The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-07-08

ing Oilfor weapons.-Prisoners running
a BLOODY Gauntlet
Not since the Pittsburg riots of 1877,
and but once before paralelled in this
country have scenes occurred like those
narrated below, the particulars of which
we take from the Associated Press dis
patches:
Homestead, Pa, July 6th.-Capital
and labor have clashed at Homestead,
and the town is red with blood. Never
in the bloody history of riots in this vi
cinity, save in the great railroad riots of
1877, has there been such carnage and
such battle.
The three hundred Pinkertons who
came in boat to Homestead in the early
morning, have desolated many hearth,
and their shots aroused such despera-
ton, that it is safe to say that before
the men would now allow the mill to be
operated by non-union men, they would
burn it over their heads.
The story of the battle is hard to tell.
In tie dark mist of early morn, when
the town was quiet, the rumor of the
arrival of the boat-load of Pinkertons,
reached Homestead. The word was
sent along the line, and the streets al
most ri an instant were crowded with
men. women and children hurrying in
the direction of the Works landing.
Some were only half clad. On the mad
dened crowd rushed; some to return
without even tear in their eyes; others
to part forever on the battle ground.
Mothers stood with babes in their arms,
wondering what would be the result if
the Pinkertons attempted to land.
The most horrible forebodings have
been realized, and to-day there are many
homes in distress; many mothers,
fathers, sisters, brothers and sweet
hearts with tears running down their
cheeks. mourning the loss of some one
who fell by the bullets from the boat.
The landing of that boat will ever be re-
membered at Homestead, and for gen.
erations to come the fathers will tell
their children of the bloody battle of the
Monongahela.
At an early houl this morning, 300
Pinkerton detectives arrived in Pitts
burg from the East. They were quietly
marched to the Monongahela River,
where they were loaded on barges and
shipped to Homestead at 2.15 o'clock.
The news of their arrival spread rapidly.
and when the steam tug, Little Bill,
towing the barges, arrived at Home
stead, there were 5000 people waiting to
meet them. AS soon as the Pinkertons
attempted to land, they were met by a
firm refusal from the men and battle
| followed. The Pinkertons opened fire,
and at the first volley two workmen fell.
This enraged the crowd and they bore
down upon the Pinkertons with resist
less force. Nobody stopped to inquire
| whether. the newcomers were deputy
| sheriffs, Pinkerton detectives, or non
union laborers. After the exchange of
shots the crowd grouped ON the bank
fell back and climbed over the heap OF
rubbish, and rushed toward the big
trestle leading to the Pemicky Railroad
Bridge. Probably 300 of the men stood
their ground and returned desultory
| fire with their revolvers at the invaders.
These shots did little or no apparent
damage, and the plucky band, finding
their weapons ineffective, slowly fell back
before the withering fire of the Win
chesters.
A second battle was fought later in
the day and the Pinkertons surrendered.
After hanging out a second white nag,
the first having not been recognized by
the angry mob. Whether the first shot
was fired by the PinkertOns or by the
strikers will be published the one or the
other depending upon whether polltlca
capital may be made out of it or not. The
Democrats are already laying the blame
to the Republicans, notwithstanding the
fact that the reduction of the tariff on
iron is the moving cause of the trouble
Whether the mob would have fired OF
the State militia If sent to guard the
Carnegie works will probably never bt
known as Gov. Pattison refused to cal
out the troops. In that event the Com
pany called in other forces to protect it
property. Labor sympathizers argue
iIt is pretty generally conceded that thu
strikers were perfectly justified in resist
ing the attempt to place 300 cut-throa'
Pinkerton men inside the works TO Ier
awe the discharged workingmen."
On the other hand it is equally as wei
argued that, "a man has a right to stol
work. he has the right to persuade
others to stop. Men have the right Il
stop in a mass--to strike. But there th'
right ends. The moment the strikers
use any violence, by attacking any mai
hirel in his place, injuring or attempt
ing to .injure any property or interfering
with any men set to guard the property
he puts himself in a hopelessly wronl
position. He breaks the law and set
himself against the whole community
It is of course frequently true that tn
striker has hard row to hoe and is en-
| titled to sympathy and any aid the com