Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-06
PINKERTONs REINFORCED.
The Steamer Little Bill Received by the
Strikers With Bullets.

The Steamer Little Bill Received by the
Strikers With Bullets.
HOMESTEAD, Pa, July 6.-Near the lavatory
one man aimed his rife and the next instant q
shout went up and a Pinkerton detective
who had been standing on the barge
fell. The bullet had passed through
his head and he dropped in the
river never to rise. The locked-out men had
gained entire possession of the company's lava
tory, and in this their ammunition is stored.
The workmen have at least 500 rifles in their
possession. At II o'clock the men reported
that they were out Of ammunition and the COM
mittee was Immediately sent after more.
At 1870 am. the boat Little Bill. which
towed the barges to Homestead, was seen COM
ing down the river, large United States flag
flying from tbs masthead. The appearance of
renewed activity, both on and of the barges.
'She's coming to take the barges away" was
the cry raised on the shore.
As the boat came nearer 1t was seen that she
carried q squad Of armed men, who were lined
on the side next the Homestead mills.
When opposite the converting department
the men on the boat opened fire on those
on the shore. For ten minutes firing continued,
the Pinkertons on the barges joining the men
on the boatin the shooting. The men on the
bank returned the fire from behind furnace
stacks, which they used as a shield. So warm
was the fire from the shore that the men on the
boat were driven to cover. Several men on the
boat were seen to fall, and 1t is certain that
they were wounded.
No one on shore was injured by the firing
from the boats. The Little Bill made an at
tempt to tie up with the barges, but this was
futile, owing to the shower OF bullets from the
shore, and the towboat passed down the river,
leaving the occupants Of the barges in very un-
comfortable quarters.
TRYING TO FIRE THE BARaEs AGAIN.
The attempt to set fire to the barges did not
prove successful by the raft process and an
other attempt was made.
From the converting department Of the mill
to the edge of the river where the barges are
moored runs a switch. On this Was run car
filed with barrels Of oil, lumber and waste.
To this lighted torch was applied and the car
cut loose. The flames sprang up distance Of
a hundred feet, while volumes of smola rolled
heavenward. The crowds on the hillsides
overlooking the scenes sent up lusty shout as
word reached them of the intended burning Of
the barges and all on board The car of fire
rushed down the steep incline in the direction
Of the barges and the men on the barges
watched its approach with blanched faces.
Just then the steamer Little Bill pulled in be-
tween the barges and the shore, but on reach
ing the water the car of fire came to a stop. The
heat, however, was intense and the little
steamer was soon smoking hot.
SHOOTING KEPT Up,
All this time continuous fire was kept up
and it is estimated that 1000 shots we're ex-
changed during this brief engagement. For
cannon on the opposite shore did not fire a shot
during the battle.
The steamer Little Bill, which had evidently
received a fresh supply Of ammunition and re-
Inducements of Pinkertons, continued down
the river.
ten-pound cannon has Just been planted at
the main entrance to the mill.
The situation at noon is quiet, though the
battle is likely to be renewed at any moment.
THE SITUATION AT NOON.
P1TrsBURG, PA, July 6.-Ex-Sherif Gray re-
turned from Homestead at noon. He describes
the situation as terrible. A report was in cir
culation that he had sworn in all the Pinkerton
men as deputy sheriffs. This he denies.
Col. Gray says the strikers fired On the Pinker-
ton men first and that a constant volley was
kept up from Six-mile ferry until the boat
landed.
officer of Gov Pattison's staff in Pittsburg, had
not, at O'Clock this afternoon received any
communication from the governor.