The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-07-07
A ZIG BATTLE.
STRIKERS AND P,NKERTONS FIGHT
DESPERATELY AT HOMESTEAD.
Five on Each Side Reported Killed, and
Many Wounded The Strikers Deter
mined That No Detectives Shall Guard
the Steel Works.


Many Wornded-The Strikers Deter
mined That No Detectives Shall Guard
the Steel Works.
HOMESTEAD, Pa, July effort
Prick" is in the hands Of the enemy. AT
4:30 o'clock a. m. 800 Pinaertcn detec-
tives landed from barges at the Home
stead Steel works of the Carnegie COM
pany. Immediately the army of 5000
strikers which had gathered expecting
their landing, broke over the fences and
charged upon the invaders. The men
were heavily armed and firing began at
once. The Pinkertons stood their
ground as well as they could before the
host, but were forced to retreat to their
boats. At the first fire five detectives
were killed and two strikers wounded.
The Pinkerton men were secured by
the firm after the deputy sheriffs had
been run away in the evening. They
were loaded into Two model barges
which were fitted up with berths for the
occupancy of the detectives. The
barges were lowed by the steamer Tide
and were started for Homestead at 3
o'clock. Their approach had been her
aided and the steamer had only rounded
the corner below the town when gen
eral alarm was sounded and all of the
strikers were called out. The men
armed themselves quickly and congre
gated at the river front and about the
stockade surrounding and inclosing the
works.
The steamer first made as if to pass,
but suddenly swung in and reached the
bank. The watchers saw the lines
made fast and then the planks were run
out and the Pinkertons began to land.
The men had been expecting this and
were ready to act. There was no or
ganization, but suddenly the cry rose,
Charge on them!"
Instantly there was a rush for the
fence. In second it was sur:nounted,
and the scaling party made access more
easy by prying open the gates. One
rush, and the army Of 5000 met the
Pinkertons at the top of the bank.
Fire.
No one knows who gave the word, but
at it volleyrang out and was returned.
Five Pinkerton men fell dead, while
two of the strikers were wounded by it.
The strikers had the advantage of po-
sition, and poured a fire down the bank
into the guards, who did their best to
return it with their Winchesters, but
could do little execution, and had to re-
turn to the boats.
The men soon after withdrew with
their wounded, and at once organized a
battalion of 1900 men, and armed them
selves with Winchesters. They say they
will again tack the works and drive
the Pinkertons, who have come ashore,
into the river.
When the boats approached the land
ing the first man who came forward to
disembark advanced with Winchester
rifle ready to fire on the crowd. AS be
went to step off he discharged his
weapon. This was the signal for a gen
eral fight. There was rapid exchange
of shots from both sides. The boats
pulled up at the pump house of the
works. There they were greeted by the
eoowd, ready at all hazards to prevent
their landing. 1t was seen at q glance
that the men On the boats were thor
oughly armed, as the Winchssters were
in plain view. Five thousand nen,
women and children stood upon the
river bank watching the fight and cheer
ing on the workmen in their efforts to
prevent landing by the Pinkertons.
Not Pinkerton was allowed to come
ashore. and the men at o'clock a. IN.
declared none would be allowed to enter
the works. There is very dangerous
feeling in the community and another
outbreak at any moment would not be
surprising.
The nrSG shot of the engagement came
from the barge. 1t was aimed at q big
Hungarian who stood at the waters
edge. The ball went wide of the human
target but it was the signal to the Pink
erton men to began, and for full ten
minutes they continued to fire. The
first 1han to fall was Martin Merry, a
heater in one of the mills. He was shot
in the lett SIDE and fell face downward
on pile Of ashes. Close beside Merry
stood Hungarian. He stopped over
Merry's PROSTATE body, and as he was in
the act of raising him, he staggered and
fell by the side Of his ccmrade. This
bloody spectacle reused the dropping
spirits of the crowd, and with hoarse
cheer half dozen men rushed
to the place where Merry and
the Hungarian laid. They picked
up the bodies and carried them
behind the trestle. One of the rescuers.
a Welshman, who refused 10 give his
name. was shot in the left leg just as he
raised Merry's head from the ground.
Merry and the Hungarian were carried
to Dr.. Purman's office, and after hasty
examination he announced that both
men would probably die.
George Retter, prominent citizen,
had his thigh shattered.
The names Of those killed are Henry
Stringer, john Wallace, and Foy.
1t is stated that the captain of the
detectives and five of his men ape dead.
Eleven mea hays been carried from the
river bank badly wounded. A cannon
has been placed On the river bank all
will be brought to bear on the Pinker-
tons. The burgess has issued a pfocla-
NATION calling Gu all citizens to remain
indoors, and ordering all saloons closed,
At 10 o'clock the barges were strown
with dead and dying and the river was
stained with blood. The detectives were
desperate, but unable to escape. About
10 o'clock raft Of logs and barrels of
oil was set on FIRE half a mile above the
barges and started down the stream.
This meant that the bargcs and their
human freight would soon be in Aamea
rnless they were hastily Withdrawn.
-Four thousand men, the majority Of
whom are armed, are now in possessiaa
OF the Carnegie Steel eompany's works,
determined to prevent the landing of the
Pinkerton men. The town is literally