Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-11
READY FOR A FIGHT
The Locked Out Men Pre-
pared TO
WHIP THE HATED PINkERI0ks
II They Shall Again Atsemps 20 Enter
the Mllls--The Men Publish .
Statement

HoxKsrrAp, July I0.--Peace and
quiet reign today, but il 10 only the
peace and quiet that precece . storm.
The stiffness Is forced and bodes
trouble. People remain In doors. Ii
they meet upon the streets they con-
verse in whispers. No one doubts that
we are on the eve OF trouble and those
who understand the situation look for
more serious trouble, even than that OF
last week. The sheriff is powerless.
the governor does not act. and yet tins
borough of Il 900 inhabitants is IN the
hands OF set OF determined
men, who propose TO settle
their dispute with Carnegie without
OUTSIDE interference. They make their
own laws and regulations and recog-
nize no authority higher than them
and that not the law of the land.
Armed guards patrol the streets night
and day. Every approach to either
the town or to the works of the Car
negie company is guarded. Every
stranger is compelled to give a salts
factery explanation of himself and
his business, and If there is any doubt
as 10 his identity he is escorted to the
next outgoing train and warned that
it Will be dangerous TO return.
In for the Fight.
The strikers are drilled and equipped
with Winchesters,, revoivers aud shot
guns. Guns are carried openly In the
streets. The organization of the 1000
or more members of the Amalgamated
association OF iron and eteel workers
is remarkable. Every man is deter
mined and word has been passed that
they are In for the fight of their life.
They are desperate and another force
of Pinkertons need expect no quarter.
The mill men will die or win if there is
another battle, and there is every indi-
cation here that there will be one, and
soon. The success of the men in cap
turing the Pihkertons last Wednesday,
and in holding their ground since.
has gwen them an overgrown idea
of their own Importance. The local
authorities are p0werless to restrain the
men even were they 90 disposed. AS n
matter of fact they are with the mill
men. The burgess Of the town, who is
the highest officer, is in sympathy with
the men. The regular police, COM
posed of chief and two patrolmen,
are with them. Twenty additional
policemen have been sworn in. They
are not only with tie mel, but many
of them are mill men themselves
thrown out of work by the lockout.
Some members of the town council are
| leaders of the strikers. Men who have
sci we'd on important committees in the
trouble distributed ammunition las,
night when the Pinkertons were ex.
pccted. One of these men who is q
prominent citizen of Homestead and
who for obvious reasons requested that
| his name be suppressed, said:
They Cannot Re Surprised.
1--WE took care of the Pinkertons the
other day pretty we'll. but that will not
| be q circumstance to the reception the
next lot will receive. We were taken
by surprise then, but We are ready now
and we cannot be surprised. Our men
| are well armed and they know how to
use their arms. We have plenty of am.
| munltion 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 las,
Wednesday who are thirsting for re.
venge. IL the Pinkertons come
or scabs are put in the
works they will get it,
The headquarters OF the strikers is IN
new three-story brick building on
high ground overlooking the Carnegie
works and within a pistol shot of the
celebrated fence that surrounds the
| r,fIia