People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-07-15
AWFUL WORK.
Desperate. Conflict at the Homo.
stead Iron Works.
Three Hundred Pinkerton Detectives Sent
to the Works Fire Upon Workmen and
Fearful Battle Ensues-Many
Killed and Wounded.

lerudy morning 0OU flnkertOn detectives
arrived in Pittsburgh from the east
They were quietly marched to the
Monongahela river where they were
loaded on barges and shipped to Home
stead at 2:15 o'clock.
1t was exactly o'clock when the
steamer and barges were sighted by
the watchers gathered on the river
bans a mile below the town. Directly
the fleet was sighted, three messen-
gers, each mounted on fresh horses,
started for Homestead, shouting as
they rode, the advance of the dreaded
'barges. Some one notified the engineer
at the electric light works and the
whistle sounded the general alarm.
The people responded with wonderful
talacrity. There were old men and
young men, elderly women, mothers
with their babies in their arms and any
number Of children. The throGg head
ed towards the river. The day was
just dawning and clouds of thick gray
ish vapor hung over the waters. Sud-
denly from out the shadows were seen
the lights of the steamer. On either
side of her were the bargeS The mo-
ment the people on the bank caught a
glimpse Of the fotilla they made a
break toward the works.
A more determined body of men
never entered a battle. The sight of
their wives and children seemed to give
them courage. The men resembled a
drilled army more than a bowling mob
as all lined the bank evenly. There
they stood for an instant, watching
every move of the Pinkertons.
Suddenly form was seen to break
from the ranks of the workingmen and
move toward the waters edge. Almost
instantly fash was seen on the boat
followed by report, and man was
seen to fall and roll down the bank.
One had met his death.
The shot was the signal for attack,
and opened one of the greatest wars
between capital and labor that the
Keystone state has ever'witnessed.
After the exchange of shots the crowd
grouped on the bank fell back and
climbing over a heap of rubbish, rushed
toward the big trestle leading to the
railroad bridge Here over 5000 men
stood their ground and returned a de-
sultory fire with their revolvers at the
invaders. These shots did little or no
apparent damage.
The first battle occurred at dawn yes.
terday morning when the Pinkerton men
attempted to land. They were met by
thousands and after a desperate fight
were driven back.
Then followed truce of about four
hours. This was broken by second
attempt of the Pinkertons to land, and
for several hours fighting followed. At
least ten men were killed on shore and
a dozen wounded The losses of the
Pinkertons was estimated at from four
10 Ten killed anu wounded.
At II o'clock the strikers secured a
cannon and began bombarding the
barges, and at the same time efforts
were made to burn the boats by means
Of a blazing stream of coal oil.
Flags of truce raised by the Pinker-
ton men were shot down, and at 100
o'clock in the afternoon the Pinkertons
were besieged in their barges.
At 3:45 p. m. the Pinkerton men were
in a terrible position, being exposed to
the perils of fire, bullets, cannon shot
and dynamite Sensational reports ex
cite the people on shore and it is be-
ieved that the detectives who are i'm.
prisoned on the barges will perish if
rescuers do not speedily appear.
The strikers captured a 600 gal
lon oil tank at the east end of the
works at Munhall station. The oil
was set on fire and let into the river,
but strong wind blowing in the oppo,
site direction saved the barges few
yards below.
p. m.-During the afternoon q
fourth flag of truce was raised, but the
man holding it was shot. Then an.
other cannon was brought and blazing
oil was turned on the barges.
The steamer Little Bill, which
brought the barges from the city, was
fired on as it returned, but the crew all
hid.
AIS p. m.-Two thousand workmen
from the South Side mills of Pittsburgh
have Just marched into Homestead with
flags and banners flying. They say they
have come to the assistance of the strik-
ers. The excitement is increasing.
Supplies of ammunition and arms are
being furnished to the strikers by the
citizens of Homestead, and are arriv
ing from Pittsburgh and McKeesport
1t is feared the carnage has but begun
Later in the day the Pinkertons Of
fered to surrender. The mob accepted
it, disarming the men as they left the
barges and hurrying them to custody
The Pinkertons lost nine killed anC
many desperately wounded. Clever
worllmen were killed and eighteen
wounded. The barges were burned.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July IA complet,
list of the killed and wounded was no
obtainable at midnight As far a
could be ascertained, eleven workmel
and nine detectives were killed ant
eighteen workmen and twenty-one de
tectives injured in the battle. In add
ton to these at least 100 detectives wer
seriously injured by the strikers, Will
on their way to the Jail.
Truce Flags Shot At.
HOMESTEAD, July IL p. ma fla.
OF truce was displayed by the Pinkertol
men and was shot down. 1t was hoist
ed the second time with the same re