The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-07
Beaten by Women and Men with Sticks and
Stones. Wounds of the Injured Filled with
Sand, and One Mans Eye Poked Out.
Military Aid Refused by the Governor
When the Situation Was Grave.
Scenes and Incidents Of the Deplorable Trag-
edy-Stories of Eye Witnesses and Others
How 1t Is Viewed by Congressman.
A DEPLORABLE AFFAIR.
Pinkertons and Homestead Mill Men En-
gage in . Desperate Conflict
IInifad Preaa Dfapatch

Pinkertons and Homestead Mill Men En-
gage in q Desperate Conflict
United Press Dispatch.
HOMESTEAD, Pa, July 6.-About 2:30 this
morning word was received at Homestead
from the scouts stationed at lock No. 1, on
MononRahela river bank. that two boat
loads of strange men had arrived there In
charge of the steamer Little Bill, and were
on their way to Homestead. The informs-
tion had no sooner been received than
the large steam whistle at the elec-
tric-liRht plant was blown, and its
mournful, far-reschins voice rose and fell
on the morning air. waking the weary
sleepers within radius of many miles and
telling them that the Pinkertons were
coming. The perfection of the unparalleled
system of signalling which has been
adopted by the Homestead was we'll dem
onstrated. for the moment the whistle was
heard flashlights were brought into play
from different points on the surrounding
high ground.
The little battle-ship Edna. which is ever
ready for dnty. joined her shrlll small
voice In the call to arms. but after shrek
ing for q few seconds put off down the
river in search Of her enemy. The senti-
nels on the outposts. in the meantime.
were not idle. as hundreds of sky rockets
were sent toward the heavens to make
assurance donbly sure that no man.
woman or child in Homestead would
sleep while their town was menaccd.
Within two minutes after the first blast
of the large whistles one thousand
half dressed but wide-awake people were
hurrying toward the river. iostling each
other in their eagerness to get the first
glimpse Of the Pinkerton fleet. They
peered into the dense fog which overhung
the Mononeahela waters in vain. and no
sound was heard save the calls and an
swers of the water scouts, who were plying
the river In skiffs, searching for the enemy.
For fully an hour il seemed as though the
people had been called from their beds for
no reason.
THE SECOND ALARM.
At o'clock the streets of Homestead
were almost deserted, as many persons had
returned TO their homes. Three horsemen,
their steeds bathed in foam came flying up
the river road to Homestead and scattered
in different directions. shouting wildly:
ITO the river; to the river; the Pnker tons
are coming!" At the same time the steam
whistle, for the second time since the sun
had set. sent its dismal warning, this
time sounding the death call of many Home
stead people who had sprung from their
beds but two hours before. This time the
alarm was a genuine one, ana as the te n
thousand people scurried through the
streets toward the river a shrill whistle
from the bend below tho town announce
the coming of the little boat Edna, and
her peculiarly plaintive peal carried q
painful significance. She was followed
closely by u low. lopg-lying float, being
pushed rapidly mp stream hy q steamer.
The vast army of men. women and chill
dren on shore were not long in learning the
character of the strange craft and the
cry of two model barges full of Pinker-
tons, ",wae soon raised. Then there was mad
rush toward the mill fences. Rushing.
screaming and falling over each other, the
crowd reached the twenty-foot fence
which extended down into the water, and
the advanee guard began tearing down the
hoards- They were for getting In the mill.