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

in cIandestineiy introducing a. body Of
Pinkerton detectives into the mil inclos-
ure. The detectives had been rendezvoused
some five or six miles below the city, on
the Ohio river. at which point two model
barges had been prepared for them. The
barges were of the best build, and were
used in shipping iron rails down the river
holds were filled with hunks. cooking ar
rangements and other accommodations,
and. as an extra precaution. as II In prep
aration for the siege to which they were
subjected to-day. were lined with heavy
steel plates on the inside, while the whole
back deck was protected in q similar man.
ner.
PREPARED TO RECEIVE THE GUARDS.
1t was the intention that the men should
reach the works about o'clock this morn
ing. but tho guards which were on duty
along the river got word of the threatened
invasion of the hated Pinkerton men. ant
prepared to receive them. The barges were
towed MP the river by a tow boat, but long
before the Pinkerton men reached Home
stead. thousands of strikers had gathered
on the banks of the river ready to give
them q warm welcome. When the boat
ATTEMPTED to land the workmen broke
through the fence surrounding the hill
and intrenching themselves behind. piled
mp steel biilets and prepared to resist thC
landing of the detectives.
was made to land the detectives, but the
strikers met them and fierce battle wal
precipitated, both sides exchanging al
volley of shots. The detectives wei l.
armed with Winchesters, but at the a
where the attempt to land was made &c
was steep embankment. compelling them
to 90 in single file. and they were soon
driven back to the boats by the steady tirs
from the shore.
The noise of the battle spread about the
borough like wild-fire. and thousands of
men, women and children thronged to the
river bank to witness the tight In progress.
The Pinkerton men were determined TO
land. and they fired volley after volley into
the ranks of the strikers, many Of whom
were stricken down by the bullets. some
being fatally injured and others killed out
right. AS the battle progressed the strik-
ers took up position behind breast
works hastily constructed of steel rails and
billets, and from this place of safe refuge
were able to pick of the detectives as soon
as thev appeared on the deck OF the boats.
In the meantime Captain Helm and Super
were disabled, and the fire became 80 fierce
that the crew of the tow-boat hastily cut
loose from the barge and steamed up the
river, carrying as many OF the wounded as
they could reach to Braddook, from W hioh
point they were sent down to the hospitals
for treatment at Pittsburg. Seven of the
force were thus cared for. while the strik-
ers that fell wounded were carried TO their
homes at Homestead, the dead being taken
to the morgue and undertaking-rooms in
the towns.
The news of the riot reached Pittsburg
as early as O'clock in the morning, and
thousands of mill workers, all OF whom are
now idle. pending the conference over the
scale. congregated in the streets while
hundreds of others. armed with guns and
reyOlvers and well supplied with ammuni-
tion, took up the line of march to reintorcs
the strikers.
TWO CANNoNs USED.
As soon as day broke the strikers secured
a small cannon-a brass -pounder-and
planted it within steel billet embrasure,
so as to command the barges which were
m0ored at the bank on the river. AT the
same time force of more than q thousand
men took mp position on the opposite side
of the river, and also planted q cannon
which they protected with a breastwork OF
railroad ties The fire from both sides was
kept up. the barges having been pierced
along the sides.
shortly before o'clock the cannon were
trained on the boats, and for several hours
an awful bOmbardment was kept up. The
stout oaken timbers forming the sides Of
the boats were splintered, but the heavy
steel plates on the inside prevented the
balls from penetrating the interior. Many
of the strikers, however, were expert
marksmen, and they sent shot after shot
into the port holes in the boats and in
fiicted terrible injury to the imprisoned
men.
When it was found that little impression
could be made on the boats by the cannon.
an effort was made to fire the barges and
thus compel the detectives to leave the ves-
sells or suffer the horrible fate of being
burned alive. Hose were procured and oil
was spray ed on the decks and sides OF the
barges. While this was being done barrel
after barrel of oil was emptied into the
river above the mooring- place, the object
being TO allow 1t to float against the boats
attempted several times. but the boats did
not burn, and then the mob became infuri-
ated and hurled dynamite bombs at the
vessels with great effort.
The situation of the detectives was such
as to appal the stoutest heart The uen
had been left cooped MP In bsrges at tho
mercy of the infuriated mob, The tow
boat had left them, and they were so en-
compassed by the maddened army of strlk-
ers that no succor could reach them. Three
times they ran up flag of truce. but ss
many times il was stricken down by bull
let's fired by the strikers. Then il became
evident that the ammunition of tho be-
sleged detectives was either exhausted or
they were too much worn out 10 continue
the fight, and for nearly TWO hours before
the end of the struggle was reached not
shot was fired.
WANTED THE CARNAGE TO GO ON.
Towards dusk. efforts were made to burz
the boats again with their living freight
and they would. doubtless, have succeeded
had it not been for the interposition Of the
leading officers of the Amalgamated As.
sociatlon, who went to the scene Of war In
the afternoon. Through their efforts It waa
agreed to allow the detectives TO surrender,
but this was not secured without the great
est objection the part of the men. many
of whom had lost friends and acquaint-
snces during the day. Besides, as in all
such outbreaks, there were thousands OF
turbulent characters attracted to the place,
and. as they owed no allegiance to any or
ganiZation, could not be controlled. They
wanted TO see the carnage 60 on. and it was
not until some of the strikers pointed their
guns at the outsiders that hearing was
obtained
At O'Clock the Plnkerton men hung out
another white flag. and this time IL was re-
spected, and q committee of strikers went
aboard to prepare terms of capltulation.
They guaranteed safe conduct for the
Pinkertons, provided they left their arms
and ammunition behind and agreed to
leave the place under guard. The de-
tectlves had no alternative, and promptly
accepted the terms some of the men saying
that 1t was the first time they had ever
submitted to such a humiliatlng surrender.
When an inspection of the boat was
made It was found that at least seven OF
the Pinkerton men had been killed and
twenty or thirty wounded, many of them
so badly that they will die. As they were
brought from the boat they presented q