The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-24
PENNSYLVANIA TROOPS.
FIVE SHOOTING wnIcH THEr MAKE
Though Unused to Bali Cartridge ana
Likely 10 Shoot without Meaning H.
They are n Magnificent Body OF Men.


precipitately aud grasping him warmly oy
the hand. The policeman represented
civil law and order. Coming from the
scene of the Homestead riots, where l
had been on duty for two weeks, and which
had left thirteen hours before, the sight
of the policeman was a welcome one. We
are accustomed TO think lightly of the blue
coats There were times at Homestead when
deyoutlv wished | had with me few
members of the Gotham force with tnelr
clubs. and this was not because | loved the
whole cause of labor less. but because loVeu
nv life and the integrity OF my skull more;
The capture of the town or Homestead
nv the PENNSYLVANIA National Guard. or
rather the mobilization OF the troops thaI
preceded it. show that the organization IS IN
excellent condition. Twenty hours after
Governor Pattison, issued his proclamation
nearly all the blue coats needed were on
their WAY to the scene OF the trouble. ihey
arrived there upon the Tuesday, but they
could have been thrown into the town
twelve hours before, or a large part OF Them
could. The Eighteenth regiment, when
belongs in Pittsburg and which, by tne re-
Quest of its colonel, was given the right OF
the line. was Waiting all around Homestead
on a railroad train on Monday night IN order
TO impress on the minds Of its officers the
great lesson of strategy. People said sheer
ingIy that the Eighteenth was composed
LARGELY of mill workers and rioters by nature.
as well as sympathizers with the Homestead
people. and it was to refute this charge that
the right Of the line was asked by Colonel
Smith.
I'VE will show them whether we abandon
our loyalty 10 the State of Pennsylvania TO
oblige our acquaintance, he said grImly.
soLDIERLY MANNER.
The boys in blue did all the work before
them in a soldierly manner. They arrived
on the scene with no tents and little food.
although they had been ordered to provide
themselves with three days ratlons, and
when they marched into town they were
hungry as bears besides being sleepy. Some
critics found fault with tho fact that they
went into saloons and consumed liberal
quantities Of beer. When II is remembered
that they were cooped up all night In cars
many Of which had in them neither ice nor
water. it is hard TO say that they were not
entitled 10 a drink when they could get It.
Some of the strikers said sarcasticaliy that
the soldiers were kept man9uyerlng around
Homestead all night on the trains instead
OF entering at once. so that they might sober
up. the story being that most OF them,
that they were perhaps gong 10
the slaughter. had final bout with intoxi-
cation before they reported for duty at the
armories That does not accord with my
observation. The men were young and
many Of them were thirsty. but as a whole
they were as earnest and sober set OF TEL
lows as ever went under arms when they
entered the town.
After occupying the heights above the
Carnegie works the men were left 10 their
own devices 90 secure rest and food. IL
was broiling hot day and there IL very
little shelter on the hills The only thing TO
do was TO improvise tents out OF rubber
blankets, bayonets being used for tent poles
and under these the boys recllned and took
maps. The cooks in some regiments had
coffee and meat and they fell 20 and pre-
pared the wherewithal to stay the appettes
Of the warriors.
SOME or THEM SCARED.
Each man was provided with twenty
rounds Of ball cartridges. There was plenty
more where that came from. as trouble had
been foreseen. When they went on picket
duty for the night they loaded their guns
and took their posts. some OF them quaklng.
They didn't know whether the crowds ot
women and children who had swarmed
through the camp during the day, peering
with curiosity into the camps aud eIamln-
ing the guns which might DO used later 70
shoot their husbands, brothers and sons
would not be succeeded vt night by despe-
rate men crawling ia on al tours TO dow
them up with dynamite oomDs OF seize
their arms.
one Of the lieutenants attached 10 the
Provost Marshafs guard made a frank al,
mission 10 me during the dark watches OF
Tuesday night. 4 report came down from
division Headquarters that firing had been
heard in the town. and l marched up TO the
Provost Marshals camp, the nearest 70 the
town, 10 ask for information.
As / stumbled over the meadows / heard
Il yell of Hat Who goes thereF aud 0
couple of little sentrymen pointed their
bayoneted rifles at me from point about
ten feet away. The men were not moro
than four feet high-four feet each-snd /
think, they had not been measured Tor their
rifles. for those were many sizes too large,
and when later they shOuldered them there
was a top-heayy effect extremely ludicrous
The lieutenant happened on my approach
10 be talking 10 the boys and l heard him
whisper 10 them not 10 Stay me. l then
showed him my credentials which he APP
proved Of and gave me the information /
sought. which was that the reported firing
was the explosion of torpedoes under rail-
road trains. Then he thought he would give
me a word of advice, too, and this IS what
he said.
Ny friend, we have on duty number
Of young men who never before held IN
their handsI loaded rife. They have all
sorts of notions of what they came up here
for and they don't know what they are to
expect on picket duty. / would advise you
not 10 90 up 10 the picket lines at night,
i have no objection 10 your doing
so. The doctrine of chance makes 1t GER
tain. however. that II you 90 up 10 the lines
a sufficient number Of times some enthusi-
astic member of the guard will shoot you
first and then send for the corporal to ask
you who you are.
You will understand" he went on. that
/ do not want 10 be guilty OF al impertinent
interference in the matter Of your life and
death. 1t is of no possible moment - me.
but felt that it might be to you, and 30 l
told you these facts"
/ thanked HIM and withdrew.
Thimblerig men and hucksters began 20
arrive around the camp as soon az 1t was
founded. The hucksters brought no arms
with which 20 assault the militia but they
carried the deadly watermelon and the indi-
gestible peanut. soldier showed me a
haversack containing pair OF socks and
four quarts of whisky. which was his idea
of the prime necessities of life When |
asked him what he was doing with so many
socks he explained that they were meant 10
stop the bottles from rubbing against each
other and breaking This may be q useful
tip TO some soldiers OF the New York troops.
MISS THE SEWER GAS.
Though they camp in inhospitable hills
and though they may get wet when II rains
and too dry when 1t doesn't, the militiamen
are much better off than the strangers 10
the town that live in houses. Homestead
people breathe an air of sewer gas that is
trying 10 the stranger, and do what he can
he IS unable TO bring himself 10 like IL. The