The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-07-06
UNDER ESCORT.
Deputy Sheriffs Desert Homestead
for Homestead's Good,
IN RESPONSE TO AN INVITATION,


Their Minds.
HOMESTEAD, Pa, July 0.-The first ag-
gressive move in m attempt on the part
Of the Carnegie Steel company to start
their mills in opposition to the wishes of
the locked out men was made yesterday,
but was unsuccessful. The mill workers
came off victorious at every point The
Carnegie company applied to Sheriff
McCleary, of Allegheny, for help in
guarding the Homestead property and
protection for those men whom, they
claim, are willing and anxious to go to
work, but are in fear of bodily harm
from the strikers. Sheriff McCleary,
accompanied by ex-Sheriffs Gray and
Cluly, came from Pittsburg at noon and
repaired to the Observation-Disclosures an
nouncing that they would assume con-
troll of the Carnegie Steel company's
property, and would send sape deputies
to guard the works later in the day, but
before doing so wished personal in
spection Of the grounds. They asked for
a pass to visit the interior OF the mill,
which was not only given by the advis-
ctJ SOihihhbtcot Oub u DOuy BudTu Vi ltu
men was furnished the sheriff to show
him everything in sight. After an in
spection of the works the sheriff was es-
corted back to headquarters, where a
committee was awaiting him. The
Chairman of the advisory committee ad-
dressed the sheriff as follows: ss
The Committee's Offcr.
"Mr. Sheriff, the Homestead people,
both before this trouble came and since
its precipitation, have expressed their
intention Of not only guarding their own
property, but the property OF their en-
ployers. the Carnegie Steel company, as
well. The property is not endangered,
but the bringing into Homestead OF dep
uties, ostensibly for the purpose of
guarding property which is not in dam
ger, Is unnecessary. Now we, the peo-
pie of Homestead, wish to make an
offer. We will place from fifty to five
hundred of our best citizens inside OF
that mill to guard that property if the
firm think 1t is in danger, and these
men will protect the property with their
own lives If necessary. And further
than that, q bond Of $4,000 will be
given for the faithful vigilance of each
man posted. We don't want deputy
sheriffs here, as it will precipitate
trouble, and therefore we make this
oMer.
Sheriff McCleary said that he was un-
able to accept the offer, although he
acknowledged the sensibility and fair
ness of the proposition, and stated that
be had been instructed to bring 500
deputy sheriffs to Homestead during the
afternoon and would do 80.
.Then bring them at your own risk.
We hereby dissolve the advisory com
mittee, and we will not be responsible
for any trouble which may accrue from
their coming" said the chairman.
The sheriff then left for Pittsburg, but
before he got out Of town the following
petition, signed by many of the most
prominent residents of Mifflin township,
was flying over the wires to Pittsburg:
Asking an Injunction.
''W. J. Brennan, ESD, Pittsburg:
: she citizens of Miiiiin township nsiE
for 4 temporary injunction to restrain
the sheriff of Allegheny county from
sending deputies to the Homestead Steel
works. We believe it is a move cal
Culated to cause unnecessary disturb
ance."
MIR. Brennan sent word last night
that nothing could be done in the mat
ter, as the court has no authority to
grant an injunction to prohibit the
peace officers from protecting property.
The word that the advisory committee
had been dissolved and that the sheriff
would attempt to place his men inside
the works before night caused great ex-
citement, and in less than an hour
petition was in circulation among the
leading merchants of the town, praying
Governor Pattison to repair to Home
stead Immediately and take some steps
towards avoiding the scene of trouble,
and possibly bloodshed, which appeared
near at hand.
A few minutes after A o'clock word
was received that seventy-iye blue
coated Pinkerton men had landed at the
Union station, Pittsburg, on their way
to Homestead, and fully 1900 men
within few moments were distributed
along the railroad track near the station
in readiness to receive the Pinkertons
should they attempt to land in Home
stead.
Although the workmeu were disap-
pointed regarding the Pinkertons they
soon had excitement enough. At 4:30
o'clock word was received that ex-Sher-
if Cluly, with eleven deputies was, rap
idly nearing Homestead on the Pitts
bug, Virginia and Charleston railway,
due at 4:46. A rush was made toward
the City Farm station, and when the
train passed about 5000 people had con-
EItkhlNu hDOut llc ucpObJ pub buC uCp-
uties did not appear.
The De;sItics Appear.
A few InomeAts later mighty shout
came from 1900 people gathering at
Munhall station, above which is the
main entrance TO the mill, telling the
crowd below that the deputies had
landed. The scene which followed is
indescrible. The crowd at City Farm
station were compelled to come up
alongside Of the fence about 300 yards
before getting onto Eighth avenue, lead
ing to Munhall station, and as every
man wanted to be the first to get to
Munhall the narrow passageway was
crowded to suffocation by the struggling
mill workers, all tumbling over each
other In their great haste. When the
crowd reached Eighth avenue they were
Joined by q larBr crowd, all pressing
toward Munhali, and the sixty foot street
was hardly able to hold them. In the
meantime the deputi&, in charge of
Sheriff Clrly were having an interesting
time at the Munhall gate. AS soon as
the train stopped the deputies, headed
by Cluly, started toward the gate,
against which stood several hundred
brawny mill men. The deputies came
close up to the determined mill workers,
who looked them square in the face
without nlncnlnB OF moving IN luoi'
Ex-Sheriff Cluly advanced and in clear
voice said: "Men, we command you to
fall back and give us ENTRANCE to the
property Of the Carnegie Steel company,
which we have been detailed to guard. !"
"You Cannot Enter"
There was silence for a moment, when
one of the workers stepped forward and
said: "We cannot permit you to enter
fha mill Tho mill T1rnuartv 10 mot n
danger, nor does it require your guard
lanship, and we think that should we
admit you to this mill it would be
against cur interests, SO we will not
allow you to enter Should you wish to
return to Pittsburg we will sec that you
get safely out of town"
"Acting Sheriff Cluly, after few