The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-13

homestead, Pa, July 12.-[Speciall
Everybody expected that the troops
would invade Homestead to day by day
break, but seven O'Clock, eight o'clock
and nine o'clock passed without any
news from them. At a few minutes
past nine o'clock the cry suddenly went
up, THE troops are coming, the troops
are coming" and instantly the greatest
excitement prevailed. The militia
came in by rail from above the town
and at once surrounded the Carnegie
mills. They were received with few
cheers from the surrounding bystanders
as the train rolled i'll and the most re-
spectful consideration accorded them in
every respect.
The first detachment of troops num-
bered at least 5000 men. and was in
command of Gen. Snowden. They were
composed OF the Second and Third
brigades, first division. The Twelfth
and Eighteenth regiments from Pitts
burg. are here, and Battery D, of the
First brigade, has shown up with two
Calling guns and three field pieces. A
portion of:the Fifth, Tenth and Fifteenth
are on the fold, and companies A, c, e
and ii, of the Eighteenth regiment, are
also recognized among the blue coats.
The troops came from point OF rem.
devious two miles this side of Green's
burg, and it is stated that the First bri-
gade is now at Mount Gretna, where it
will remain until further orders. I'm
mediately on the arrival of the trains
tharn ID
but the militia themselves preserved
perfect order, and responded silently
and promptly to every order of their
superiors.
Rapidly descending from the train,
the troops formed in column at the
switch yards, just beyond Munhall sta.
ton. company was at once detached
on picket duty and line Immediately
thrown out among the mill yards. Then
the main body OF troops marched down
the streets. headed by the regimental
band. and along what is known as "Scab
HILL" This is an eminence overlooking
the mills and the scene of last weeks
hostilities, and it's bluff was covered
with spectators, mostly women.
There was not the slightest manifest
alton of hoStilities, and although the
troops had arrived SO suddenly that all
the leaders of tho strikers were absent,
1t did not require their presence to
maintain proper respect for the rank
and file. Once or twice there was even
little hand-clapping from the younger
element as the jaunty militiamen hove
in sight and the band was the object of
much interest The carefully prepared
reception, of course, was frustrated bv
the sudden arrival of the militia, and it
was manifest that the officers in com
mand did not desire to be made tho OBJ
JectS OF ceremOnious reception from
the people whose lawlessness thew had
been summoned to suppress. In twenty
minutes the works were entirely sur
rounded, and. the Carnegie mills were
ono more in the hands Of their owners.
All of the surrounding streets were
patrolied by pickets and guard at
every street intersection kept the crowd
at respectful distance and proven ted
the assem- bling of groups of strikers. 1t
IS due to the workmen, however, to say
That no milltiaman was called upon to
exercise his authrity. The strikers
were uniformly goodnatured and the
peaceful programme of their leaders
was observed to the letter. Tnere was
much ptcuiation as to whether the
troops would occupy the town or
merely contiIe themselves to the mills,
but the doubt on this point was no. of
long dura ton.
Immediately after the troops had sur
rounded the works and picket lines
had been established, several com panies
suddenly formed az the command of
6heir officers and marched directly to
the heart of tho little town of Homo
stead. One company halted near to the
strikers headquarters, another marched
to the vicinity of the depot and th,rd
occupied slight eminence overlooking
and commanding the commercial center
of the town. Homestead was in tho
hands of the military and martial law
had succeeded the arbitrary reign of the
advisory committee. The greatest
order was maintained by the trooos in
all their movements.
The citizens of Homestead were deeply
disappointed that the militia should
have deemed it necessary to occupy the
whole town instead of merely confiniDg
themselves to the mills, but there was
not boot or cry or single nanifesta-
ton of 0isrespect to show their disap-
pointment. 1t was a complete acuuies-
cence to the power Of the State, and as
gracefully as they could the strikers
phllosophical1y accepted the inevitable.
The Fifteenth, Eighteenth and Six.
teenth regiments were the corps pushed
into Homestead. The Fourteenth and
Tenth had. half an hour previously,
taken possession of the opposite bank
of the Monongahela. just across from
the Carnegie mills. There, too. the
batteries were planted, commanding tho
whole OF the town. Had there been any
resistance to the entree of the troops the
cannon on the other side OF the river
could, by themselves, have made the
strikers position untenable.