Passaic City record., 1892-07-09

sI;ve Hose was procured and oil was spouted
ON the dec IS and sides OF the Darges.
While this was being done, barrel after BAR
rel of oil was emptied into the river above
the mooring place, the ooJect being 10 aliow
| it to float against the boats and then ignite
it. This was attempted several times, but
, the boats did not burn, and then the mob
became infuriated and hurled dynamite
bombs at the vessels.
The men also laid natural gas pipe
toward the boats. They wanted 10 sen1 d
strong stream of natural gas that would en-
velop the boat, and then light it with tor
The second conflict was precipitated when
another effortwas made blythe Pinkerton men
to effect landing. Before the secont at
tempt was made to land the ofncer IN cnarge
announced to the crowd of workmen assem-
bled on the bank that his men were Pinker
tons, and that he would land them if he had
to NOV down everybody in sight. He
then ordered his men to advance, and as
they advanced from the barge they were
met by shower of lead from the rifles and
pistols of the tattered workmen. The officers
fell back for an instant as if rspulsed, but
they were promptly ralliei, and, marching
eight abreast, endeavored to get ashore.
They were driven back again. however.
The steamer Little Bill, which had towed
the Pinkerton men to Homestead was COM
PEELED early in the day to leave the barges
on the bank and under the fire
OF the strikers to convey the
wounde Pinkerton men to a place where
they could obtain treatment. When this
was accomplished, the caotain of the
steamer tried to return and tow the barges
into the middle of the river again, but he
was not permitted to come near the bank.
The cannoneers across the river fred three
cannon balls at the Little Bill. Their aim
was bad, and one ball, entering the open
hearth department., took off mans head.
The number killed was now ten and
eleven wounded. The strikers asserted that
besides the captain and lieutenant, four
other men were shot and fell from the barge.
One Pinkerton, becoming desperate, jumped
off the rear and tried to swim. He was
drowned The pilot OF the Little Bill was
killed The boat was driven off and pro-
ceeded down the river.
The men continu ID using dynamite
sticks, throwing them over the piles of coal
and iron. Some exploded in the wa ter and
did no damage. while others struck
the boats and sent pieces flying in the air.
At every successful shot the man rent
the air with wild chesrs. Sharpshooters
were stationed at various places, and shot
every time Pinkerton man 1ooEsd out to
see the position of the men.
Finally the strikers cannon burst and
they resortei to dynamite. Great chunks
of it were thrown at the boat the most OF
Meanwhile the Pinkertons were huddled
under deck. dragging in their dead and car
ing for their wounded, waiting for what
seemed their certain doom, as all overtures
of surrender had been refused.
Finally it was evident to everybody that
they would soon die if they were not re-
lieved, and the leaders of the strikers
pleaded with their followers to allow the
Pinkertons to surrender.
The appeal was drowned with shouts of
mop "Now "We'll kill them like dogsp
"They shall have no mercyP but when.
few minutes later thu white handkerchief
appeared on the top of ons OF the barges,
the firing ceased AMI the strikers consented
to par,ey.
The Pinkerton men as soon as they found
it was safe to talk, offered to surrender ii
the leaders gu aranteed them protection. The
promise was given, ami 266 men marched on
the boat and gave up their arms.
Then the promise that they should not be
harmed seemed to De lorgotton. They were
driven like sheep between lines of strikers to
the Opera House. All the way they were
beaten first with fists and then with clubs,
and every conceivable weapon. Every man
was sore and covered with blood before he
found shelter.
Having locked the Pinkertons up and sur
rounded the building with an armed guard
the strikers telegraohei Sheriff McCleary
ers to JAIL The Sheriff left Pittsburg on the
first train.
No sooner were the detectives safely in
Jail than the two barges were thoroughly
Sc arched by the Home stead men, and it is
said that the guns, carriages and uniforms
were removed. This may or may not be
true Barrels of oil were pourel upon the
two boats and they were burned to the
waters edge at sunset.
A complete list of the killed and wounded
was not obtainable, but as far as could be
ascertained. eleven workmen and nine
detectives were killed, and eighteen work.
men and twenty-one detectives injured
in the battle. In addition to this at
least 100 detectives were seriously inr
jured by ohe strikers on the way to the jail.
| The imprisoned Pinkertons say that seven of
their men were killed outright and eleven
wounded. They believe several dead men
were thrown off the Little Bill into the river.
| The number of Pinkertons placed in the
| lookup and rink was 234.
Governor Pattison went to the scene of
] conflict and it was expected that he would
order out military force to preserve order.
| At 1215 next morning a special train
| of ten cars backed quietly into the F.,
| ". and C. depot, at Homestead. Sheriff Nc
| Cieary and W. j. Brennan jumped from
| the train and hurried to the lookup and
the rink where the Pinkerton men were i'm
| prisoned A moment later the prisoners were
marched to tae deoot. and almost without a
| word they were hurried into the car waiting
them. All the blinds were pulled down and
not 200 people in the pace knew that their
| enemies were being taken away. About
| fifty citizens OF Homestead accompanied the
| prisoners to Pittsnurg
| History Of the Trouble.
| The strike at Homestead is the result of a
| fight between Andrew Carnegie and the
| Ayna oomofo1 ccoeiat tion of Iron and Steel