Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-21
MORE HELP WANTED.
Sheriff McCleary Requested to Double
His Force at Duquesne.
STRIKERS ARE GROWING FESTIVE,
But Their Plans for Last Nights Work We're
Neatly Foiled.
IT LOOKS LIKE FIGHT AT STEELTON

There were several squabbles at the Du-
ouesne Steel Works yesterday, and matters
have really taken on a serious aspect The
men at Duquesne do not seem to be Tin it,
as they have very resignedly placed the
management of their affairs in the
hands of the Amalgamated men at
Homestead and Braddock The strikers
are more determined now than at any
time since the trouble began not to allow
the mill to run under existing circum-
stances. Yesterday morning about 300 men
congregated around the place, most of them
from Homestead, for the purpose of prevent
ing any one from going to work. They sue
ceeded partially, and many of those who
were in the mill were compelled to do two
turns before coming out.
A Trif1ing Scrap in the Morning.
In the meantime, men ON their way to the
mill were being stopped and quietly, but
firmly, told that they were expected to stay
out of the mill. Once in awhile a trif1ing
scrap occurred, but no one was seriously
hurt AS the day passed, however, there
were some very loud threats made that the
men would be reinforced last night by
no one would be allowed near the
mill at midnight. All day long the strikers
congregated in crowds as near the mill
property as the deputy sheriffs would allow
them, and men were halted both going to
and coming from the works. Such threats
as you - you'll not work there to-
morrow" were of frequent occurrence.
Women would accompany their husbands
to the mill to make sure that they would ar
rive in safety. One woman carried large
butcher knife wrapped up in her apron, and
as she passed one of the deputies she re-
marked very confidently, 'I'lf bet you they
don't touch my man"
The peoole gathered around the corners
of the town all day. and the strike was the
q GrIhi m
reached such pitch that the firm really be-
came fearful that serious trouble might
occur and during the afternoon telegram
was sent to Sheriff McCleary, requesting him
to take up 20 additional deputies.
The Sheriff Left in Charge.
The Sheriff complied and also went to Du-
quesne, where he remained all night in
charge of the SO special officers now on duty.
He said he did not fear much difficulty, as
the men had been very easy to deal with SO
far.
General Manager Morrison said the big
mill was running steadily and that a very
large force of men are at work. He does not
fear any serious trouble from the strikers:
Great excitement was created last night
when the word reached Duquesne that 200 or
800 men were on their way to assist the
strikers in keeping workmen away from the
mill at midnight last night. Everyone
feared that trouble was ahead Rumors of
violence and riot soon gained circulation,
and when q train did reach Oliver, loaded
with steel workers from Braddock and
Homestead, the little town was in an uproar.
Last night large mass meeting was held
in the rink. Fully 500 men were present,
and great enthusiasm prevailed. The boss
roller, William Evans, presided, and ad-
dressed the meeting first. While he advised
calmness and conservatism in their move
ments, he assured the men that their cause
was just and they might rely on the support
OF the members of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation. This was received with round after
round of applause and cheers. Other speak
ers followed Evans in the same line.
The object of the meeting was to appoint
committees and arrange systematic plan
for keeping men away from the mill at mid
night, when the trouble was expected.
While the meeting was in progress one of
the strikers rushed into the building and
frantically exclaimed: "This is "a of a
way to manage this affair. Do you know
that while you are fooling your time away
here the night men are being taken into the
mill, so that when you go up there at Il
o'clock there won't be anybody to see, ex-
cept those who come out?'
This was startling news for the men, but it
at Duquesne need the advice and assistance
of outsiders if they expect to cope with
Sheriff McCleary and his corps of deputies.
1t was he who planned and carried into
effect the scheme to get the midnight turn
into the mill three hours before the men
were to go to work, thus thwarting the strik-
ers in their plans to create trouble at mid
night.
A Riot Narrowly Ayerted.
A riot was narrowly avoided yesterday
afternoon when Peter Maxim was arrested
by q constable from Alderman McMasters'
office. Maxim was charged by Samuel Bevan
with writing letters to the prosecutor,
threatening to deal with him according to
White Cap law if he did not stay away from
the mill. When Maxim was arrested his as
sociates tried to rescue him. crowd
gathered around the deputies and for time
matters looked serious. The affair quieted
down without anyone getting hurt, and
Maxim was brought to the city and placed in
Jail for a hearing.
The following telegram was received by
THE DISPATCH from Braddock last night:
"Workingmen from this place refrain
from going to work at Duquesne, as remem-
brances of the past fill them with timidity.
Those who went to work this morning had
to retrace their steps before entering the
mill, having been intercepted by crowd of
several hundred men from Homestead, who
warned them not to enter the mill. The re-
ports from Duquesne do not bring any ac-
counts of violence, but trouble is antici-
pated should the firm try to operate the
plant"