New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-09
PINKERTON MEN COME HOME.
WEARY AND Observation-Disclosures sUFFERINGs
AFTER THEY SURRENDERED.


WEARY AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS sUFFERINGs
AFTER THEY SURRENDERED.
The station officers Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company early yesterday morning denied all knowledge
OF special train bringing Plnkeron detectives to this
city. few reporters, nevertheless. stayed about the
station, and finally at 90 O'Clock the train pulled In
Out Of II poured about go vermont, demoralzed ana
broken-lookng men. Every one showed evidences In
enc way or another OF rough experiences. All had
torn and dirty clothing many were without hats others
without coats and most Of thcm were Scared bruised
and battered They were huddled together looheh wl1
and thoroughly frightened and all seemed suspicious
of those who stood in the station. Several Pinkcrton
officers there to receive them. and thy hustled
of the men 10 the two ferries. It was apparent that
they all instructed not to give information, and
II was with difficulty that a reporter finally drew two
of them into conversation.
These two mon seemed more cheerful than the
others. and the reason probably was that they had
comparatively escaped injury. After quiet corner
had bec'i found and the detectives had been made
comfortable, for they hungry and black with
powder and coal dust they became more laxative
The chapter Of their adventures which had made
the deepest impression upon them was their treatment
the hands Of the infnriaed strikers, their families
and sympathlzers after the surrender To TINS their
minds returned again and again.
one Of the detectives was n protest. man who
dld not Wish 10 spend his VarntOn IN luleHcNS anu
hence had enlisted for two weeks service. The other
had been In the pinkcrtons' employ Mt tho race
tracks for some years The professional man was
the spokesman and gave the general outline Of their
adventures which the other. who seemed to rencm-
Der details better elaborated at various stages This
4 substantially what they said:
We were both engaged ut rinkcrtons Ncw-YOrk
Office. There were in all 3Oj men who started for
Homestead the barges. OF these 14j came from
Notr-N orr Irpnt 1vp
The nriglborhood. Forty enlisted IN Philadelphia
and 800 were Chicago men.
"The Ncw-Ycrk coming mt left the Forty second
st. station on the Fourth OF July. between and .
y. m. At West Albany the Western men Joined u.s.
and by roundabout route. through Ohio we reached
the station abou, ,fght milcs from Homestead.
Although told in 80 many words that
We were 10 protect the Carnegie works. understood
pretty well what WIS our destination. We have no
complaint 70 make Of Tlnkcrt0n's treatment We
lived we'll and our cnpain, and licutenaut were
brave men. O, c.us, We DID not expect such an
encounter and not prepared to meet 1t; and
the orders given rs. 10 fire the first two volHys over
the heads oi the strikers. show that our captains did
not wish To take human lives. The report that we
were t. take places rs Mill Is mfoundcd for
OF u, 80 far as know. Skilled mechanics.
Homestead thoroughly prepared to meet
us for tho strikers well organized, and sys-
TEN OF signals announced our coming. The details
o. our trip to Homestead arc pretty well known. The
shores we're lined with strikers and their friends
a. n lights were thrown upon our boats; the Edna
steamer controlled bv them. up the river before
u.s. keeping mp It's whistle Of warning.
1--WE came 10 our landing place about IN the
morning and were warned IN rough language not to
go ashore. Captain icIn replied that we had como
merely TO protect pHvat" property Whercupon the
leader Of the strikers replied. Not today We then
put en- onr uniforms Ten were armed with rifles
A., hn al cir Ms
Helm and Captain Norton. nothing dauncd BY tho
first .hot which from the shore, laid the gang
plank q the shore and ordered Us 10 follow. Then
came showers Of everything imaginable upon IA. 10
which We returned two volcys shot into the air. and
Il not until Helm fell. shot In the thigh. that We
returned the fire In good earnest. We were not pre-
pared 10 meet such opposition and the rifles. there
fore. were loaded with four cartridges. Thus. our
guns giving ont. retreated to the boats. Then
came the sharp shooting side and the shooting
~ rife. pistols cannon and the use Of oil. dynamite.
glyccrlnc stones and other missiles against u.s. one
Of the cannon sent slug on our boat weighing eight
pounds. The cannon stationed on the opposite shore
exploded IN the afternoon taking on the head Of one
Of the bystanders.
"Our steamer, Little Bill. made effort 10 help
us about noon but the firing heavy that 1t
could not reach The pilot house was rldd!ed with
bullets that the captain had to get down on his
hand, and knees 10. guide the boat. new man on
the steamer lost hi> life on this trip for our rescue.
The exact details Of the day viii become better
known later: but wish 10 state here that We did not
raise a white nag first. We could not hold Onr position
long, TO BE- sure, but 1t the sheriff who hrst came
10 the boat and suggested surrender TO This We
finally accepted. with the understanding that we should
be projected and escorted TO the railroad station. We
left ana uniforms on board, and then as you
know, land single file. The atrocity and III
humanity Of orr treatment. helples, as we wee; arr
hard 10 picture. The wOnnn had 10 dodge neld IN
her hand n towel containing largo rock Her as
slsian held the mrn md then the ston" was brought
down the prisoner. Every one was robbed OF
every valuable In his possession. | had attached my
gold watch on the inside Of my trousers. and thus
saved II. | placed in the Jail and the poor
wounded and helpless were pitched into our cells
After the men were shut in the squire Of the town
again went through Us. 10 make SURF that there was
no money anything Of value remaining IN our
possession That night T. shall never forget.
We are glad 10 see Ncw-York again. can tell yon.
Yet for one, and know Of many Others am willing
and nm yiois return Homestead, for the barbarlty
Of the strikers when absolutely In their power,
under their promise OF protection, demands punish
ment"