Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-11
uons and recognize no authority higher

G0hG not G1o law OF the lana.
Armed guards patrol the streets night
and day. Every approach to either the
town or to the works of the Carnegie
Steel Company Is guarded.
Every stranger is compelled to give
satisfactory explanation of himself and
business, and If there is any doubt as to
his identity he is escorted to the next out
going train and warned that it will be
dangerous to return.
The strikers are drilled and equipped
with Winchesters, revolvers and shot guns.
Guns are carried generally in the streets.
The organization of A, 900 or more mem
bers of the Amalgamated Association
of Iron and Steel Workers is remarkable.
Every man is determined and word has
been passed that they are in the fight of
their life. They are desperate, and an
other force of Pinkerton men need expect
no quarter.
The mill men will die or win if there is
another battle, and there is every indica-
ton that there will be one, and that
soon.
The success Of the men in capturing the
Pinkertons last Wednesday and in hold
ing their ground since has given them an
overgrown idea of their own Importance.
The local authorities are powerless to
restrain the men, even were they so dis
posed. As a matter of fact they are with
the mill men
The regular police, composed of a chief
and two patrolmen, are with them.
Twenty additional policemen have been
sworn in. They are not only with the
mill men, but many of them are mill
men themselves, thrown out of work by
the lockout.
The burgess of the town, who is the
highest officer here is in sympathy with the
men.
Some members of the Town Council are
leaders of the strikers, men who have
served on important committees in the
trouble distributed ammunition when the
Pinkertons were expected.
One of these men, who is a prominent
citizen of Homestead, and who, for OBJ
viouS reasons, requested that his name be
suppressed, said:
1--WE took care of the Pinkertons the
other day pretty well, but that will not
be q circumstance to the reception the next
lot will receive.
eve were taken by surprise then, but
we are ready now and cannot be surprised.
"Our men are well armed and they
know how to use their arms. We have
plenty of ammunition and our men are
desperate.
"Some of them are aching for an en-
counter. There are plenty of relatives and
friends of the boys who fell last Wednes-
day who are thirsting for revenge.
eff the Pinkertons come or scabs are
put in the works they will get It,"
The headquarters of the strikers is in q
new three-story brick building on high
ground overlooking the Carnegie works
and within pistol shot of the celebrated
fence that surrounds the mills
From the council room on the third
floor the movements Of watchmen within
the Carnegie grounds can be observed.
At present the strikers permit the few
A1,a Will lie 70
pass in and out unmolested, but the works
are surrounded, and are practically in the
possession of the strikers.
By refraining from placing guards with
in the works the strikers claim that there
is no excuse for Intervention of State
troops, and if the militia put in appear
ance there is no telling what the result
| will be.
The strikers have sent their committee
| to see Gov. Pattison and to protest against
| the psesence of troops.
Should their protest be ignored and the
| troops sent as an escort for non-union
| men there is little doubt that there will
| be a battle
The men know that it is fight for the
| life of their organization and that defeat
means the loss of there homes and the
starvation of their families.
They are prepared for any emergency.
They have repeating rifles, cannon and
| dynamite.
The latter is in the hands of men ex-
| perienced in it's use.
If they decide to blow up the Carnegie
bridge from the works to the other side
of the Monongahela they will do it, even
| if train load of Pinkertons happens tc
be crossing at the time.
If they decide to demolish the works it
is in their power to dc it; but there are toe
many sensible men among the strikers and
| they have to much interest in the preserv,
alton of the works for any such step.
The situation is that the town of Home
stead and the great mills of Carnegie
Phipps g. Co., are in the absolute power
of body of strikers, held in check by the
uncertain authority Of a committee Of
| leaders.
Andrew Carnegie, from his safe place II
Scotland, declines to interfere, and Super
intendent Frick, the man of steel, refuses
to recede from his position.
To maintain his position means more
bloodshed, and it may come at any mo
ment.
The army of strikers are resting ON theil
arms, flushed with the success of one bat
tie and eagerly waiting chance to scor'
another.
The press badges issued to the news
| paper correspondents by Hugh O'Donnell
| after each mans name and the paper b.
represented had been recorded in the Off
cial book of the Amalgamated Association
have relieved the press boys of a great dea
of hindrence and unnecessary explanation
| in their work.
Mr.. O'Donnell's promise that the badg
would pass them through all lines Q
pickets and permit them to go where the
pleased so far as the Amalgamated Assc
citation was concerned, has been lived up t
in most instances.
PlNkERTONS ASSEMBLING.