The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-07

OAO VIVIAN Every n6TV6 OI TIC f,0UV WOIk-
men ans their families was strained toward
aching the only landing place In advance
OF the PinKertons
In less time than il takes to tell it great
holes were torn in the fence, through
Aions the ss focs-Datn path skirtina % " the river
bank they rushed DelLmell, and there In
some places it was necessary To 90 one at
time The mad pace set by
tho hght-footed leaders was toe
into the river. The rush of the
assembly was like the rambling of storm.
The shfili cries were answered by shouts
or epceuragement by those behind. Every
man was armed with . club, at least, and
Women with babes in arms ran fieetly
along the foot-paths, bent on reaching the
scene OF the struggle.
THE ATTEMPT TO LAND.
Although from the moment the men on
the Little Bill saw their purpose was
known. every pound of available steam
was brought into play. and the boat-load
of Pinkerton guards shot through the
water with surprising speed, the strikers
won the race. Before the barges were
within one hundred feet Of the landing
that portion of the river bank was literal
ly covered with millmen. brandising their
clubs, while some on the bank above were
firing their revolvers to lntimidate the
occupants of the boats. Up to this
ns had Within is y ey s ss of
shore the large doors at tho end of the
boats were thrown open, and many mon
as could conveniently stand In the little
forv ard decks crowded quickly out One
most conserv ativ mill man, as through the
rapidly coming daylight they recognized
the slouch-hatted, blue-coated, heavily
armed Pinkerton men. Every one of
the Pinkertons held in his hands
rifles AND score
of glittering barrels were leveled directly
at the mill as the boat reached the shore
not . man retreated, but rather pressed
closer &c the shore in order to be the first
to fall if necessary. The din was terrific.
the lusty-lunged mill men vented their
rage upon the intruders. Don't come to
land or We will brain you, you dirty black
guaids." they yelled. why don't you
work. for. your living like decent menp
they hOwled.
Not q word answered the Pinkertons,
but as the boat touched the shore, and the
gang-plank was thrown out, every Pinker-
ton covered as many men as possible with
his Winchester. hage had now trans
into demons They knew no fear. but even
jumped forward TO wrest the death dealing
rifles from the hands of their hated enc
mics.
1t was reported that the first gun was
fired from tho Pinkerton barge. and is
captain OF the gang of men who " IS after
ward killed. Then began the slaughter.
The crowd was suIging against six
Of the leading mill workers. who
stood with their backs to the
Pinkertons fairly under the muzzles
of the rifles. trying TO keep the mill men
back from what seemed certain death.
Clear as bell, far above the roar OF the
angry crowd, came the voice of Hugh
ODonnell as, hatless and coatless, he tried
he cried, my good follows keep back.
Don't press down and force them to do
murder"
THE FIRST TO FALL.
1t was too late. The appeal was drowned
b. the sharp report of Winchester from q
man in the bow of the boat. The first ball
had scarcely left the smoking barrel on its
mission of death ere it was followed by q
s'seet of flame from q score of rifles in the
nkertons hands. William Foy, who stood
at she front window, with his fod1 on the
gang plank, staggered and fell, his
life's blood gushing out For q moment
the crowd was struck dumb by the
attack. Only the groans of the several
wounded were heard: The echoes of the
hills ere the crowd replied. Out from the
GENT darkness of the morning flashed q
wall of fire. The men on the bank, too,
had arms. and were using them. The lead
er of the Pinkertons clapped his hand to
his breast and fell overheard, sinking be-
meath the waters while several other
Pinkerrons staggered back and were car
ried inside the boat by their comrades.
At the first flash of the Pinkerton rifles
many of the crowd took to their heels, but
close to the waters edge stood about two
hundred of the angry men firing their re-
volvers straight at the PinkertOns. Soon
the latter, unable to withstand such fire,
retreated into their cabin and fired from
under cover AS quickly as posaible. When
tie men on shore had emptied their re-
volvers they retreated up the hank. greet
ing every shot from their enemies with de-
fant cheers.
1t is remarkable that among that vast lot
of HOmestead people not a gun was seen but
after the first attack messengers flew wildly
to the town and in quarter OF an hour.
armed with rifles. shotguns, muskets and
everything in the line of firearms they
were hurrying again to the scene of battle.
Nothing further was done by the Pinker-
tons until after they had eaten breakfast
on the boat when, at $50. they
made another attempt to land on the COM
pauy's ground, but were again repulsed.
SHOT sLUGS INTO THE BOATS.
The mill men now took their position on
top of the bank. while skilled marksmen
were placed at every sheltered point. and
with their long-range rifles proceeded to
shoot down every Pinkerton they could
see. Heavy slugs were sent crashing into
the boats three different times. however.
and each time caused flag of truce to be
hung ont by the Gagged Pinkertons, but the
cry OF mo quarter was raised on
every side, and che flags were
rlddied with bullets and disregarded.
For hours the crowd of wOrkmen behind
the barricades of structural iron within
the walls watched the barges with guns
cooked, waiting for head TO appear.
Down in the boats sweltering. and with
hearts filled with fear, lay the PinkerJon
guards. The sun was beating down on the
low roofs of the barges and the air within
them must have been sitting, for an OPEN
ing was not to be thought of, as it would
only attract storm of bnllets from
the angry men outslde. The suffer
ing of the wounded in the boats
must have been awful, not to speak of the
Others ana as the sun grew nOtter sounds
of an axe at work within the boat told the
crowd that the Pinkerton guards we're TAX
ing desperate chances 20 prevent suffOca-
tion. Soon hole was cut through. and a
moment later 1t was made twice as large by
the bullets from the shore. The axe man
was wounded, and no further attemp pts
were made to secure ventilation. Death in
sitting atmosphere was better, the
Pinkertons thought, than from the guns of
the mob.
All sorts of plans were tried to fire the
boats. A hand fire-enGne. owned by the