The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-20
THEY FOUGHT ALL DAY,
Battle Between Carnegie Steel
Workers and PinkertOn Men.
Many Killed on Both Sides Dur
ing the Fierce Encounters.

Pennsylvania has had another experience
with la '.or riots. and this time, as during the
fearful scenes which were witnessed during
the railroad riots of 1877, blood has been
shed, life jeopardizsd and valuable property
placed in danger. This tina there was no
destruction OF property, but the mob was
thoroughly we'll or sanizel. we'll disciplined
AMI had efficient officers at the
head to conduct the operations.
The force embracsi all the men employed
in the extensive plants Of the Carnegie Iron
and Steel Company at Homestead, some eight
miles east of PittSburg, and a battle which,
for bloodthirstiaess and bol 1ness OF execu-
ton, has not been e1called in actual warfare
was waged from 1 o'clock in the
morning until 5 o'clock in the afternoon,
and only ceased when the force OF Pinker-
tons brought to the place to protect the
property, Internationally surrendered, leav-
ing their arms in the barges in which they
had been transported to the works.
The riot was the elimination OF the
troubles which have been brewing at Home
stead for the last month. With the utmost
secrecy the Carnegie firm engaged 300 Pink
erton detectives brought them from Chicago
and other Western points, and, after the
Sheriff's deputies were driven away from the
Homestead plants the firm decided to put
the Pinkerton men into the works at once to
protect the property, as well as the lives OF
any of the locked-out men who could be in
duced to return to work.
1t was shortly after midnight wien word
reached Homestead that two bargeS filled
with Piukerton men had left point on the
Ohio River, few miles below Pittsburg, for
Homestead, and that they would attempt to
force their way into the mill before morn,
ing. The word was carried to Homestead
at once, and before 2 o'clock 5000 men,
women and children lined the river banks on
the lookout for the PinSertons.
The barees were towed by two small
STEAMERS, and it was after 4 o'clock when
thew were sighted below Homestead. They
headed for the river gate of the Carnagie
mill yard. A thousand strikers Were there
before the gang planks could be thrown
ashore. The mill yard fence had been run
out into the river to protect just such
landing as was contemplated, but it fell like
q paper wall before the rage OF the strikers.
Up to this time there had not been sign
of life on the barges, but when within fifty
feet of the shore the large doors at the end
of the boats were thrown open an / as many
men as could conveniently stand on the little
forward decks crowded quickly out.
One glance was enough to fire the blooi
Of the most conservative Of men, as through
the rapidly coming day light was recognized
the slouch hated. blue.coaJed, heavily armed
Pinkerton men. Every one of the Pinkertons
held in his hands deadly double-barrelled
Winchester rifle, and though three score Of the
plittering barrels were ievelled directly at
the mill men as the boat reached the shore.
not a man retreated, but rather pressed
closer to the shore in order to be the first to
fall if necessary. The din was terrific as the
lusty-lunsed mill men vented their rage up.
on the intruders.
.sDon't come on land or we'll brain you,"
they yelled.
''Wby don't you work for your living like
decent menu they howled.
Not a word answered the Pinkertons, but
as the boat touched the shors and q gang
plank was thrown out. every Piukerton man
covered as many men as possible with his
Winchester. Rage had now transformed
the usual pacific Homestead men into
demons. They knew no fear, but even
Jumped forward to wrest the death-dealing
rifles from the hands of their enemies.
It will never be known definitely who fired
the first snot which started the slaughter
that has made so many homes of mourn.
ing. The first gun. however, was fred
from the Pinkerton barge, and was thought
to have been di charged by the Captain OF
the gang Of men, who was afterward killed.
The last moment before the slaugh-
ter, the crowd was surging downward
workers, VINO stood with their backs to the
Pinkertons fairly under the muzzles of the
rifles, irving to keep the mill men back
from what seemed certain death. Clear as
q bell, far above the roar OF the angry
crowd, came the voics of Hugh ODonnell,
as, hatless and coatless, he tried to check
the angry men.
sin GODS name" he cried, my good fell
lows keep back, don't press down and force
them to do murder"
It was too late, the appeal was drowned
by the sharp report Of a Wine ,ester from
man in the bow of the boat. The first ball
had hardly left the smoking barrel on its
mission of death before it was followed by
a sheet Of flame from score Of rifles in the
Pinkerton's hands. William Foy, who
stood at the front with his foot on the gang
plank staggered, and fell, his blood gushing
out. For q moment the crowd was struck
dumb by the attack. Only the
proans Of several wounded men were heard.
The echoes Of the rifles had hardly reached
the neighboring hills ere the crowd replied.
Out from the semi.darkness of the morning
flashed wall of fire. The men on tn, bank,
too. had arms and were using them.
The leader Of the Pinkertons clapped his
han1 to his breast and fell overheard, sink
ing beneath the waters, while several other
Pinkertons staggered back and were carried
inside the boat ny their comrades.
Instantly the Pinkertons were made to pay
for their work. Every man of the first rank
were shot down. Two fell into the water
and were heard Of no more. One other died,
but his body was recovered and the others
were seriously injured.
That was the opening OF the battle. The
Rrf,, frN, hn hor OF mo
eral. u
AS soon as day brok,, the strikers secured
small brass ten FOUNDER cannon and
planted it within steel billet embrasure,
so as to command the barges which were
moored at til, bank Of the river. At the
same time iorce OF more than 1000 men
took up position on the opposite side OF the
river. and also planted a cannon, which
they protected with breastword of rail-
road ties. The fire from both sides was kept
up, the barges having been piercel along
the sides. Just before o'clock the can.
non were trained on the boats, and for
several hours an awful bombardment
was kept up. The stout oaken tim
bers forming the sides Of the boat We're
splintered, but the heavy steel plates on the
inside prevented the balls from penetrating
the interior. Many of the strikers how
ever were expert marksmen, and they sent
shot after shct into the port hoes in the
boats, and inflicted terrible injury to the
imprisoned men.
When it was found that little impr ession
could be made by the cannon on the boats,
an effort was maie to lire the bar2es and
thus compel the detectives to leave the YES
sells or suffer the terrible fate of being burned
alive. Hose was procured and oil was spouted
on the decks and sides Of the barges.
While this was being done, barrel after bar
rel Of oil was emptied into the river above
the mooring place, the object being to allow
it to float against the boats and then ignite