The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-07-13

mluule OF Jne river.
The captain of the Pinkertons or
dered the dead and wounded to be taken
to Braddock, and the Little Bill towed
the barges to the river bank, where they
were moored. The boat then withdrew
and was soon on its way to Braddock
with her load Of mutilated humanity.
No sooner had the boat left the barges,
when the second attack was made. The
barges scontaining the Pinkertons proved
q valuable fort, and, with their bodies
concealed and their excellent guns,
they had a great advantage over their
enemy. The workingmen were still
lined along the river bank within full
view Of the men in the barges. The fir
ing was rapid for some minutes, the
Pinkertons getting the best of the fight.
When they saw several men fall, and
many wounded retreat, they rushed for
the landing. They jumped over the
sides of the barges and up the banks to-
ward the mill The men seemed to ex-
pect this, and the report of their guns
rang out The Pinkerton men were
scattered, and several fell, never to rise
again. They saw their mistake, after
1t had cost them the lives Of some of
their party. A stampede occurred when
the Pinkertons retreated to their barges,
and they scrambled over the sides faster
than they left it a few moments before.
During this attack at least three Pink
tons met death. The workingmen lost
but one man, a Slav Several were
wounded, and were cared for by the
women in the rear. There was lull
for many minutes after that. 1t was
only to refill cartridge belts, for the
fighting blood could not be cooled.
At 11:30 u. IN. the Little Bill, which
lowed the barges to Homestead, was
seen corning down the river, large
United States flag flying from her mast
head. The appearance of the boat was
n signal along the river front for re-
newed activity. "She's coming to take
the barges away" was the cry raised on
the shore, AS it came nearer 1t was
seen that she carried squad Of armed
men who were lined up inside next the
Homestead mills. When opposite the
converting department the men on the
boat opened fire on those on the shore.
For ten minutes firing continued, the
Pickertons on the bnrges joining the
men on the boat in the shooting The
men on the bank returned the fire from
behind the furnace stacks, which they
used as shields. So warm was the fire
| oh tI,nt hn t1,n
boat were driven TO cover.
Several men on the boat were seen TO
fall and IL is certain that they were
wounded No one on shore was injured
by the firing from the boats The Lit
tie Bill made an attempt to tie up with
the barges but this was futile owing to
the shower of bullets from the shore,
and the towboat passed down the river,
leaving the occupants of the barges in
very uncomfortable quarters. The at
tempt TO set fire to the barges did not
prove successful by the raft process and
another attempt was made. From the
converting department OF the mill TO
the edge of the river where the barges
are moored runs switch. On this was
run car filled with barrels of oil, lum.
Der and waste. To this lighted torch
was applied and the car cut loose The
flames sprang up distance Of hun.
dred feet, while great volumes of smoke
rolled hcavenward. The crowds on the
hillsides overlooking the scene sent up
u lusty shout as word reached them OF
the intended burning Of the barges and
all on board The car OF fire rushed
down the steep incline in the direction
Of the barges and the men on the
barges watched It's approach with
blanched faces.
Just then the steamer Little Bill
pulled In between the barges and the
shore, but on reaching the water the
car Of fire came 10 stop. The heat,
however, was intense and the little
steamer was soon smoking hot All this
time q continuous fire was kept up and
II is estimated that ZOO shots were ex-
changed during this brief engagement
For hours the crowd of workmen be.
hind the barricades Of iron within the
walls watched the bargeS with guns
cooked, waiting for head 10 appear
Down In the boats, sweltering and with
hearts filed with fear, lay the Pinker-
ton guards The sun was beating down
on the low roofs of the barges and the
air within them was sitting, for an
opening was not to be thought Of, as It
would only attract storm of bullets
from the angry men outside.
All sorts of plans were tried TO fire
the boats A hand fire engine owned by
the steel company was gotten out and
connected with a big oil tank. Oil was
pumped down into the river and burn
ing waste thrown after It This did not
do and the stores with stocks OF Fourth
Of July fireworks were drawn upon.
Roman candles and the like were used,
but without effect The oil was OF
the lubricating kind and not as innam-
mable as other grades.
Seeing their efforts were In vain, the
steel workers rested and discussed the
situation. Hugh o'Donnell, cool-headed
and anxious TO avert further bloodshed,
seized a small American flag, mounted
pile of iron, and soon had the atten-
tion Of the 1000 men who were shouting
for blood He began to discuss the sit
uation and TO caution tho men 10 move
slowly. His words were received with
cheers and, finding he had the crowd
with him, he suggested that truce bc
arranged until the arrival Of the sheriff.
He said white flag should be carried
TO the bank and he was going to explain
his plan further, when howl arose
from thousand throats
"Show the white Aag2 Never" was
| u IL - - n. l. L.