New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-07

When it was found that little impression could
be made by the cannon on the boats, an effort was
made to fire the barges and thus compel the detec-
tives to leave the vessels suffer the terrible fate
Of being burned alive. Hose was procured and oil
was spouted on the decks and sides OF the oarges
While this was being done. barrel after barrel OF
Gil emptied into the river above the moorlng
place the object being to allow IL TO float against
the boats and then ignite it, This was attemped
several times, but the boats did not burn, ana
then the mob became infursted and hurled dyna-
mite bombs at the vessels.
The men also laid natural gas pipe to"aiu
the boats They want TO send strong stream
of natural gas that will envelope the boat, anu
then light it with torpedo
The fighting was renewed soon after O'CLOCK
and the battle continued for fully half an hour.
The second conflict was precipitated when
another effort was made by the Pinkerton men
to effect a landing
Before the second attempt was made 10 land
the officer in charge announced to the crowd OIL
workmen assembled the bank that MS men
were Pinkertons, and that he would land tfem
II he had 20 NOW down everybody in sight.
lie then ordered his men TO advance, and as
they advanced from the barge they were met
nv a shower Of lead from the rifles and pistols
of the tattered workmen. The officers fell back
for an instant as if repulsed, but they were
promptly rallied and, marching eight abreast,
endeavored 10 get ashore. They were driven
back again. however.
The steamer Little Bill came down the river
lust before o'clock this morning TO take of the
Pipkertons, who were imprisoned in their barge
There was large number Of new men on the
boat The moment it reached the shore regu-
lar fuslade took place. The Little Bill had an
American flag on the bow. The men say 1t had
assistance for the PinlSertons imprisoned IN the
barge At all events, fusilade began. in which
the strikers, the Pnkertons and persons on the
Little Bill took part. 1t continued ten minutes
and was mixed with hoarse, derisive cheering
from the men in the mill.
The cannoneers across the river fired three can
non balls at the Little Bill. Their aim was bad
and one ball, entering the open hearth department.
took off mans head
The number killed was ten, and eieven
wounded The strikers asserted that besides the
captain and lieutenant four other men were shot
and fell from the barge. One Plnkerton, BE-
coming desperate, jumped OF the rear and trled
10 swim He was drowned. The pilot of the
Little Bill was killed The boat Was driven OH
and proceeds down the river.
The Pinkerton men were huddled together In
their barges and shooting only when they saw d
striker coming too close to them The men were
kecping up a terrible commandment on the boats.
The two large cannons were being fired every MIN
ute, but owing to the position of the boats .ne
men were unable to get good sight on them Inc
barge and the broken pig-iron used for shot lay
about 500 yards up the river from the fittspurg'
McKeesport and Yougbiogheny railroad brloge.
and the attacking party Of the strikers were about
the same distance further up the river, behind
large piles of iron and coal and the water tanks
I'll ustnU DYNAMITE STICKS.
throwing them over the piles of coal and iron
Some exploded in the water and did no damage.
while others struck the boats and sent pieces flying
in the air. At every successful shot the men rent
the air with wild cheers. Sharpshooters were
stationed at various places, and shot every time
Pipkerton man looked out TO see the position OF
the men.
The men attacking the barges were served with
luncheon on the grounds, in order that they might
remain to prevent the Pinkertons from getting
into the mill or even get away.
AN APPALLING SITUATION.
The situation of the detectives was such as to
appall the stoutest heart The men had been LETT
cooped up in barges at the mercy of the lnfurated
mob The towbOat had left them and they were
so encompassed by the maddened army of strikers
that no succor could reach them Three times
they ran up flag of truce, but as many times
III
strikers Then it became evident that the ammu-
milton Of the besieged detectives either en-
bausted or they were too much worn out TO con-
tinue the fight, and for nearly two hours before
the end Of the struggle reached not q shot
was fred.
The battle became only sl<imish by O'Clock
D. IN. Thousands Of the relatives and sympathizeB
with the strikers, and hundreds of the curious
focked to the Carnegie plant. The hills back OF
Homestead and across the river as far as the eye
could reach were dotted with human beings.
With every shot from the strikers they craned
their necks hoping only to see a CHASTITY result.
Tie p; 1kertons were terribly beaten, ana
their warning had become purely passive. Three
times they ran up the white flag Of truce but
were answered with derisve cheers. Finally the
dynamite Great chunks of it were thrown at
the boat, the most of which only splashed the
water Occasionally il struck the roof. but
exploded upward, and only left white breath
of smoke. One lucky shot struck the stern end
of one of the barges and made gaping open
ing which served as an objective point for
future throws, but was always missed. Other
shots ripped up great sections Of the oakcn
deck Previous TO this they had tried TO fire
the boats by pouring barrels OF oil on the water
and igniting it, but after wasting about half
tank, they gave thls up Us lutie. linen 'HcS
took long section of hose and tried to pipe
the Carnegie Company's gas to the boats TO
blow up the company S protectors Time and again,
they tried it, each attempt proving a failure.
while the spectators and strikers awaited the re-
suit with bated breath. Sharp-shooters were
ready to NOW them down, while men with re-
volveis were ready TO take them if it became
fight at short range. Even the slight hope of
swimming to the other shore and escaping was
lost, as pickets were over tere ready to pick
them off,
Meanwhile the Pinkertons were huddled under
Geek. dragging IN their dead and caring for their
wounded waiting for what seemed their certain
doom, as all overtures Of surrender had been re-