Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-23
COOKS AS WITNESSES
Nearly ALI the Men Employed
in This Capacity on the
River Steamers
WILL BE MADE TESTIFY
In the Homestead Poison Cases. as
They Worked in the Mill.
MANY OF THEM TO BE ARRESTED.
One Han Makes a Confession to District
Attorney Burleigh.
WILL BE MADE TESTIFY
MANY OF THEM TO BE ARRESTED.
BUTLER COUNTY MEN OFFER EVIDENCE

Nearly every river cook shipping from
Pittsburg knows more or less about the
poisoning of the Homestead non-unionistS
They will be given chance to impart their
information when the cases come up In
court.
This new feature worked itself to pub
licity Yesterday, when one of the cooks, who
is supposed to be conversant with the pois-
oning scheme, quietly stole oct of town. It
became known in river circles yesterday
that the Carnegie Company was going to
use all the cooks as witnesses. A fact that
has never been published is that most of
the men who prepared the food
in the Homestead mills had done similar
work on the rivers The Little Bill and
Tide we're engaged from the beginning of
the trouble in hauling men and supplies to
Homestead. 1t is said that the proprietors
Of these boats were asked to furnish cooks
for the mill. As the summer season of the
year is always very dull on the river, the
river cooks were glad to get work at the
steel plant. Nearly every available cook was
employed.
River Cook COnfesses.
Yesterday one of these men was called
before District Attorney Burleigh. The
LAWYER asked him TO tell what he knew
about the poison story. The cook said he
knew nothing of it, but Mr.. Burleigh
knew he did. The District Attorney re-
marked that his memory might be fresh
ened bv a soiourn in Jail The cook broke
down under this threat and made confes-
sion. It is said that he furnished Mr..
Burleigh with some very damaging proof
against the accused men.
After this interview it was decided to
commence a wholesale arrest of the cooks.
The men, as general thing, are only wanted
as witnesses but it is feared they will run
away. The arrests will probably begin to-
day. Detective Farrell yesterday had
warrants and subpenas for quite number
OF men, and he was looking some cf them
up. One of the men wanted badly is now
down the river on a trip. His boat is ex-
pected to arrive this morning, and as soon
Is it does he will be arrested.
Four Tore Victims Testify.
-FOUR victims of the Homestead poisoning
were Yesterday found at Chicora, in Butler
county. They are l. H. Craig, George
Army, H. B. Thompson ard George North.
Each of these men had good paying posi-
tions in the mill, but they were among the
first to be stricken with the mysterious
malady which they say has sent more men
TO their graves than the general public
dreams of. They held on at the works,
thinking their ailments would yield to the
ordinary treatment, but we're finally
brought home broken down and almost
helpless Arny's troubles have developed
liver complaint, and, although he was
large, healthy man, he is now living skel-
eton and is unable to do anything In
speaking of the condition of things at the
mill during the strike the men all tell the
same story substantially as follows:
I'VE had worked in the mill only few
DAYS when we we're attacked with severe
cramps and dysentery. Because many
other workmen were affected in the same
way we attributed it to some general cause,
and finally agreed that il must be the water
and the change of our manner of life. The
thing that finally alarmed and discouraged
US was the tact the treatment given us at
the hospital department in the works did
US no good, and it was only question of
time until we we're physically unable to do
our work, and were forced to come home.
The Story Never Tod.
"The newspapers have told little or moth
Ing about the terrible condition of affairs
that existed at one time within the So
called stockade, where the stenches and
1Oulness incidental to the character of the
prevailing maladv among so many men was
at times almost unbearable, even to those
who were not so badly affected, particu-
larlv when the days were hot. 1t was a
condition of things where sickness begot
sickness, despite all that the company
could do, and the company poured out
money like water in providing for the men
IN its employ at that time. Veteran
soldiers who saw the horrors of Southern
stockaGe prison pens told US 1t recalled
theiI experiences in prisons. Looking back
at it now seems like horrible dream, and
II a fair trial of the men accused of poison
Ing us shows that the charges are true,
whether popular sentiment serves to shield
them or not, they deserve punishment for
wholesale murder, and if they are un-
fairly acquitted some men among the many
whom they have ruined for life will surely
wreak on them the vengance they merit"
1t is said Patrick Gallagher isSeeling
very sore because he had to go to Jan. He
thinks the Carnegie Company should have
baIled him, and says that was promised
District Attorney Burleigh says Gallagher
Will not be used as a witness unless he
wants to make a statement No promises
have been made him.
Druggist Shatfer, of Homestead, called
on Nh Burleigh yesterday in answer to
the latiers request for g conference. He
was closeted with Mr.. Burleigh for over an
hour, but neither gentleman would say
what they had consulted about
ALL INTERESTED IN HOMESTEAD.