St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-08
CRUELTY DECEIVED.
Many of the Prisoners We're Led
Into Trap. -

HOMESTEAD, July 7-Among those
smooth-faced young man named Atkin-
son. who gave this account of his eX-
perience as Pinkerton detective: my
home is in New York city. l am
member OF one of the leading military
companies there. Being out Of
work L answered an advertise
ment tor watchnen. was told
that l would be paid SIS a week
and boarded free of cost. accepted the
place. When got to tho train l found
nearly hundred men who had also
been engaged as private watchmen. We
were told that we were to go to a little
country town. but nothing was said of
strike. We were led to believe that
we were to. have an easy time of it.
None of us knew where we were GO
ing. We were taken to Buffalo, Roch-
ester. Erie, Youngstown. o., and finally
put off the train at Pittsburg, but ws
had no idea where we were. We were
marched to the barges, which were soon
started up the river, towed by two
steamers. We had not proceeded far
when the boats come to a stop and we
heard firing. Then it was that we were
handed guns and told that we must fight
for our lives. This was the first init
nation that we had of the character of
the work for which we had been en-
gagged. Many of the men refused to
obey the orders to use the guns. Not a
few made rush for the steamers, but
found that they had cut loose and that
there was no possible chance of escap-
ing from the trap.
All night long we were in state of
terror, and when daylight came we saw
tho aYfpad nd oI- In
Oh the river banks. and heard the roar
of cannon and saw men bleeding and
dying all around us, our feelings can
be better imagined than described.
There were about fifty trained Pinker-
ton men on the bargeS who seemed to
he doing ali the firing. With blanched
faces, strong men pleaded with those
in command to run up flag of truce,
but they wOule not listen to it. When
it was found that the fight was to con-
tinue many of those Oh board threw
down their arms and hid beneath cots,
mattresses, etc. BY lying Oh our stom-
ache we could see everything that was
taking place on shore.
When we saw that preparations were
being made to burn the bargeS by
throwing oil upon them not one of us
expected to get away alive, Even those
in command grew nervous, but still
they would not give up. 1t was then
that [ made preparations to kill my
self. l loaded my revolver and made
up my mind to blow out my brains
should the boat be set OH fire. | am
just as positive that not less than a
dozen of our men committed suicide
during the day as that l am standing
here. saw four jump into the water
and sink, and | have been told that sew
eral others made way with themselves
in the same way. They went over the
side of the boat farthest from shore
and could not be seen by the men in
the mill yard.
The pleadings of some of the older
men, who said they had families, was
enough to move the hardest heart, but
was not until those in command saw
hat to remain on the boats until after
nightfall meant sure death, that they
agreed to the demands of the men and
sent out word that they were ready to
surrender. As member CT military
company | have seen many sham bat
ties, and had some pretty rough ex-
perience. but that was all featherhead
soldiery compared with what | have
gone through during the past day and
night. will never again accept soft
snap as watchman unless l know ex-
actly what am going to dO."