Women Wail as Italian Internees Leave
Women Wail as Italian Nationals Start Long Trek to Native Land
A wild scene took place at the Northern Pacific station Thursday afternoon, when 23 Italian nationals from this area were placed on the eastbound train that will carry them and several hundred other former Fort Missoula internees to Ellis Island, New York, from where they will depart May 28 for their native Italy.
Excitement at the station and at the county jail during the morning and the preceding night was provided by weeping, screaming women, wanting to say their farewell to the Italians. In some cases there were altercations among several, who were learning for the first time that the Italians had given their affections to not one but several women.
Sheriff R. D. MacLean said that he had to threaten one woman Wednesday night with imprisonment, if she persisted in talking through the window to one of the prisoners. She returned again and again after being sent on her way.
Passengers on the train, who arrived in Missoula Thursday afternoon, reported that frantic demonstrations had been put on by women all along the route from the West coast. At Portland, one passenger reported, MPs chased one girl all around the railroad yards, as she ducked under the trains, through the vestibules and tried to enter the coach that was carrying her Latin friend eastward. Guards were placed in the vestibules finally.
Among the Italians, who have now been in exile from their homes for five years, was Giuseppe Rigoli, who was serving a long jail term for conviction on a charge of indecent exposure. Rigoli, 31, able-bodied and husky, was one of the men classified 4-C by the Selective Service, this classification showing that he refused to serve in the armed forces of the United States at the time he was released from internment when Italy became a co-belligerent power.
Immigration Service Agent Earl Martin, who was in charge of the exodus of the Spokane district Italians (including Missoula) said that Rigoli protested about being returned to Italy. He wants to go to South Africa, where it is believed he has a wife and child.
Mountains of luggage purchased by the emigres were loaded on the train Thursday, and shipping space for this will be a headache for somebody at Ellis Island, Mr. Martin said.
The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on May 25, 1945.
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An article in the Daily Missoulian on May 23, 1945, gave more information about the Italian prisoners. See Below:
Local Italians Included in District Roundup For Deportation to Italy
A large group of Italian nationals, former Fort Missoula internees, and including 23 from the Missoula area, is being gathered together here for deportation to their native lands, it was stated yesterday by
Earl E. Martin, Immigration Service officer, who with Joe Koppang, finance officer, is in charge of the roundup for the Spokane district, which includes this territory.
The nationals, all of whom were once interned at the local detention camp, and who were given their freedom when Italy became a co-belligerent power, are being gathered up as far west as San Francisco and in other coast points. From the Spokane district 94 will be returned to Italy.
To Sail May 28
The group is due to sail from Ellis Island on May 28 and is made up largely of volunteers, although Mr. Martin said that some of the men who volunteered when the call went out, changed their minds by the time he arrived and are now starting their long journey unwillingly.
Any of them who return to the United States later, and none can hope to return in less than a year, must come back through the regular Immigration Service routine. Those men who served in the Army of the United States, will naturally be given preference, while those who refused to serve are automatically barred from future citizenship by rules and regulations set up by the Selective Service system.
Rigoli In Group
Among the Missoula deportees is Giuseppe Rigoli, who has been a prisoner at Missoula county jail since his conviction several months ago on a charge of indecent exposure. Rigoli, a 31-year-old, physically vigorous man, who is well-educated and who had lucrative employment at the time of his arrest, is among those who can never become citizens of the United States at any future time under existing laws. He is classified by the Selective Service as one who refused to serve in the armed forces of the United States and his conviction, sentence for which has many months more to run, would further impede his chances for returning to the United States.
Another of the one-time internees, who has given a good account of himself in this community is Vittorio Beccaria, an accomplished pianist, who has been heard by many of the community’s music lovers at frequent appearances. Mr. Martin said that he was a somewhat reluctant volunteer for deportation, but agreed to return to his native land when it was suggested that his wife and children are there and conceivably, would like to have him back in the family circle.
It is understandable, Mr. Martin said, that the internees have enjoyed the employment they have had since their release from Fort Missoula, employment that has paid them on a scale to which they are entirely unaccustomed, and that they are afraid of the economic situation in their own country.
Most of the men are returning to their country willingly, however, Mr. Martin said, but added that recent news reports over the Austrian claim to Trieste has upset their temperamental natures. In general the internees have given satisfaction to their employers and the latter are complaining more about losing their services than they are about being removed from their jobs.
An order from Washington, D. C., received Tuesday, curtailed greatly the amount of luggage that each man might take with him. As most had already equipped themselves with five to eight large trunks, filled to bursting with clothing and many other articles for their families in Italy, the order was too belated to do much good, he said. The shortages of all consumer goods in their own land is anticipated and feared by the Italians, Mr. Martin stated. Many have saved considerable money, he said.
From Local Area
Nations (sic) from Western Montana in addition to Rigoli and Mr. Beccaria, who will leave Thursday are the following; Mario Inserra, Camillo Girdano, Gaetano Anccello, Giovanno Aliota, Ferdinando Bassan, Marco Boggiano, Sebastiano Oliveri, Pasquale Azzolinni, Carlos Volta, Juliani Cataldo, Natale Frasca, Giacomo Arcuri, Esaia Rolla, Efisio Rolla, and Svezio Rolla. The Rollas are brothers and a cousin respectively.
A number of the men have been employed at the Daly hospital in Hamilton and at local hospitals. One prominent Missoula hotel is losing its cook.
Two musicians who have given pleasure to many Missoula audiences, will remain here for the present; they are Cellist G. Gambetti and Violinist Grabiana.
Most of the nationals, who have been employed in the Missoula district, have given a good account of themselves, Mr. Martin stated. Of the large number of men, mostly seamen from the luxury lines of the Italian government, many have already returned to Italy, and a large number has been inducted into military service through regular processes of induction. Many of them have gone into the service through other boards, at places where they have been employed. All Missoula county inductions lists for many months have carried the names of several more of them.