Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-07-14
AWFUL WORK.
Desperate Conflict at the Home
stead Iron Works
Three Hundred Pinkerton Detectives Sent
to the Works Fire Upon Workmen and
a Fearful Battle Ensues-Many
Killed and Wounded.

terday morning 800 Pinkerton detectives
arrived in Pittsburgh from the east
They were quietly marched to the
Monongahela river where they were
loaded on barges and shipped to Home
stead at 2:15 o'clock.
1t was exactly o'clock when the
steamer and barges were sighted by
the watchers gathered on the river
bank a mile below the town Directly
the feet was sighted, three messen-
gers, each mounted on fresh horses,
started for Homestead, shouting as
they rode, the advance of the dreaded
barges. Some one notified the engineer
at the electric light works and the
whistle sounded the general alarm
The people responded with wonderful
alacrity. There were old men and
young men, elderly women, mothers
with their babies in their arms and any
number of children. The throng head
ed togards the river. The day was
just dawning and clouds of thick graz
ish vapor hung over the waters. Sud-
denly from out the shadows were seen
the lights of the steamer. On either
side of her We're the barges- The mo-
ment the people on the bank caught
glimpse of the fotilla they made a
break toward the works
A Tnore determined body OF men
neveI entered a battle. The sight of
their@wives and children seemed to give
themNcourage. The men resembled a
drilled army more than bowling mob
as all lined the bank evenly. There
they stood for IN instant, watching
every move of the Pinkertons.
Suddenly a form was seen to break
from the ranks of the workingmen and
move toward the waters edge. Almost
instantly fash was seen on the boat
followed by a report, and q man was
seen to fall and roll down the bank.
One had met his deata.
The shot was the signal for attack,
and opened one of the greatest wars
between capital and labor that the
keystone state has ever witnessed.
After the exchange of shots the crowd
grouped on the bank fell back and
climbing over heap of rubbish, rushed
toward the big trestle leading to the
railroad bridge. Here over 5000 men
stood their ground and returned a de-
sultory fire with their revolvers at the
invaders. These shots did little or no
apparent damage.
The first battle occurred at dawn yes
terday morning when the Pinkerton men
attempted to land. They were met by
thousands and after desperate fight
were driven back
Then followed truce of about four
hours This was broken by a second
attempt of the Pinkertons to land, and
for several hours fighting followed. At
least ten men were killed on shore and
dozen wounded. The losses of the
Pinkertons was estimated at from four
to ten killed and wounded.
At IL o'clock the strikers secured a
cannon and began bembarding the
barges, and at the same time efforts
were made to burn the boats by means
of blazing stream of coal oil.
Flags of truce raised by the Pinker-
ton men were shot down, and at 1870
O'Clock in the afternoon the Pinkertons
We're besieged in their barges.
At 3:45 p. III. the Pinkerton men were
in n terrible position, being exposed to
the perils of fire, bullets. cannon shot
and dynamite. Sensational reports eX-
cite the people on shore and it is be-
lieved that the detectives who are i'm
prisoned on the barges will perish if
rescuers do not speedily appear.
The strikers captured a GOO gal
Ion oil tanA at the east end of the
works AT Munhan station. The oil
was set on fire and let into the river
but q strong wind blowing in the oppo
site direction saved the barges.a few
yards below.
p. m.-During the afternoon {
fourth flag of truce was raised, but the
man holding it was shot. Then an
other cannon was brought and blazing
oil was turned on the parges-
The steamer Little Bill, which
brought the barges from the city, wa:
fred on as it returned, but the crew al
hid.
4:15 p. m.-zTwo thousand workmer
from the South Side mills of Pittsburgh
have just marched into Homestead Will
flags and banners flying. They say they
have come to the assistance of the strik
ers. The excitement is increasing.
Supplies ofamu{unition and arms ar
being furnished to the strikers by tn.
citizens OF Homestead, and are arriv
ing from Pittsburgh and McKeesport
1t is feared the carnage has but begun
Later in the day the Pinkertons of
Tered to surrender. The mob accepted
it, disarming the men as they left tn
barges and hurrying them to custody
The Pinkertons lost nine killed ant
many desperately wounded. Elevel
WOIhlnSn were hlliSU S1RnUScI
wounded. The barges were burned
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July IA complet'
list of the killed and wounded was no
obtainable at midnight. As far a
could be ascertained, eleven worizmel
and niue detectives were killed AM
eighteen workmen and twenty-one de
tectives injured in the battle. In add
ton to these ct least 100 detectives wer
seriously injured by the strikers, Will
on their way to the jail.
Truce Flags shot At.
HOMESTEAD. July ii p. ma ia.
of truce was displayed by the Pinllertol
men and was shot down. 1t was hoist
ed the second time with the same re
suit. The third time the flag was rid
died with bullets and hardly enough 0
1T remained to hoist again.
Men on both sides of the river oppo
site the barges containing the Pinkel
tons are lying in wait for some of tn
detectives to show themselves. TIL
men fire at every moving object on tn
barges- An occasional shot comes from
the barge and it is thought some of tn
Pinkerton men have been wounded dun
ing the skirmishing.
The mill workers have heard that tn
militia have haau o,1a,ad 49, A. =.