The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-07-23
The ElRs1 SHOT.
Difference of Opinion as TO Which Side
It Came From - Testimony of Eye
witnesses OF tho Fight at Home-
atead.

PITTSBURGH, July 10. - Chairman
Oates announced in the opening of the
investigation Thursday morning that
the committee so far had searched only
for facts and was not ready 70 make n
report. He declared it likely there
would be no minority report
General superintendent Potter was
the first witness. He described the de-
tails of steel-maling and the work per-
formed by the different classes of work.
men. He said that the Homestead mills
were the finest in the world and work.
men made 80 per cent. better wages
there than in any other plant. He
said the average reduction proposed
by the company, which precipi-
tated the strike, was 12 per cent.
About 300 men were affected This re-
duction was made because laborers
were getting moro wages than in any
other mill and the introduction of im-
proved machinery increasing the
amount of product increased the wages.
The first disturbance that occurred was
before the mill shut down; when he and
Mr., Fricl were hung in effigy. When
one of the clerks OF the company went
to tear them down he was drenched
with water from hose. The morning
of July some of his foreman and men
were stopped by others, who tried to
keep them out of the mill. On July 2 he
left the mill and returned on the boats
Tide and Little Bill. On July 8, when
the Pinllertons were taken to the works,
he was accompanied by Deputy Sheriff
Gray. AS they drew near Homestead
they saw the banks crowded with peo
pie, shouting and firing shots. He eau
toned Deputy Sheriff Gray not to let
the men commit any overt act The
crowd ran along the bank, following
them up. He thought that they would
go no further than the fence of the
Carnagie works. They landed the boats
within the works The strikers
broke through the fence and commenced
firing on them. Deputy Gray pacified
the Pinkertons until the firing became
heavy from the shore, when they re-
turned the shots. He ordered them to
quit. Three or four of the Pinkertons
were wounded. The detectives then
began getting out all of their arms
Capt. f. Kennedy, of the steamer
Little Bill, was a watchman on one of
the Pinkerton barges He detailed
the arrival of the Pinkerton
guards and their trip up
the Monongahela river. Near Home
stead, they met the strikers river
patrol, who fired sky-rocket to give
warning. Up at the wharf, he said,
men and women mingled, broke down
the fence and fired on the barges. In
answer to Boatner, Capt. Kennedy said
about 80 of the Pinkertons were good
shots, and usually picked off the strike
erS.
II. c. Fricls, president Of the Carnegie
Steel Co., who was then questioned by
Chairman Oates, said that some of the
workmen had testified that the poorest
paid men, and those who had the hard
est work, suffered most under the re-
duction. He selected the wages during
the month of May, just before the
trouble, admitting though that wages
were little large. Out of the 800 men
employed on the 110-inch plate mill only
50 were reduced. In 1882, 296 men were
employed in the same department, and
by the change in the scale then, 1876
were affected and 100 were not More
men were affected by the sliding scale
than any other.
Mr. Frick was asked why he proposed
a reduction of wages He stated that
the first reason was reduced prices re-
ceived for the product, and, second,
the increased tonnage by introduction
of improved machinery, which increased
the pay of the men, they being paid ac-
pOrn1nD fnnnnTq
What proportion of steel billets do
you producer" asked Mr.. Oates.
About - per cent. of the total out
put in the United States. We do not
control the market by any means"
"Will you state the approximate cost
of producing steel billets?"
II declined to answer that ques-
ton the other night. do so now.'
What is the cost of the entire plant
at Homestead?"
about 100000 possibly s6,OOO,-
OOO."
AS to mortgages held on property of
employees at Homestead, Mr. Frick said
the papers were issued only to aid the
workmen in building homes. The in
terest charged is per cent The men
are allowed the same rate on moneys
deposited with the firm. These sums
amount to $4,000.
The mortgages amount to $40, 900.
The witness refused to answer definite
ly what basis was taken in averaging
the sliding scale, but said it was about
S24.
"You are inclined, then, to give us no
idea of your DrofitS?o
81 think l have gone far enough in
costs"
Charles Mansfield testified. He waa
at Homestead when the boat and
barges landed. He was reporter on a
Homestead paper. He went to the river
bank when the alarm whistle of the
strikers blew. He saw the Pinkertons
land, and they fred the first shots at
that time.
A. j. Taylor then went on the stand.
He saw the fight on July6 He thought
the first firing came from the boat.
At o'clock Chairman Oats adjourned
the committee as far as Pittsburgh If
concerned. Concluding sessions will be
held in Washington, where testimony
concerning the Pinkertons and their or
ganization will be taken.
AetnR's Eruption Increasing.
ROME, July 15.-The eruption of Mt.
Anfpa &c ,,i11,y ;roraoet,n. 10,