Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-08-25
NARROWLY kVERTED.
A Conflict Between the Militia and tn
People at Homestead.

A Conflict Between the Militia and the
People at Homestead.
HOMESTEAD, Pa, Aug. 16.-A conflict
between the militia and a crowd of fully
5000 men, women and children, was
narrowly averted in Homestead Tuesday
morning. That there was not a battle,
which would certainly have resulted in
terrible loss of life, is due solely to the
prompt action of the provost marshal,
| Major Crawford, the GOODNESS of the
men under his command, the timely ap-
pearance of several Homestead police
men and the efficient work of the
deputy sheriffs.
About o'clock Constable Gingher ar
rested Frank Tracey, a laborer in the
mill, on charge of larceny, preferred
by fellow-unionist. Four non-union
men were subp9naed as witnesses. The
alderman decided to hold Tracey and
ordered him taken to Pittsburg Jail. The
constable took the prisoner out the back
way. The four witnesses went out onto
Eighth avenue in charge of one or two
deputy sheriffs, and were at once sur
rounded by bowling mob. The non
unionist walked along maintaining ST.
lence.
Cries of "Lynch the scabs I" "Kill
the black Sheep" "Take them to the
river ~ were heard. A hundred yards
up the street dozen strikers ran to the
| front, picked up stones, and hastened
| toward the four defenseless men. A big
fellow at the head of the latter realized
that things were growing serious, and
said: "You towards can go to -. We
are not going to run. Now do your
worst"
This display of nerve caused the mob
to fall back short distance, whereupon
the four employees of the Carnegie COM
pany started toward the mill again. By
| this time about ten women had Joined
the ranks of the strikers, urging the
male portion of the crowd to make short
work Of the "scabs."
Troops to the Rescue.
Major Crawford. learning of the stu
alton, soon had thirty men with bayo-
nets fixed going towards the crowd,
which was now armed with stones and
clubs, closing in upon the non-unionists.
The militia drew up in company front
across the street with guns at half-cock.
Some one shouted Don't let little
handful of pale faced boys stop us. Let's
| teach those scabs a lesson"
The soldiers stood their ground with
fingers on the hammers of their guns.
Major Crawford and deputy sheriff
ordered the crowd to disperse, but the
mob disregarded. Then a signal was
given and a company from the Six
teenth came down the hill on double
quick and was also drawn up across the
street.
Ex-Sheriff Gray, with an additional
force of deputies, then arrived.
Turning to Mr.. Gray, Major Craw-
ford, after striking a striker across the
back with his sword. asked: ''Do you
want us to disperse this crowd ?"
81 do" was the reply, whereupon Me-
| jor Crawford turned to his men and was
about to give the command to charge
when Policeman Gessner with squad
of officers came up and ordered the
street cleared.
The crowd with sullen faces and pro-
fame remarks began to fall back. For
half an hour the uneasy feeling pre-
vailed. Finally the policemen and
deputy sheriffs succeeded in restoring
order and the militia returned to camp,
and the non-union workmen were es-
corted to the mill.