mode of living in the old country. The talk became heated inside, so they went out. Then each pulled guns and the fun commenced.

“When seen at Central police station Garlo said Crscio wanted to rent from him a furnished room for immoral purposes, but he declined. Then, he says, Crscio became angry and pulled a gun. Garlo drew his weapon and the shooting resulted. Crscio would not talk. He intimated they had a disagreement over some meat….

“The charges against the men were left blank on the blotter at Central police station. They may be charged with shooting with intent to kill. A number of witnesses saw the shooting.”

• Compiled by Dante Bernard, museum educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.