Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-09
OFFICERS SAW THE AFFAIR
Ard the Militia Looked on From
Their Hillside Camp.
ALL WERE POWERLESS TO ACT
Deputy Sheriff Gray to Investigate the
Conduct of His Staff.
ALL HANDS CONDEMN THE OUTRAGE

Homestead about suppertime last evening
One hundred and twenty-seven men,
under the guard of coal and iron
policemen, were beaten, tripped and
had packages of pepper thrown at them
while walking between the mills and the
restaurants in town.
The entire affair occurred within full
sight of the deputy sheriffs, who took nc
action whatever, notwithstanding an order
issued by Chief Deputy Gray in the morn
ing to arrest any man, woman or child who
did not preserve the peace AS result the
Sheriff of Allegheny county, his chief
deputy and his other deputies were severely
scored by the coal and iron police, the Car
negie officials and the military and even
a member OF the Advisory Board denounced
| the affair as outrageous.
After the dismissal of the public schools,
crowd of small boys ranging from to IA
years of age appeared on Eighth avenue near
the Advisory Board headquarters. All
were armed with long laths having pointed
ends or with short heavy sticks. A num-
Der of little girls played about the yard of
a strikers family with tin pans, cans and
bells
As the hour grew later some 200 strikers
of all nationalities drew near and by
o'clock were ranged in a desultory line
along both sides of the street. They made
no demonstration beyond calling some of
the children for moment or so. Some of
the strike ers' wives living in the vicinity
augmented the force but everything was
seemingly left to the children.
Children Do the Work.
A few moments after o'clock the first
delegation of mill men, numbering about
25, came down the long board walk with a
coal and iron policeman at the head. As
soon as they came In sight the children
began hooting, yelling and screaming as
they danced up and down. The girls be-
gan beating their cans, ringing their bells
and yelling. Some of the boys ran to a
narrow board walk in front of strikers
home and pulled up the loosened boards.
Some they removed entirely and others
they tilted in such a manner that a person
would be tripped in stepping upon it. The
men sat still, paying but little attention to
what was going on, while the women
watched them. The deputy sheriffs stood
short distance away, and, although watch
ing, they paid no attention to the evident
intentions of the children.
As the workmen came nearer the hoot-
ings became louder and unpleasant epi-
thets were flung at them by the youngsters.
When between the lines the men were at
tackled by the boys, who threw battered tin
cans at them, tripped them up with their
sticks, belabored them on the backs and
legs and called them harsh names
Officers Saw the Outrage.
The deputies looked on meanwhile with
out making a move while Major Crawford
with Captain Mertz and the other officers
and privates at the provost marshal's head
quarters looked on from the hillside. The
military were powerless to act on account
of the law which forbids their interference
until the civil authorities fail
From then on until the meu had finished
supper the same ordor of things prevailed.
In all some 127 non-union men passed
through the same thing. Later on, as
darkness fell, the small boys were dis
placed by larger ones, who circulated
throughout the entire town, tripped
people up and threw packages of
women began insulting pedestrians and all
who passed received more or less abuse.
The workmen were pale and nervous as
they ate their supper and returned to their
more secure mill quarters.
Chairman Crawford denounced the affair
as outrageous. He said he would use every
endeavor to quell all such conduct
Colonel Gray, chief deputy sheriff, said
he would investigate his deputies inaction,
as he had issued an order to them to arrest
without compudction any man, woman or
child who acted in disorderly manner.
When first told of the happening by DIS
CURED Colonel Gray said his deputies might
have been at supper.
Colonel Gray VIII Investigate.
s'But some of them saw the whole af.
fair" was suggested.
"Well, then, 1 shall investigate the mat
ter" said the Colonel, as he turned over on
his couch.
Haven't the deputies the power to ar
rest all persons acting in a riotous man
ner?"
''They have, as I issued an order this
morning to arrest anyone who did not pre-
serve the peace" and the chief deputy
walked out on the porch to enjoy the even
ing air.
At military headquarters the affair was
excitedly discussed. Colonel Curtin de-
nounced the Sheriff of Allegheny county,
his chief deputy and his other deputies ss
weaklings, and said the affair warranted
most vigorous action. The other officers
coincided with the Major and the Sheriff
and his staff came in for scorching. Dur
ing this time Colonel Gray was on the
porch, quite out of hearing,
Superinfe ndenf Poffar said the aYpori.
ence of the men was thrilling. He also
of the Coal and Iron Police force said his
men were not authorized to act in any ca
pacity but that of guards.
Major Crawford and Captain Mertz,
both of whom saw the happenings,
were vigorous in their language "Italked
to one of the deputies" said the Major,
iand was informed that he was unauthor-
lied to follow men to their suppers" The
affair created considerable talk and the mill
tiamen at the provost marshal's headquar-
tiers were on the qui vive all evening await
ing more serious outbreak.
The Harmony Broken.
All is not harmonious within the ranks
of the strikers, as was evidenced Yesterday
afternoon. Paul Oldshue, handsome, in
telligent Hungarian, was quoted as saying
he had made arrangements for the return Of |
all the Huns and SlavS He made trip |
through the mill on inspection. as he |
termed it, and on this action was founded |
the story. The strikers of both the foreign |
and native element denied Oldshue the |
power to influence the foreigners.
Oldshue was seen Wednesday night at |
his hillside home in Munhall Hollow He |
denied the interview imputed to him and |
he nf NJ tn M hoo 49, l.