Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-07

Up to this time there had not been .
sign Of hfe on the barges, but uithin
nifty feet of the shore the large doors
at the end of the boats were thrown
open and as many men rs could con-
venientiy stand on the little forward
decks crowded out. One glance was
enough 10 fire the blood of the most
conservative mil man, ss through the
rapidly coming day they Recognized
the bluecoated, heasly-armed PlEker-
ton men.
Deadly winchester Rine&.
Every one of the Pinkertons held his
hands on one of the deadly double-bar-
relied Winchester rlfies, and though three
score Of the glittering barrels wereieyel-
ed directly at the mill men as the boat
reached the shore not man retreated.
but rather pressed closer TO the shore IN
order TO be the hrst 10 fall il decessary.
The din Was terrific a. the iusty.iunged
mill men vented their rage upon
the intruders. "Don't come on
land or we will brain you,
you dirty blsckguards," they yelled.
"Wny don't you work for your llv-
ing like decent neny'
Not word answered the Pinkorton.
but as the gang PLANK wac thrown
every Pinkerton covered as many men
as possible with his Winbhes-
ter. Rage had now Transformed
the usually pacific Homestead
men into demons. They knew no fear
but even jumped forward 70 wrest the
death dealing rides from the hands OF
their hated enemies. Tne tifst qua
was fired from the Pinkerton barge
and is thought TO have been discharged
by the captain of the gang of men who
was afterward killed. The last
moment before tho slaughter the
crowd WAS surging downwardI again.
SIX of the leading mill workers, who
stood with their backs TO the Pinkertons.
fairly under the muzzles of the gnns
trying to keep the mill men back from
what seemed certain death.
vaan Appeals 70 the Men.
The VOICE of Hugh McO Donnell was
heard, as. hatless and coatless, he tried
TO check the angry men. "In Gods
name," he cried, ''my good good fel-
lows, keep back Don't press down and
force them TO do murder" 1t Was toe
late.
The appeal was drowned by the
sharp report from q Winchester from q
man in the boat. The iirst ball had
barely left the smoking barrel on ite
mission of death ere 1t was followed by
q sheet of fame from score Of rifles in
the Pinkerton's hands. William jay
who stood at the front window with
his foot on the gang-plank, stag
gered and fell, MS life's blood
gushing out. For moment
the crowd was struck dumb, but only
groans of several others answered, but
the echo had hardly reached the neigh
boring hills before the answer came. II
was wall of flame opening out from
the center of the little group pressing
| forward 70 meet the PinkertOns. Sew
eral Pinkertons sunk beneath the water
while several others staggered back
| and were carried back into the barge
At the next flash OF Pinkefton rides
many of the crowd took TO their heels
but close to the waters edge stood about
200 men firing with their revolvers al
| the Pinkertons. Soon the latter, un-
able to Withstand euch fire, retired into
their cabin and fired from under cover
as quickly as possible. When the men on
shore had emptied their revolvers they
retreated up the bank greeting every
shot from their enemies with defiant
cheers. 10 is remarkable that among
the vast lot of Homestead men not Z
gun was seen, but after the first attack
messengers flew wildly to the town and
in quarter of an hour, armed with
rifles, shot-guns, muskets and every
thing in the line of firearms. they
were hurrying again to the scene OF
battle. Nothing further was done by
the Pinkertons till after they had
eaten breakfast on the boat, when al
$50 they made another attempt to
land on the company's grounds, but
were again repulsed.