The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-07-14
A FIERCE BATTLE
Between MECHANICS kRe plNKsRToM
DETECTIVES, AT HOMESTEAD, PA.
Workmen Resist to the Death a Re-
duction of Wages at the Carne-
gle Steel and Iron Works, four
Miles from P1ttsburg.

Miles from P1ttsburg.
HOMESTEAD, Pa, July 7.-Yesterday
was day,of wild disorder at Homestead.
The trouble began early in the morning,
when 300 Pinkerton detectives attempt
ed to land from barges at the steel
works. About 100 shots were exchanged.
The Pinkertons were repulsed at the |
first attack. !,
For two hours before the boats arrived
i. 900 or 5000 persons awaited their ar
rival on the river banks.
: The mills have a landing for boats
within the Enclosure of the fence, and at
first it appeared that there would be no
way to prevent the Pinkertons entering
the mills. Shortly before the boat
reached Homestead horseman riding
at mad gaIlop spread the alarm that
the Pinkertons were coming.
AS the boats steamed toward the land
ing it was impossible to restrain the
crowds. With a whoop and a yell OF de-
rision an onslaught was made on the
fence. Soon leo feet of the Enclosure was
torn away and 1000 men We're at the
landing AS the Pinkertons landed they
opened fire and two workmen dropped
III their tracks.
This enraged the crowd and they bore
down upon the Pinkertons with resist
less force and drove them back to the
boats.
Five thousand men, women and chll>
dren stood upon the river bank watch
ing the fight and cheering on the work
men in their efforts to prevent LANDING
by the Pinkertons, not one OF whom was
allowed to come ashore.
Never until the Judgment morn will it
be definitely known who fired the first
shot which started the slaughter that
has made so many homes OF mourning
to-day. The first gun, however, was fired
from the Pinkerton barge, and is thought
to have been fired by the captain OF the
gang of men, who was afterWard killed.
The last moment before the slaughter
the men were surging downward against
six of the leading mill workers, who
stood with their backs to the Pinker-
| tons. fairly under the muZzles OF their
! rifles, trying to keep the mill men back
| from what seemed certain death.
Every one Of the PinkertOns held in
| his hands one of the deadly Winchester
| rifles, and though three score OF the gilt
tering barrels were leveled directly at the
mill men as the. boat reached the shore
| not a man retreated, but rather pressed
closer in order to be the first to fall il
necessary, The din was terrific as the
lusty lunged mill men vented their rage
upon the intruders. Don't come on land
or we will brain you, yon dirty black
guards" they yelled. why don't you
work for your living, like decent meny
they howled.
Not a word answered the Pinkertons,
but as the boat touched the shore and a
gang plank was thrown out, every Pins
kerton covered as many men as possible
with his Winchester. Rage had now
transformed the usually pacific Home
! stead men into demons. They knew no
fear. but even jumped forward to wrest
the death dealing rifles from the hands
of their hated enemies.
Clear as bell, far above the roar OF
the angry crowd, came the voice OF Hugh
| O'Donnell, as, hatless and coatless, he
tried to check the angry men. I'm GOD
name," he cried, ''my good fellows, keep
back. Don't press down and force them
to do murder"
1t was too late. The appeal was
drowned by the sharp report Of Win
chester from II man in the bow OF the
boat The first ball had hardly left the
smoking barrel Cd its mission of death
ere it was followed by a shot of flame
from score of rifles in the Pinkertons'
hands. VIM. Foy, who stood at the
front with his feet on the gang plank.
staggered and fell, and his life blood
gushed out.
For a moment the vast crowd was
struck dumb by the attack. Only the
groans of several wounded men were
heard The echoes of the rifles had hard
Iy reached the neighboring hills ere the
crowd replied. Out from the semi dark.
ness of the morning flashed a wall OF
fire. The men on bank, too, had arms,
and were using them The leader of the
finkertons clapped his hand to his
breast and fell overheard, sinking be-
meath the waters, while several other
Pinkertons staggered back and were
carried inside the boat by their COM
rades.
At the first flash of the Pinkertons'
rifles many of the crowd took to their
heels, but close to the waters edge stood
: about 100 of the angry men, firing their
revolvers straight at the Pinkertons.
Soon the latter, unable to Withstand
such fire, retreated into their cabin and
fired from under cover as quickly as pos
sible. When the men on shore had emp
tied their revOlvers they retreated up the
bank, greeting every shot from their en-
emies with defiant cheers.
At 10 O'Clock the chief leader of the
workmen, accompanied by a reporter,
went to the front of the line of battle.
The main fight was at that time being
made near a huge oil tank on the river
| front, one mile from Homestead. Here
the reporter saw one of the workers
breathe his last. The man was standing
near the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
tracks firing a 20-pound cannon, trying
| to sink the barges on which were the
| PinkertOns. His shot went wide OF the
mark. A moment later the mill worker S
head was almost severed from his body
by shot from Winchester rifle in the
hands of a Pinkerton.
! A few minutes later one man aimed his
rifle, and the next instant a shout went
up and Pinkerton detective who had
bullet had passed through his head and
he fell in the river never to rise.
MILITARY IS ORDERED OUT.
HARRISBURG, Pa, July 10.-The en-
tire division of the National Guard of
Pennsylvania, about 5000 men. has been
ordered to Homestead to support Sheriff
McCleary in suppressing the riots at that
place. This action of the Governor was
| taken ON receipt of the following dis
patch:
| PITTsBURG, Pa, July 10.-To Robert E. Patti
son, Governor, Harrisburg, Pa: The situation
at Homestead has not improved. While all is
quiet there, the strikers are in control and OPEN
! y express to me and to the public their deter
mfnation that the works shall not be operated
unless by themselves. After making all efforts
In my power | have failed to secure a posse re-
spectacle enough in numbers to accomplish
anything, and l am satisfied that no posse
raised by civil authority can do anything to
change the condition OF affairs, and that any at
tempt by an inadequate force to restore the
right of law will only result in further armed
resistance and consequent loss of life Only
large military force will enable me to control
matters. believe if such force is sent the dis
orderly element will be awed and order will be
restored. /, therefore, call upon you to furnish
me such assistance.
WILLIAM H. MCCLEARY, Sheriff.
Governor Pattison, as COMMANDMENT
chief of the National Guard, at once is
sued the following order:
George r. Shoulder. Major General Command
ing National Guard Of Pennsylvania: Put the
division under arms and move at once with
ammunition to the support OF the Sheriff of AL
leghany county, at Homestead. Maintain the
peace-prOtect all persons in their rights under
the Constitution and laws of the State. Com
municate with me.
ROBERT E. PATTIsoN, Governor.
To Sheriff McCleary the following tele-
gram WAS sent: