The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-07-14
NCuU NO3


SHOT LIKE DOGS,
BLOODY SCENES IN PENN
SYLVANIA.
PinkertOn Men Armed With VIM
chester Rifles and WOrkingmen ut
Carnegie iron Werks Have Pitch
ed Battle at Homestead.
PlTTsBURG, Pa, June :---Pittsburg
has had another experience with labor
riots, and this time, as during the
fearful Scenes which were witnessed
during the railroad riots of 1871
blood has been shed, life jeopardized
nd::yaluable property placed in danger.
This time there was no destruction OF
property, but the mob was thoroughly
we'll organized, well disciplined and
had officers at their head to conduct
operations. The force embraced all
the men employed in the extensive
plant of the Carnegie Iron and Steel
Company, at Homestead, some eight
miles east of Pittsburg. And battle,
which, for blood -thirstiness and bold
ness of execution, has not been ex-
celled in actual warfere, was waged
from 4 O'Clock in the morning until
5 o'clock this afternoon, and only
ceased when the force of Pinkertons
brought to the place to suppress the
strike, Internationally surrendered,
leaving their arms in the barges in
which they had been transported to
the works.
The riot to-day was the culmination
of troubles which have been brewing
at Homestead for the past month. The
Carnegie company submitted scale
to govern their workmen in the steel
plant and announced that it was their
ultimatum. The scale made sweep
ing reduction in the wages of skilled
men and it was officially announced
that unless the terms we're complied
with before July 1st the places of the
workmen would be filled by others.
This was followed by the peremptory
refusal on the part of the company to
recognize the Amalgamated .Associa-
ton OF Steel and Iron Workers as
such, or to confer with any committee
of workmen short of an acceptance of
the terms offered.
The men stated that they would
never submit to the proposed reduction
and announced their determination
to resist any effort on the part of the
Carnegies to start up their plant with
non-union men.
As both sides were determined,
both proceeded to prepare for the
contest which eliminated in the deeds
of violence and bloodshed that were
witnessed to-day in that big hive of
industry on the Monongahe!a.
The contest was precipitated by the
workmen at Homestead by hanging in
efigy, H. c. Frick, president of the
company, and in retaliation the COM
pany ordered an immediate shutdown
of the big works two days before the
time provided by the contract under
which the men we're working. The
employees at once proceeded to Or
ganize for defense and the company
erected high board fence around the
entire works, giving them the appear
ance of an immense stockade, the sides
being pierced with portfolios, and the
top protected with three strands Of
barbed-wire ready to be charged with
deadly current of electricity.
Yesterday the Carnegie company
announced their intention to proceed
to get ready to make repairs and the
officials asked the sheriff to appoint
deputies to protect their property.
The sheriff sent a small squad of men
up to the works but the strikers assem-
bled in force and notified them to get
out of town, as no disorder was in
tended and that no damage would be,
done to any property. They even
offered to be sworn in as deputies and
to give bonds for faithful performance
OF their duties as conservators of the
peace.
When this offer was declined, the
advisory committee which had been
directing the action Of the workmen,
and which had held turbulent spirits
among the workmen in check, was
Immediately dissolved and all records
Of the committee promptly destroyed.
The developments to-day showed
that the application made for the assis-
tance Of the sheriff was merely for the
purpose of covering what was intended
to be coup de main on the part OF
the Carnegie company in clandestineiy
introducing a body Of Pinkerton
detectives into the mill enclosure. The
detectives, too, had been in rendez-
vous some FIVE or six miles below the
city on the Ohio river, at which point
two model barges had been prepared
for them.
When the boats attempted to land
the workmen broke through the fence
surrounding the mill, and entrenching
themselves behind piles Of steel billets,
prepared to resist the landing Of the
detectives.
BY O'Clock in the morning an
effort was made to land the detectives,
but the strikers met them and fierce
battle was precipitated, both sides
exchanging a heavy volley of shots.
The detectives were all armed with
Winchester rifles, but at the poin,
where the attempt to land was made
was steep embankment and they
were compelled to 60 in single file
and were soon driven back TO the
boats by the steady FIRE from the shore
The noiSe of the hattie spread about