Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-07-08
LABOR WAR!
BLOODSHED AT
HOMESTEAD, PA.
Labor and Capital
In Deadly Strife.
PINKERTON MEN AND CARN-
EGIE EMPLOYEES
Fight from Dawn TO Twilight...25O on
One Side and 1000 on the Other.


which Caused the Outbreak.
The most desperate and bloody conflict
between labor and capital which this coun-
try has ever seen, the railroad riots of 1877
alone excepted, took place on Wednesday
at Homestead, Pa, place eight miles east
of Pittsburg, and the location of the extern
sive plant of the celebrated Carnegie iron
and steel company. All day long from /
o'clock in the morning until five in the
3 afternoon, battle was waged. which, for
blood-thirstiness and holiness of execution.
has rarely been eNceled in actual warfare.
The forces embraced on the one side all
the men employed by the Carnegie COM
pany. On the other side were 800 Pinker-
ton detectives whom the company had
brought to Homestead on three barges to
protect their property, and who were not
permitted by the rioters to land. The
number of the killed is not definitely
known but was at least eight or ten on
each side, and many others were wounded.
History of the Riot.
The riot was the elimination of the
troubles which have been brewing at Home
stead for the past month. The Carnegie
company submitted a scale to govern their
workmen in the steel plants, and announced
that it was their ultimatum. The scale
made a sweeping reduction in the wages of
skilled men, and it was officially announced
that unless the terms were complied with
before July l, the places of the workmen
would be filled by others. This was fol-
lowed by peremptory refusal on the part
of the company to recognize the amalga-
mated association of steel and iron workers
as such or to confer with any committee of
the workmen short of an acceptance of the
terms offered. The men stated that they
would never submit to the proposed reduc-
ton and announced their determination to
resist any effort on the part of the Carne-
gies to start up their plants with non
union men. As both sides were determined,
both proceeded to prepare for the contest
which eliminated in violence and blood
shed, Wednesday. The contest was precipi-
tated by the workmen at Homestead by
hanging II. c. Frick, president of the com
pany, in efiigy. In retaliation the company
ordered an immediate shutdown of the
big works two days before the time pro-
vided by the contract under which the
men were working. The employees, about
1000 in number, at once proceeded to or
ganize for the defensive.
The company had already erected high
board fence around the entire works, Civ
ing them the appearance of an immense
stockade, the sides being pierced with port
holes. Above the fence were stretched
three strands of barbed wire, which could
be charged with electricity. Inside the
fence were other means of defence, and COM
plete arrangements were made for board
ing there the new workmen who were eX-
pected to take the places of those locked
out. The men on their side effected
complete military organization, under com
petent officers, and last Sunday a signal
station was built on the roof of their head
quarters so high that it commands a full
view of Fort Frick, as the Carnegie works
are called, and the surrounding country.
A man with a ficld-glass can here gaze over
the ramparts of the enemy and leisurely
contemplate the goings-on within the
enemy's fortress.
What added to the hostile feeling on the
part of the men was the fact that Mr. Car
negie had retired from the active manage
ment of the company, leaving in charge II.
c. Prick, already mentioned, man who
was believed to have the "nerve' to see this
contest through, and who, it was believed,
was resolved to break up the workmen's
organizations. Mr.. Frick had conducted
with success the struggle against the Hun
garian coke-workers at Connellsville. On
the part of the company it was claimed that
the Amalgamated association of steel and
iron workers had been growing more and
more Overbearing in their demands until
they were intOlerable. The skilled work
men were paid by the tonnage of iron and
steel turned out, and improved machinery
had increased their wages in some cases as
much as GO per cent. The company claim
ed that, on account of these high wages,
they were unable to compete, in spite of
the tariff, with the English manufacturers,
who were willing to lay down their goods
on this side of the Atlantic, after paying
the tariff, at the price for which the Amer
lean goods could be made
The Carnegie company announced their
intention to get ready to make repairs, and
the officers asked the sheriff to appoint de-
puties to protect their property. The sher-
iff sent a small squad of men up to the
works, but the strikers assembled in force
and warned them to get out of town, as no
disorder was intended and no damage
would be done TO any property. Finally
the sheriff's squad was escorted by the men
on board boat which took them back to
Pittsburg.
Wednesdays Fight.
After this repulse of the sheriff's men
the company decided to throw a lot of