Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-07-07
Yesterdays Battle at Homestead.

and Pinkerton detectives, in which
about thirty persons were killed and
wounded. appeared in the GAzETTE's
telegraphic dispatches yesterday. The
sheriff, with his few deputies, could do
nothing towards checking hostilities,
and he sent several kilograms to Gov.
Pattison. asking that State troops be
ordered to the scene; but the Governor
declined until he was satisfied that ali
local means had been exhausted
Ex-President Weihe, of the Amaiga-
mated Association, arrived at the scene
OF battle about $3.50 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, and at once went into con-
sultation with the leaders at the ANAL
gamated headquarters. Mr.. Weihe was
accompanied by forty ironworkers from
Birmingham, Ala. After lengthy con-
ference of the Amalgamated leaders, q
meeting was called at four O'Clock. 1t
was attended by 1000 men, many OF
whom carried muskets. Then one OF
the national officers ofthe Amalgamated
Association made a strong appeal to the
men while the cannons roared outside.
President Wcihe pleaded with the men
to withdraw, and assured them that the
barges containing the deputies would
Immediately be removed.
P. II. McEvoy, vice-president OF the
Mahoning and Shenango Valley dis
tricts said: "There has been an awful
slaughter of human life here, and by all
means further sacrifices should be
avoided. l am stranger in the town,
but from your action know full well
that if YOU continue doing as you are
the State militia will be ordered out be-
fore dark and you will be defeated. In
case the militia comes. you will lose ten
men in every instance where you have
so far lost but one. You have gained
just achievements over Prick, and now
aren't you willing to allow these boats
to return 2"
''Yes, we will if they show the white
flag" was the reply Of the excited men.
An hour later. while the men were
waiting for nightfall to burn the barges
and the men in them, Hugh O'Donnell,
the leader of the strikers, grasped an
American flag, and, mounting pile OF
iron, made an imprisoned speech for
mercy for the Pinkertons, lying like
Gagged wolves in their barges. The ex-
traordinary power of ODonnell over
the strikers became manifest at once.
A few people demurred and cried out :
Lets burn them,n but they were 81
fenced. Lets turn them over to the
sheriff and make charges of murder
against Them This was received with
cheers. and when strikers waved his
hands and asked tie Pinkertons to sur
render there was an immediate response
from the the boat. Captain Helm, the
leader, had fled. Many others escaped
when the Little Bill came down the
river, and the remainder were terror
stricken. The were mostly green men
in labor troubles, and expected to be
killed
In an incredibly short time the lead
ers Of the strikers came Oh deck. Then
began strange scene The strikers
crowded the boats, capturing the rifles
and stealing and looting everything.
They were mad with rage. The first
man taken off the barge was dying
shot through the side. Then, one by
one, the strikers followed in charge Of
an alleged guard, each man carrying a
valise. The guards carried Winches-
tiers. taken from the Pinkertons. Six
Pinkerstons were reported as killed,
and many were dangerously wounded.
After being disarmed, the Pinkerton
men were taken to an improvised jail
and, on the way, were subjected to all
sorts of indignities and brutal treat
ment. The mob then poured oil on the
barges and burned them. After the
first fight in the morning number OF
wounded Pinkerton men were taken
taken back to Pittsburg by the steamer
that had towed the barges to Home
stead. Twelve workmen were killed
and Is iniurned. AT least 100 Pinker-
ton men were injured by the attacks Of
the mob while on their way to the Jail.
The imprisoned Pinkertons say that
seven of their men were killed outright
and eleven wounded. They believe
several dead men were thrown off the
Little Bill into the river. The number
Of Pinkerton's now in the lookup and
rink is 234.
After the prisoners had been removed
from the barges, the rioters had their
revenge. They carried oil into the
holds, poured it over the bedding and
furniture and then set it on fire, first
securing them so that they could not
float down the river and cause damage
at points below. When the flames
broke through the decks, the cheers
which rent the air were deafening, and
the noise could be heard miles away.
The hills on either side of the river
were literally crowded with people,
who could witness from this high point
all that was transpiring on the battle
field, and be out of range of the deadly
bullets.
When an inspection of the boats was
made, it was found that at least seven
of the Pinkerton men had been killed.
and twenty or thirty wounded, many
ofthem so badly that they will die. As
they were brought from the boat they
presented a terrible appearance. Many
were besmeared with blood, while all
of them showed signs of exhaustion
from the long confinement in the close
quarters between decks. An angry
mob lined the streets on both sides. As
the men passed by, each in charge of
two deputies, the mill men and their
friends kicked them and threw some Of
them down, The unfortunate detec-
tives begged for mercy. Some OF them
had pistol-shoS wounds In their heads.
and three were seen who had their eyes
shot out. Several were shot in the
I