The dispute about access to the land lasted for years, until an agreement was reached under which the duke agreed to cede 250 hectares to the municipality in exchange for giving up the 'communal rights'.

[2] The citizens of Caltavuturo who waited anxiously to get hold of a piece of land to feed their families, fell from the frying pan into the fire.

[2] When they returned to join their companions in the fields they were stopped in the Via Vittorio Emanuele by soldiers, policemen and two municipal guards, with the intention of preventing the two groups meet.

The commander once again tried to persuade the peasants to disperse and return to their homes, but some of the protesters threw stones at the troops, who fired two shots in the air.

[2] (Other sources mention 11 dead and others mortally wounded [4]) At first, people hearing the shots, thought it was firecrackers in honour of San Sebastian, but the tragic massacre soon became clear.

[2] The news of the massacre created a national scandal and mobilized the Fasci, led by the most prestigious leaders, such as Rosario Garibaldi Bosco, Bernardino Verro and Nicola Barbato, who organized financial contributions to help the families of victims.