Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-11-17
HOMESTEAD RIOT.
Sudden Outbreak in the Storm
Center.
strikers Assault Negro Noa-Unfonists,
Who Draw Revolvers and Fire Wild
ly-A Non-Union Boarding
House Wrecked.

HOMESTEAD. Pa, Nov. 14-Not since
the famous 9th of July were flying bull
lets SO plentiful as yesterday afternoon
Inside of twenty minutes over 500 shots
were fred and Fourth avenue was in
wild state of panic and disorder.
Rumors are plentiful about persons
being wounded. but the only ones seri-
ously hurt apparently are three strik-
ers, named McFadden, Jones and
Prichard. They have all flesh wounds
Three negroes were also badly beaten.
The fight started on Fourth avenue
about 1870 o'clock. Two colored men
who worked in the mill were walking
toward the mill when they met strilz-
er, who said something to them.
They replied and the striker knocked
one down. With the same extraordi-
nary suddenness which always charac-
terizes Homestead, SO far as the gather
ing of crowds is concerned, about
twenty persons including children and
women, assembled in a few moments
Both negroes fought hard, but stones
began to fly and the men were besting
them, when one colOred man drew a re-
volver and opened fee.
sons on the streets, and the bullets
whistling over their heads started
panic. Three men knocked down the
second negro, and when he arose he
had two revolvers in his hands He
started to run, shooting wildly back as
he did so.
1t is said a boy received a flesh wound
in the leg, but his name is unknown.
he bo6
reached City Farm lane, six other col
ored men came along and were as
saulted. They all drew guns and ran
down Fourth avenue in the direction of
Mcclure street, near where their lodg-
ing house is situated. Some one hurled
a brick which hit Washington Paul on
the head. He opened fire and so di
the Others In minute the air was
full of bullets and in front of the col
ored men, there was a terrified crowd
rushing into houses for shelter or dodg-
ing up alleys
A woman, too frightened to run, stood
on the step as they passed One of the
nOn-unioniStS shot at her three times.
one bullet passed through a shawl
which she had thrown over her head.
Two bullets went through windows of
residences. and one buried itself in the
window sill of Il frame occupied by the
Soulter family, who were looking out
at the time. While the negroes were
running, men lodging into alleys would
hurl stones at them. When the colored
men reached their house they ran in
and barred the door. In a minute the
house was surrounded by an Infatuated
crowd, who soon tore down the fence
and shattered every window with
stones. When the deputies and bor-
ough officers arrived some persons were
suggesting that they leave the house,
and some one began to yell: Lets
lynch the niger black sheep"
This was taken up and cries of Hang
them were heard on all sides. The
officers went in to arrest the colored
men and they found them huddled in
one room, terrified and expecting to be
killed. One man, however, was not
afraid and said he would be the first to
leave. AS he was taken out a woman
hit him with frying pan, cutting his
head. The deputies tried in vain to
keep the crowd away while they took
the man to a lookup, but he was hit
several times.
Stones were also hurled and Deputy
Montgomery was also struck. The Of
ficers then drew their revolvers and an
nounced that if any more stones were
thrown they would have to open fire.
A Slav threw 4 rock which crashed
through a window already half shat
tered. He was arrested, but the au-
thorities seemed almost powerless, for
by this time over 2, 600 persons gathered.
Several other colored men were beaten
on the way to the lookup.
About this time another alarming re-
port was circulated through the crowd
It was, in effect, that the colored nom
unionists living on Shanty hill, hearing
of the assault upon their brethren in
town, were about to come down and
rescue them This was really the case.
Over fifty of the colored men were
ready to make an onslaught at Il mo-
ment's notice and the coal and iror
police had much di fficulty in restrain
ing them.
Peter McFaddeo, who first engaged
the colored men in a fight was shot
through the left arm and cut on the
head. James Jones, his friend, who
came to his assistance in the attack,
had an escape from death which was
miraculous. He had clinched with one
of the colorcd men and struck him As
he did so, the negro showed his revolver
in his assailant's face and fired; the
bullet struck Jones on the forehead
above the eyes and glanced off. cutting
a bloody furrow over the left eye.
Jones and McFadden were arrested.
Mrs Jones attempted to shield her hus-
band and attacked the officers but was
withheld Of the eleven coiored men
locked up, seven have cuts on their
heads. where they were struck by mis-
siles and clubs. j. Lewis and H. Ford
being so badly beaten that q physician
vas summoned to dress their wounds
Clippings.
A New York court holds that pro
posal made in fun is binding.
Mrs Reed, one of the lady managers