The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-17
Non-Union Men Begin Work
in the Homestead Mills.
STRIKERS KEEP UP COURAGE.
Only Amalgamated WOrkmen Can
Make Nickel Steel, They Say.
Tho Strike Closing All tho Carnegie
Mills-A Steamer With Non-Union
Men Said 70 Be on the Way-Unfriend-
Illness Between Strikers and Militia.

HOMESTEAD, July 16.-Today was the
quietest Homestead has known since the
declaration of hostilities between the COM
pany and the men. Undoubtedly new
men have been introduced in the works,
but the number is small, and the strikers
are confident many cannot, without great
difficulty, be brought there If the men
come they will undoubtedly have the live
liest time they ever had. Although smoke
is rising from two stacks in the mill,
visit to the yards showed about twenty
non-union men busy, not fifty, as origin
ally stated.
Burgess McLuckie tells this curious
story about the manner in which the first
armor plates were made:
When the work came to the mills lot OF ex-
perts, both from the government and the Car
negie company, turned in upon us to show us
how nickel steel should be made The result
was that fully 100000 worth of material was
wasted. We tried and tried under expert direc-
tion to produce nickel steel armor plates, but
could not do so. At last some of the boys got
together. talked over the situation. considered
the difficulties and finally asked tho Carnegie
company to withdraw the experts and let the
men see what they could do by themselves 1t
was done as we asked. Every one of the office
force was sent away from the furnaces
citation turned out the first completed
nickel steel armor plates that would stand in
spection. The result was that the Carnegie
Company got reputation which really belongs
to Basic lodge We made those plates under
tremendous difficulties and after the govern
ment officials and mill owners had Quit in
despair.
Letters were put in the postoffice today
to every old employe of the mills, with
about forty exceptions, reading as follows:
Dear Sir: Repairs will be resumed Monday,
July Is. We invite you to return to your old
position, work to commence at the usual time
respectfully, J. W. POTTER,
General superintendent
The discipline of the troops was very
stringent today. The patrols all carried
loaded guns, mostly with bayonets fixed,
and the orders were not to hold commune
cation with any one except in the strict
line of duty. A large tenement and an
adjacent house, occupied mostly by Hun
garians, was the central object of sus-
picion, and was closely watched.
Besides the letters, posters have been
put up all over town citing that individual
applications for employment will be re-
ceived by the general superintendent until
6 p. M, July p The posters say it
is the desire of the company to
keep all the old employees whose
past records are satisfactory and
who did not participate in the efforts made
to interfere with the company's right to
manage its own business. al employees
not applying within the time mentioned
by the company will be considered as hay
ing no desire to re-enter the employment
of the firm and their positions will be
given to others. Absolutely no excite
ment followed the putting up of the no.
tices. and the members of the advisory
committee said that neither they nor their
letters would have any effect. He con-
tinued:
Our men will 60 back readily as soon as we
are satisfied as to the wages to be paid. Until
then we will not go back. No violence is
threatened. The Carnegie mills might invite
the best workmen in the world outside of our
ranks and they could not make nickel steel
armor plate that the United States inspectors
would pass. Our people know how to make it
and nobody else does
Shannon, who made the above state
ment. Is one of the most conservative of
the strike leaders. He said, further, that
the men had sufficient funds to continue
the fight for five years.
PITTsBURG. July 16.--A few days more
will see the Thirty-third street mill COM
pletely Enclosed by a seven-foot high board
fence. Most of the men were receiving
pay as early as 10 o'clock today. They
were not disposed to laugh and Joke as
usual on past paydays. There is somber
appearance about the entire neighborhood.
A committee of strikers are reported to
be holding frequent councils and will re-
port the result of the work at the next
general meeting. The possibility of arrest
of the leaders of the men for riot last
Wednesday week is still being considered.
There has been no movement as yet look
ing to arrest. but they have prepared them
selves, and if permitted to do so in case of
arrest will give bail to any sum required
Secretary Lovejoy says the Union mills
here and the Beaver Falls mills will be
started on Monday next. and that the
company will find no difficulty in getting
men to operate them. 1t is not believed
that any of the men now in the Homestead
mill. except the regular watchmen and a
few firemen, will remain.
The steamer Tide left here this morning
loaded with provisions for the Homestead
works Carnegie has advertised for bids
for the erection of 100 dwellings for work.
men inside the stockade around the mill.
The company is receiving many applica-
tions for work, including some from their