Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-14
A TARIFF TILT IN COMMITTEE.


terested in the Investigation that he forgo'
to swear him. The other members of the
committee did not notice the omission
either. After Colonel Gray mad proceeded
for some time bystander notified Colonel
Oates. The Chairman stopped Mr.. Gray in
the middle of q statement and the oath was
taken. Everybody laughed.
Deputy Sheriff Gray's Story.
Oates-Are you a deputy sheriff.
Gray-Yes. since July5
Oates-What did you do on that day and
subsequently,
A. went with Sheriff McCleary to Home
stead on the l0:40 A.. M. train and returned at
2 2o'clock. We looked over the mill with Mr.
O'Donnen and the Advisory Committee.
Sheriff McCleary told the committee he
would put deputies in the mill in the after
noon, and he wanted it done without moles-
tation; At first there was disposition to
allow it.
Oates-Who was on that committee?
A. didn't know the men, but Mr.. O'D0n-
nell and Mr.. Lynch were members. The
committee escorted us back to the hall
where it had a meeting. They asked the
Sheriff and myself to retire. Later they said
they would not be responsible for any harm
that might come to the deputies. We then
crossed the river in a skiff and came to
Pittsburg. We next met Attorneys Knox
and Petty, and we were told some Plnker-
ton men would be taken up that night.
went TO DAVIS lSlanu Qam, ana SOG III Cu0
boat at 10 O'Clock. / was there to prevent
breaches OF the peace, not to take charge OF
the men.
oates-what time did you proceed up the
river?
A. The Pinkertons arrived at 11:45 by
train at night on the 9th, and the boat
started up the river with the men on board.
We reached lock No. l between l and
O'Clock. An accident occurred there to one
of the towboats, and then the Little Bill took
the barges to Homestead.
Arming the Pinkerton Men.
Oates-were the men armed?
A. 1 had not seen up to that time any
arms. After we passed the lock Superin-
tendent Potter called into the cabin Captain
Hinde and instructed him that in case of
trouble his men We're not to fire
except in case of self-preservation or
some of their number had been wounded.
He went back to the barges. At Homestead
the whistles were blowing and on the wharf
there was considerable firing with small
arms. We ran above the crowd, but before
we passed the plant a ball came through the
pilot house. and concluded it was a rifle
ball. One struck the whistle, another the
smokestack. When We passed the line ofthe
borough the people started for the works.
We gained on them as the fence tnterfered
with their progress At the landing. Cap
tain Rodgers asked Potter to send someone
to protect him while he tied his boat. I'M
mediately the people rushed down the hill
Oates-Had the gang plank been put out?
A. / couldn't see.
Oates-Had the Pinkertons fired gun up
to this time?
A. Not gun had been fired by them. 1
swear positively to that. Not until there
had been considerable firing from the shore
did the Pin nkertons fire.
Oates-Did you give any order to Pinker-
ton men?
A. None. At the landing Captain Hinde
asked me if would swear them in as deputy
sheriffs. He wanted to know their legal re-
/ told him they were employed
selves.
Entirely Too Hot for Comfort
Oates-You didn't go out of the boat, did
A. No, it was too hot at that time. laugh
teri
Oates-Did you bear any order given by
the Pinkerton captain to people on shore?
A. Yes; the captain said they must retire.
His speech was very short. The Pinkerton
men had come out of the boat on both ends.
This was the first time I saw the Pinker-
ten men outside. We were there
about an hour. 1 left with the boat carrying
back the wounded. When we got within
runshot OF the works they opened a hot fire
on MS from both sides of the river. 1t was
so hot that the pilot crouched down and left
his wheel.
Oates-Where were the DargeS at that
time?
A. At the mill landing.
Oates-Any firing going on at the bargesf
A. No; very little at that time. They
turned their attention to the Little Bill. 1
couldn't see what was being done on the
barges. 1 heard no order given to the Pinker-
tons except Superintendent Potter's instruc-
tions to the two officers
Broderick-Did you 20 up the river in the
regular way, giving proper signals?
A. VI did.
Broderick-Had you lights on the boatr
a. Yes: the boat was lighted. The first
shot think came from a sentinel, fully half
mile from town.
Broderick-How rapidly did the boat
move?
A. Rather slowly, but 1 noticed we beat
Broderick-Dfd you have anything to do
With the arms?
A. No, sir.
Broderick-who controlled them?
A. l suppose the Pinkertons had charge
)f them.
Broderick-Did you know the men were
oinKerton detectives?
A. Yes, sir.
Present TO Preserve the Peace.
Boatner-You were there to preserve the
,eace you say. What did you do to pre-
erve it?
A. advised the men that they had a right
'nly to protect their lives
bOaIner-Dlu you Guo poOpl0
IN shore to disperse in the name of the
aw9
A. There was no opportunity given be-
tween the landing and the firing.
Boatner-The Sheriff said this morning
you were sent to order off the Pinkertons in
he event of a conflict. Did you do that?
A. A fter We left the barges we were forced
% 20 down the river on account of the
lring. l hadn't chance to exercise my
Mr.. Potter never thought for a
moment tnat we would not get peaceful pos
ession. He expected trouble ar Lock No. j.
After we passed that point he was more
confident than ever. There was no appa-
he people to give us trouble. The Pinker-
on sharp shooters on the barges were
the men in the pumphouse.
Boatner-After the firing stopped, why
lidn't you inform the people who you weree
A. Only foreigner who couldn't speak
English and q few newspaper men were
yiJhin speaking distance. They sat on the
,ank and seemed to be sketching the sur
had no opportunity to pre-
erve peace.
The reference to the newspaper men
aised a laugh all around and Chairman
Dates remarked that the reporters are al
gays on hand. Colonel Gray described one
# the scribes as being tall and we'll built.
Colonel Oates looked at the slender fellows
ittlng at the reporters tables and asked if
he newspaper man was present He is
.n1ious to get his description of the battle.
The reporter turned out to be R. W. Her
vert, of THE DISPATCH, and he will be
allied this morning.
breaking the News to tho Sheriff.
Boatner-when did you get back from
A. At IL O'Clock, noon.
Boatner-Had the Sheriff heard Of the at.
ack?
A. Yes; and 1 told him something would
ave to be done at once to relieve the men in