The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-07-14
POWDER AND BALL.
Brought Into Use at >Carnegie's
Mills.
Locked-Out iron Workers Repel an In
vasion by Pinkerton Men The Latter
Surrender After q Battle In Which
Twenty Men Are Killed.
: CIVIL WAR IN PENNSYLVANIA


81 CIVIL WAR IN PENNSYLVANIA.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July 7.-Pittsburgh
has had another experience with labor
riots, and this time, as during the fear
full scenes which were witnessed during
the riots of 1877, blood has been shed,
life jeopardized and valuable property
placed in danger. This time the mob
was thoroughly we'll organized, we'll
disciplined and had sufficient officers at
the head to conduct the operations.
The force embraced all the men en-
ployed in the extensive plants of the
Carnegie Iron & Steel Company at
Homestead, some miles east of Pitts
burgh, and battle which for blood
thirstiness and boldness of execution
has not been excelled in actual warfare
waged from o'clock Wednesday
mornirg until o'clock In the
afternoon, and only ceased when the
force of Pinkertons brought to the
place to suppress the strike uncondi-
tionallv sure ndered, leaving their arms
in the larges in which they had been
transpt rted to the works.
A complete list of the killed in the
riots, so far as known, includes eleven
workmen and nine Pinkerton guards.
Eighteen workmen and twenty-one
Pinkerton men were injured in the bat
tie. In addition to this at least one
hundred guards were seriously injured
by the strikers while on their way to
the Jail in the evening.
The Developments Wednesday showed
that the application made for assistance
of the sheriff was mainly for the pur-
pose of covering what was intended to
be a coup de main on the part of tie
Carnegie company in clandestinely in
Producing a body of Pinkerton detect
ives Into the mill inclosure. The de-
tee ives had been held ready about
5 VI 6 miles below the city
on the Ohio river, at which point two
model barges had been prepared for
them. The barges were towed
up the river by owboat, but long be.
fore the Pinkerton men reached Home
stead thousands of strikers had
gathered on the banks of the river
ready to give them a warm welcome.
by o'clock in the morning an effort
was made to land the detectives, but
the strikers met them and fierce bat
tie was precipitated, both sides ex-
changing heavy volley of shot. Many
were stricken down by the bullets,
some of them being fatally injured and
others killed outright.
AS the ba,tl, progressed the strikers
took up position behind a breast
work hastily constructed of steel rails
and billcts, and from this place of safe
refuge were able to pick off the detec-
tives as soon as they appeared on the
deck of the boats. In the meantime
Capt. Hind and Superintendent Kline,
of the Pinkcrton men, were dis
abled, and the fire became so
fierce that the crew of the tow
boat hastily cut loose from the
barge and steamed up the river, carry
ing as many of the wounded as they
could reach to Braddock, from which
point they were sent to the hospitals
for treatment at Pittsburgh.
AS soon as day broke the strikers Sc
cured "a small brass ten-pounder cannon
and planted it within steel billet en-
which were moored at the bank of the
river. At the same time force of more
than a thousand men took up position
on the opposite side of the river and
also planted a cannon, which they pro-
tected with breastwork of railroad
ties. The fire from both sides was kept
up, the barges having been pierced
along the sides. Shortly before 9 o'clock
the cannon was trained on the boats
and for several hours an awful
ombardment was kept up. The
stout oaken timbers forming
the sides of the boat were
splintered, but the heavy steel plates
on the inside prevented the balls from
penetrating the interior. Many of the
strikers were expert marksmen, and
they sent shot after shot into the port
holes of the boat and inflicted terrible
injury to the imprisoned men.
When it was found that little i'm
preston could be made by the cannon
on the boats an effort was made to fire
the barges and thus compel the de-
tcctives to leave the vessel or suffer the
terrible fate of being burned alive.
Hoses were procured and oil was
sprayed on the decks and sides of the
bargcs. While this was being done
barrel after barrel of OF was emptied
into the river above the mooring place,
the object being to allow it to float
against the boats and then ignite it.
This terrible deed was attempted
several times, but the boats did not
burn. and then the mob became 10
suriatcd and hurled dynamite bombs at
the vessel with great effect. The situa-
ton of the detectives was such as to
appall the stoutest heart. The men
had been left cooped up in barges at
; the mercy of the infuriated mob. The
towboat had left them and they were
50 cncompassed by the maddened army
of strikers that no succor could reach
them.
Three times they ran up flag OF
truce, but as many times it was strick.
en- down by bullets fred by the strlk.
erS.
At 5 o'clock the Pinkerton men hung
out another white flag, and this time il
was respected, and a committee OF
strikers went aboard to prepare terms
Of capitulation. They guaranteed safe
conduct for the Pinkertons provided
they left their arms and ammunition
behind and agreed to leave the place
under guard. The detectives had nc
alternative and promptly accepSl the
terms of the men.
The most shocking and das.
tardly deeds, however, were committed
while the prisoners were being escorted
through the streets by the escort OF
guards appointed by the strikers. An
angry mob lined the street on both
sides. AS the men passed by, each in
charge of two deputies, the mill men
kicked them and threw some of them
down.
The unfortunate detectives begged
for mercy. Some of them had pistol
shot wounds in their heads and three
were seen that had their eyes shot out
Several were shot in the shoulders
arms and legs and could scarcely limr
along. Blood was running in streams
down their shirts and they fairly yelled
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