The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-07
land. The excitement is at fever heat
at Homestead

1t was exactly 4 o'clock when the
steamer and barges were sighted by the
watchers gathered on the river banks, O
mile below the town. Directly the fleet
was sighted, three messengers, each
mounted on q fresh horse, started for
Homestead, shouting as they went In
advance of the dreaded barges.
Some one notified the engineer at the
electric light works, and for q second
time the harsh-voiced whistle sounded
general alarm. The people responded
old men and young men, elderly women,
mothers with their babys in their arms
and any number of children The
throng headed toward the river The
day was just dawning and clouds of
thick grayish vapor hung over the wa
ters. Suddenly from out Of the shad.
ows were seen the lights OF the steamer.
On either side of her were the barges.
The moment the people on the bank
caught glimpse Of the flotilla they
made break down the road toward
che works.
When the head of the line reached
the city fam fence, which had been
built out several feet into the water,
fifty men or more used their shoulders
as batcering rams, and almost in a
twingling had battered down the bar
riers. Once through the fence the
crowd pushed along the steep embank-
ment, skirting the river fence of the
Carnegie Company, and despite the mud
and uneven character of the ground,
made rapid Roadway. 1t was STRANGELY
silent crowd. Few words were spoken,
and these sprang from the lips OF the
women, who were apparently as anxious
to participate in the conflict as their
husbands. brothers and sons.
From Homestead to the pump house
It is good two miles, but all things
considered these half dressed men and
women made the journey in record
breaking time. Once there thew
gathered in one solid mass. The women,
or at least most of them, ON the out
skirts The front rank OF this solid
wall of humanity stood at the waters
very edge and every moment the crowd
grew in numbers and determination.
Slowly the tug brought her silent con-
sorts down the channel. Just below the
Pemicky bridge she partly turned hefs
PROV toward tho shore, and then amid
the shrieks of steam whistles and the
angry groans and Kisses from those
gathered on the banks the occupants of
the boats stripped for action. Each one
OF them was armed with Winchester
rifle and each rifle was loaded to kill.
Slowly the boat edged toward the land
ing, and when the keels Of the berges
grated on the sand the grim faces of the
invaders were within few feet o. their
opponents gathered on the shore.
There was one lonely instant OF awful
silence, and then a bright flash and q
sharp report announced that the first
shot OF the battle had been fred. AL
most Immediately after the first shot
had been fired the firing became general
on both sides. At first the strikers re-
treated, and for moment it looked as
though they were completely routed;
but the men quickly rallied. and al
though they retired from the immediate
vicinity of the boats they held their
own, and by sheer weight of numbers
compelled the deputies to proceed with
caution.
Up to this time no one had attempt
to leave the boats, but suddenly fifty or
more of the invaders attempted to lump
ashore. The strikers responded with a
sharp vollsy and so thick and fast came
the bullets that the deputies retired to
the semi-shelter of the lower deck. 1t
was in this attempt to force the fighting
that the Pinkerton men sustained their
most serious loss. Their captain was
carried to the pilot house of the steamer.
One of his men informed an Associated
Press reporter that although the wound
was serious it was not fatal.
Directly after this episode both sides
rested for few moments and then after
another sharp volley. which did little or
no damage to either side, hostilities
ceased.
The fighting was resumed shortly
after o'clock and continued half an
hour. In the second engagement Henry
struggle was killed and a number
wounded. Workmen have built q forti-
fication of steel bars on the river bank.
-Four locked out men have been killed.
The men rolled barrels of oil to tho
river to burn out the Pinkertons. Six
more Homestead me were shot at the
second attempt at o'clock. The cap
tain Of the tug is dead and also one of
the Pinkerton men.