The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-07-14

No other topic receives the discussion
now given the Homestead riot. II can
not really be called riot as it is a war.
The laborers number 4 $50 and they are
regularly organized into companies. This
| was done some time before the attempt
of the Pinkertons to get inside the stock
ade which protected the works. This
preparation on the part of the laborers
was brought about by the preparations
made by the company TO fortlfy It's works.
The purpose was to get new woTkmen n
| case the old laborers refused to accept the
reduced scale. In anticipation OF refusal
| the company built a broad fence nine
| feet high around the 400 acres which the
plant occupies. Electric wires, strongly
charged. ran along the top OF this fence
aai the stockade is further strengthened
| by rows OF water and gas pipes. Water
| plugs with pressure of 400 lbs. 20 the
square inch are placed near the entrances
| t. be used in repelling an attack. The
non-union workmen were to have bar
1 l.
have laundries and cook houses.
The drilling OF the laborers was a coun-
ter movement to these preparations and
| So the Pinkertons met not a mob bat
pretty we'll disciplined force. Though
discipline gave way to frenzy when the
| PInkertons were overpowered. SavageS
| never showed more thirst fer blood and
| the most barbarous acts read of IN dime
novels would have been paralleled by the
stlkers if permitted 90 carry out their
purpose. The Pinkertons as they march
ed along the path through the crowd,
each in charge of a striker. were struck
with clubs, beaten and maltreated IN
every way until they were literally cover
ell with blood. Even the wounded were
maltreated. This cruelty to prisoners did
much to prejudice the cause of the strik-
ers.
The strike was caused by an attempt on
the part of the Company to reduce the
wages of Its employees. Laborers were
paid S25 for certain kind of work and
the company fixed the scale at SOB.
they were given until July / to agree to
the ultimatum of the company other
wise all would be discharged and new Ia
borers employed. The Pinkertons were
to be kept inside the stockade to protect
the new men from disturbance by the
strikers.
Since last Wednesday the strikers have
remained in possession. Pickets were
out to give notice of the approach of any
hostile force. Strangers who entered the
place were watched closely and every
thing indicated a determination to fight
to tue last Gov. Pattison refused TO in
terfere until the sheriff had exhausted
all the means in his power to restore
order. The sheriff issued a proclamation
calling on all law abiding citizens FOL
assistance but only Il few responded
Tue governor was notified and on Sun
day last ordered all the militia of the
state to Homestead.
The strikers announced when it was
determined to send the militia to Home
stead, that the troops would be received
! most cordially, and SO they were They
were cheered and the town was surrend
: cred to them. The pickets posted around
the works were removed and the officers
of the company proceeded to the mill
: Frick who is chairman of the Carnegie
Co., says he will have nothing to do with
the amalgamated association but if the
men choose to come back as individuals
they may.