The Republican journal., 1892-07-14
The Republican Journal Thursday Morning. July A. 1892

queen of the battle. rails ed her broom and
in a shrill voice said: ''where are the
dirty black sheep? Let's have them,
boys
At this critical iuncture the leader
shouted in a voice so loud that it could be
heard by all, despite the din and confus-
ion ''Why, my good woman, we want
/ our shirts Numbered, and we are going to
make these tramps do the Job at cut
| rates.
This rough joke was cheered to the echo
1 and by good luck changed the tickle humor
of the mob.
.'Make way for US commanded the
Joker, and strange to relate, those in the
way obeyed.
SLOWLY AND RELUCTANTLY
the people crowded up against the high
whitewashed fence of the company. and
by its narrow lane the column advanced.
Thus with bowed heads and laggard
steps the Pinkertons marched on. They
did not dare to even glance at the stern,
white faces and cleaning eyes of their
visitors, and although the road was rough
and their burdens heavy, they made no
sign.
At the intersection of Heisel street and
Eighth avenue there is hill. At the front
of the hill and fronting on the avenue is
the big brick hall, in the top story of
which is located the headquarters of the
| strikers.
| This afternoon the headq uartcrs We're
closed, but from one OF the open windows
was long pole from which hung Il large
| American flag.
When the column reached tie crest of
the hill those in the front ranks looked
| down into d vcritable sea of fire. More
| than 600 determined looking men and
pale faced, talkative women, were passed
on either side of the avenue. This human
gauntlet was at least Il quarter of mile
/ long, and extended from the brow of the
| Hill to Mcclure street, a distance OF several
city squares.
For fully an hour these men and women
had stood and waited for the captives,
and, as a natural consequence, they We're
in no pleasant hulnor.
Great clouds of yellow dust heralded
the advancing column over the hill.
There was moment of perfect silence.
as solemn as it was portentous, and mighty
cheers followed 10y perfect war of Kisses
and cat-calls.
The line never faltered. The leaders
knew that human gauntlet must bepassed,
come what would, and wisely decided
that the best plan was to proceed with all
possible speed. The armed escort met
with an ovation, and the first batch of
prisoners who were at the very heels of
the rear ranks managed to escape the at
tention of the crowd, but for the long line
of bleeding men that followed them the
conditions We're not so pleasant
A tall handsome woman in a blue calico
gown began the trouble by throwing a
handful of dust right in the eyes of one
of the prisoners
The man stopped in his tracks and ut
tered a groan of agony: My God, I'm
blinded he moancd.
''Serves you right, You dirty cur re
piled his fair assailant, as she pulled from
the pocket of her gown a bit of jagged
stone. and hurled it with crushing force
at the suffering man.
! THE STONE STRUCK HIM IN THE MOUTH,
and, although he was six feet tall and
weighed at least 200 pounds, he fell face
| downward on the road.
| Two Of the guards raised him to his
feet and led him away. This man was
badly hurt, the blood gushing from an
ugly wound in his right check, and four
OF his teeth We're shattered.
Mere words cannot describe the scene
that followed. Despite the pleading of
the guards and the protests OF a few CON
servative men, the mob vented its spleen
on the dazed and wounded prisoners.
Men We're knocked down, and pounded
| with stones and clubs.
Most OF the men assaulted We're big of
bone and had plenty of muscle, but they
Were as infants in the hands of their fren-
| zied ASSISTANTS.
With tears i'll their eyes they pleaded
ion mercy, but none WAS shown. 1t WAS
| plain to everybody that this mad blood
thirsting multitude was not composed of
the Homestead men who had at the risk
of their lives fought a battle on the river
front early i'll the day, but consisted for
the most part of rough, minimizing Hun
gaIians and foreigners.
And the saddest part of it all was that
all this horrible brutality occurred under
the folds of that great flag hanging from
the window. 1t is just and proper to say
right here that the genuine workingmen
and their plucky leaders did all in their
power to protect their wretched prisoners,
and had it not been for their tremendous
eNertions many a Pinkerton man would
be cold in death tonight
At last, after long time, it seemed an
age but it was really 46 minutes, the last
prisoner had passed through that nerve
straning ordeal and was hurried down
| the avenue.
Then with shout the mob dissolved
Once they had passed the flag decked
hall the captives found it a comparatively
easy journey TO be sure they We're sub
jected to all manner of insults, and suf-
fered sundry kicks and bruises, but com
pared to what they had undergone there
experiences were of small moment
The column moved down Eighth avenue
| to small side street which leads to the
big frame building. The Pinkerton men
We're hurried through across the thresh-
old, and then the great door closed with
a bang, the big key turned in the lock
and
THE TRAGIC PARADE WAS OVER.
For a time, at least, the invaders We're
out of harms way and this most disgrace
full incident of what has proved an awful
day was closed.
When the unfortunate Pinkertons ar
rived at the lookup they were indeed a
hapless looking lot. Every one of the
more than POO of them We're bleeding free
| ly, two OF them had their eyes knocked
I out and i'm each ease the tiSlo1Uel eve