Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-07-07


We went down To Homestead again, We
were going along peaceably expecting no
trouble. when We reached the mills the
strikers opened fire ON the Little Bill from
both sides. 1t WAS then was hit. Bullets
broke the glass and splintered the wood
work Capt. Alexander MeMichaels was
n, the wheel Bullets crashed through the
glass pilot house. and 10 save his life he
had to rush below. Capt, Rogers was on
hoard and displayed great bravery. When
the firing commenced We all lay down on
the floor to escape the bullets. but was
not quick enough and was wounded.
There was a cessation in the firing and
the pilot secured control of the boat before
it ran into the bank, which it came near
doing No one was on board at the time
We were fired upon but the crew. Captain
Rogers and one finkerton man. j. II. Rob
inson Of Chicago. When We approached
Homestead from Port Perry We could see
attempts to set fire To the barges. The
strikers had y carload of what appeared To
be oil. and were pouring it on the water
and ignting it. The barges AT this time
were ont in the middle of the river"
McCurry was taken TO the Allegheny
General Hospital. where he is reported as
resting easy tonight
In the meantime Captain llynd and
Supt. KLINE of the rinkerton men, were
disabled and the fire was so fierce that the
crew of the towbOat hastily cut loose from
the barge and steamed up river, carrying as
many of the wounded as they could reach
TO Braddoek. from which point they were
sent to hospitals at I'iitshurg. News of the
riot reached Pittshurg as early as six in the
morning. and hundreds armed
with guns and revolvrrs took up
the line of march to reinforce
the strikers. Soon as day broke, the
strikers secured small brass ten-pounl
cannon and planted it within the steel billet
embrasure. Ia command the barges moored
ut the river. At the same time force OF
more than 1000 men took up a position on
the opposite side of the river and planted
cannon, which they protected with a breast
work of railroad ties.
Fire from both sides was kept up, the
bargcs having been placed alongside. When
it was found that little impression could be
made on the boats by the cannon. hose pro
cured and oil spouted on the decks and
sides of the barges, and barrels OF
oil were emptied into the river
above the mooring place, the object
being to allow ii to float against the boats
and then ignite it. This terrible deed was
attempted several times, but the boats lid
not burn. Then the mob became infuriated
and hurled dynamite bombs at the vessels
with great effect.
Three times men in the barges ran up flag
of truce, and as many times it was stricken
down by bullets fired by the strikers. Then
it became evident that the ammunition of
the beseiged detectives was either exhaus-
ted or they were too much worn out to con
tinue the fight and for nearly two hours be-
fore the end of the struggle was reached
not short was fired
Towards dusk efforts were again made
to burn the boats with their living freight,
and they would doubtless have succeeded
had it not been for the intcrposition of lead
ing officers of the Amalgamated Association,
who went to the scene of the war in
afternoon.
Through their efforts II was agreed to al
low the detectives TO surrender, but this
not secured without the greatest objection
by the men. many of whom had lost friends
and acquaintance during the day
Besides, there were thousands Of
turbulent characters attracted To the
place who wanted To see the carnage
20 u" anu ""I '"' ""'" ," N'
poih's" guns !" wv o"'s"'e', u''' "'"''"e
was oo'ai"e". ~ 'ne n'," ~, nv
h"ne OUT a"o'',' ""''e nag '',' '"'' I'M .,'
was resPe'"n' a'',' II 'on'''.''''. VI '".
srike,s "e"' "''"i" W P''P"'' VI
c"p,,ui''ion ,' -. ,. e. ,t
ihey g"af"''eeu "a. o'"nu., 'o' VI"
rinker'ons' pio'"'e" .",s "l' 'p.n ann
ana a,h'huh''on oeh'hu' '''' @ as'e." W
leaVe uie piace u""er euai"' ne "e'e'
yves nha no a''efha,,,e W., a''' pionp'H a."
eepteh liie "rh's' "nen 'ne 'hep'ono' "
.he poa,s was ,haoe l" ""H i'",'i ~, '','' AZ
leas. se'e" 'inhe''o" i'e" ".' hi,eu anu
z" OF ." "ouh'eo' many !" p",s ,"a' '.,'
VIII ne As they were ",o"e"' i'oii' ''e
Doai they p'eseh'e" tit"'s "Ppfar.an't, =,
Many were pesn'eareo WIN ol"oo, VIZ" ~
sho~e" Signs oi eA"aus''on i.o1' we" ''"s
cohnhehieh' III 'he ciose q"hi'e's'
MOST shock,ng anu 'as''f"', ''ens "e'e
eoh'hnt,en "n'ie 'ie prisoners we're
cor'en 'hfough .''e s',eS " '.'H s"''a'
-" 80 IL h., a.oh j., oh,ra ~, ,.o
- ,ha III mo, ond ,Ja;r fr;.,Is
L.lri,.a g., .nJ ,,,raar so,no Jov, Tba
..nt,s,,,,na,. 5a,.c,;ves hsg.,.d for marcy
So 80" had ,,;.,aI wo,nas in ,,,e;, ba,ds and
~. bad th.;, ave. sbo, ont Several
were shot in the shoulders. arms and legs.
and could scarcely limp along.
One had his eve. punched out by an
umbrella in the hands Of a woman Sand
was thrown in their eyes, and they were
hit with clubs and other missiles. MANY
were knocked down with clubs, frampled
upon. some being too weak to walk.
As III. procession reached the Amalga-
mated Association building the detectives
had to remove that hats anil salute the Hag.
When they removed their hats, men and
women hit them with umbrellas and sticks
and abused them in every way imaginable.
II was with the greatest difficulty that the
den,op-like crowd could be restrained. The
men were finally lodged in the opera house,
where they are TO he kept for the night.
After the prisoners were removed from
the baryes, the rioters carried oil into the
holds and set it on fire. frs. securing the
boats 30 they could not float down river and
canse damage at points below.
A. so,lJ he ..co,,.;,c, II vo,s
nen and . de,ectiyes were k;ll.d and II
a.h,an .nd 81 1s,.c,;yes ;,;u,ad i, ,l,e
h.,,I.. A, laa., t0o datac,;ya. re,o 90.
,;nn.Iv ;n;u,ed he The ,,r;kers vbile ~,
,ta;r w.v 10 ;atI
'" -
hr!e'l'en. "e,'s'.l ',.e -ana's'ma.'' as..,a
As'otia.'"", ~ aii.'" a. 's'e So. " "'''s