Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-07-07
Iron Workers and Pink
ertOn Men Battle.
HIRELINGS MADE PRISONERS
Graphic Description of the State Of Az
fairs at Carnegie's Works.

PITTsBURG, July 7--pittsburg has had
another experience with labor riots, and
this time, as during the fearful scenes
which were witnessed during the railroad
riots Of 1s17, blood has been shed, life
jeoparaized and valuable property placed
in danger. This time there was no de-
struction of property, but the mob was
thoroughly well organized, we'll dis
ciplined and had efficient officers at the
head TO conduct the operations. The force
embraced all the men employed in the ex-
tensive plants OF the Carnegie Iron aud
Steel company at Homestead, eight miles
easi Of Pittsburg, aud battle which, for
bloodthirstiness and boldness Of execu-
tion, has not been excelled in actual war
fare, waged from o'clock yesterday
morning until o'clock in the afternoon.
and only ceased when the force of Pnker-
tons brought 10 the place to suppress the
strike Internationally surrendered, leav-
ing their arms in the barges in which they
had been transported to the works.
Its Inception.
The riot was the elimination of tho
troubles which have been brewing at
Homestead for the past month. The
Carnegie company submitted scale to
govern their workmen in the steel plants,
and anuounced that it was their ulti-
matum. The scale made sweeping re-
ducjiun in the wages of skilled men, and
1t was officially announced that unless
the terms were complied with before July
] The places of the workmen would be
flied 10y Others. This was followed by
ptremptory refusal on the part of the
company to recognize the Amalgamated
Association Of Steel and Iron Workers rs
suca or to confer with any committee of
the wmkm,n short OF an acceptance OF
the trrn> offered. The men stated that
they wo Id n. yer submit to the proposed
reduction, an announced their determn-
atica to resist any effort on the part of
the Carnegie to start up their plants
with non-uniOn men.
As both sides were determined, both
proceeed to prepare for the contest which
eliminated in violence and bloodshed.
The contes was prccipitated by the work
men at Honest cad, by hanging II. G.
Frick. president Of the company, in efagy.
Iu retaliation he ordered an immediate
shutdown of the big works two days be-
fore the time provided by the contract un-
der which the men were working. The
employees at once proceeded to organize
for the defensive, and the company erected
high board fence around the entire
works, giving them the appearance Of
An Immc cnse Stockade,
the sides being pierced with port holes.
On Tuesday the Carnegie company an
nounccd their intention to proceed to get
ready to make repairs, and the officials
asked the sheriff to appoint deputies TO
protect their property. The sheriff sent
small squad of men TO the works, but the
strikers assembled in force and notified
them to get ont of town, as no disorder
was intended and no damage would be
done to any property They even offered
To be sworn in as deputies and to give
bonds for the faithful performance of their
duties as conservators Of the peace. When
this offer was declined, the advisory COM
mittee, which bad been directing the ac-
ton of the workmen, and viii :h had
held the turbulent spirits among the
workmen in check, was Immediately
dissolved and all the records of the com.
mitteo were promptly destroyed.
The developments showed that the ap-
plication made for the assistance Of the
sheriff was merely for the purpose Of
covering what was
Intended to 10 q Coup de Main
on the part of the Carnegie company In
clandestinely introducing body Of Pink
trlou uetcCtlNcs l0NO tne MIL enclosure.
The detectives had been rendezvoused
some five or six miles below the city on
the Ohio river, ut 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
from the Carnegie mills at Braddock. The
holds were fitted up with hunks. cooking
arrangements and other accommodations,
and rs an extra precaution were lined
with heavy steel plates on the inside,
while the whole back deck was protected
In "a similar manner.
It was the intention that the men
should reach the works about 3o'clock
yesterday morning, but the guards which
were on duty along the river got word OF
the threatened invasion OF the Pinkerton
men and prepared TO receive them. The
barges were towed up the river by tow
boat. but long before the men reached
Homestead thousands Of strikers had
gathered on the banks Of the river ready
70 give them warm welcome When the
boats attempted 10 land the workmen
broke through the fence surrounding the
mill. and entrenching themselves behind
piles OF steel billets, prepared to resist the
landing OF the detectives.
BY o'clock in the morning an effort
was made 10 land the detectives. but the
strikers met them, and a
Fierce Rattle wss Precipitatsd,
both sides exchanging volley Of shots.
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