Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-07-07

chester rifles. out at Tns point wnere the
attempt 10 land WAS made there was a
steep emban kmelt, and they were com
PEELED to 20 in single file, aud were soon
driven back to the boats by the steady
fire from the shore The noise Of the bat
tie 2 ad about the borough like Wild
fire, aud thousands OF men. women and
children thronged TO the river bank to
witness the fight In progress. The Pinker-
tou men were determined TO land, and
they poured volley after volley into the
ranks Of the strikers, many of whom were
stricken down by the b1llets, some Of
them being fatally injured and others
killed outright.
As the battle progressei, the strikers
took up 4 position behind breastworks
hastily constructed of steel rails and bill
let's, and from this place OF refuge were
able 10 pick of the detectives as soon as
they appeared on the deck OF the boats.
In the meantime. Captain Hynd and
Superintendent KLINE Of the Pinkerton
men were disabled, and the fire was so
fierce that the crew Of the towboat hastily
cut loose from the barge and steamed uL
the river, carrying as many OF the
wounded as they could reach to Braddock
from which point they were sent down :.
the hospitals for treatment at Pittsburg
Seven OF the force were thus cared for
while the strikers that fell wounded were
carried to their homes at Homestead, the
dead being taken to the morgue and un
dertaking rooms In the town.
The news Of the riot reached Pittsburg
as early as o'clock in the morning. and
thousands Of mill workers, all Of whom
are now idle, pending the conference OF
the scale, congregated in the streets, Will,
hundreds OF others, armed with guns and
revolvers and well supplied with ammu
milton took up the line of march
To Reinforce tho Strikers.
AS soon as day broke the strikers sc
cured a small brass ten-pound cannon and
planted IL within steel billet embrasure
so as to command the barges which were
noored at the bank Of the river. At the
same time force of more than 1000 mel
took up n position on the opposite side
of the river and also planted cannon
which they protected with breastwork
of railroad ties.
The fire from both sides was kept up,
the barges having been pierced along the
sides Shortly before 9o'clock the cannon
were trained on the boats, and for several
hours an awful bombardment was kept
up The stout oaken timbers forming the
sides Of the boat were splintered, but the
heavy steel plates on the inside prevented
the balls from penetrating the interior.
Many OF the strikers, however, were ex.
pert mark smen, and they sent shot after
shot into the portfolios in the boats, and
in1icting terrible injury on the impris
oned men.
When il was found that little impression
could be made on the boats by the cannon
an effort was made to fire the barges, and
thus compel the detectives to leave the
vessel or suffer the terrible fate of being
burned alive. Hose was procured and oil
was spouted on the decks and sides Of the
barges. While this was being done barrel
after barrel of oil was emptied into the
river above the mooring place, the object
being to allow 1t to float against the boa Is
and then igniteit. This terrible deed was
attempted several times, but the boats
did not burn. and then the mob became
infuriated and hurled dynamite bombs at
the vessels with great effect.
The Situation OF the Detectives
was such as to appall the stoutest heart
barges at the mercy Of the infuriated mob.
The towboat had left them and they were
so encompassed by the maddened army
OF strikers that no succor could reach
them. Three times they ran upa flag Of
truce, but as many times 1t was stricken
down by bullets fired by the strikers.
Then it became evident that the ammuni
ton Of the besieged detectives was either
exhausted or they were too much worn
out to continue the fight, and for nearly
two hours before the end of the struggle
was reached not shot was fired.
Toward dusk efforts were again made
to burn the boats with their living freight,
and they would doubtless have succeeded
had 1t not been for the interposition OF
the leading officers of the Amalgamated
association. Through their efforts 1t was
agreed TO allow the detectives to sur
render, but this was not secured without
the greatest objection on the part Of the
men, many of whom had lost friends and
acquaintances during the day. Besides
there were thousands of turbulent char
acters attracted to the place, and as they
owed no allegiance to any organization,
they could not be controlled. They
wanted to see the carnage go on, and II
was not until some of the strikers pointed
their guns at tho outsiders that n hearing
was obtained. At o'clock the Pinkerton
m en- hung out another white flag, and
this time it was respected, and a committee
OF strikers went aboard to prepare
Terms of Capituiation.
They guaranteed safe conduct for the
Pirkertons provided they left their arms
and ammunition behind, and agreed to
leave the place under guard. The detec-
tives had no alternative and promptly ac-
cepted the terms. some Of them saying 1t
was the first time they had ever submitted
to such a humiliating surrender.
When an inspection of the boats was
made IL was found that ut least seven Of
the Pinkerton men had been killed and
twenty or thirty wounded. many of them
so badly that they will die. As they were
brought from the boat they presented a
terrible appearance. Many were be-
smeared with blood, while all of them
showed signs of exhaustion from the long
confinement In the close quarters between
decks.
The most shocking and dastardly deeds,
however. were committed while the pris-
oners were being escorted through the
streets by the guards appointed py the
strikers. An angry mob lined the streets
on both sides. As the men passed by each
in charge Of two deputies, the mill men
and their friends kicked them and threw
some OF them down. The unfortunate de-
tectives begged for mercy. Some Of them
had pistol shot wounds In their heads
and three were seen that
Had Their Eyes Shot Out
Sexeral were shnt In the shonl lders arms