Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-07-15
A GREAT STRIKE.

waged in the United States is that
now being carried on by the Carnegie
Company and its workmen, of the
Amalgamated Association, at Home
stead, Pa. The trouble began on the
first day of July. The company de-
sired to make reduction in the
wages of the men and to change the
time of signing the scale from July LIST
to January LIST. The men refused to
accept these conditions, and on the
seth of June the $500 employees were
discharged and the announcement
made that no union man would ever
again be allowed to work in the mills;
when any of them were taken back
it would be on the companys own
terms and conditions.
The Carnegie mills at Homestead
are perhaps the largest and best In
the world. The iron and steel pro-
duced there is mostly for structural
purposes and for armor for war-ships
and for great cannons. The works
cover sixty acres of ground, and an
army of over five thousand employees
earned their living in them. AS soon
as the certainty Of strike was ap-
parent the Carnegie company began
to prepare for it. A high and stout
hoard fence was built around the en-
tire works, and an electric wire placed
along the top, to prevent any one
from gaining admittance. Powerful
electric search-lights were rugged up
on high towers. Long lines of hose
were attached to steam pumps,
through which could be forced either
hot or cold water. The establish
ment was made a veritable fortress,
and every precaution made for Wig
orous fight against the strikers.
The strikers also took precautions.
They swore that non-union workmen
should not be allowed to work in the
mills. They formed perfect system
of signals and had a thorough organl-
company organized a force of about
225 Pinkerton men, who were to be
placed in charge OF the mills to de-
fend them and non-union working
men from the strikers. Early on
Wednesday morning Of last week two
covered barges were obtained, and
the Pinkerton men embarked upon
them, fully armed with Winchester
rifles apd revolvers and big supply
of ammunition. A steamboat towed
them up the river toward Homestead,
their plan being to land before day
light
But the scouts of the strikers were
on the alert. Just as the barges were
made fast to the landing place, and
before the men could jump ashore, u
great crowd of workmen burst through
the fence and met the Pinkerton de-
tectives face to face. Many Of them
carried guns and revolvers, while
others brandished clubs. The Pink
ertons, with Winchesters in hand, at
tempted to land, and were resisted by
the strikers. Fierce parleying ensued,
and then shot was freddy which
side no one can say. Then followed
a fusilade by both parties, and the
commander Of the Pinkertons fell
dead just rs striker dropped with a
bullet in his heart. The firing be-
came general, and several more were
killed on either side.
The detectives retreated within the
barges and the workmen barricaded
themselves behind piles Of iron rails.
The former, cooped up in the close
quarters afforded by the boats, were
poweress. The latter, largely rein
forced and literally supplied with
arms and ammunition, poured dead
ly fire into the boats, even attempt
ing to blow them up with dynamite,
and pumped oil upon the river in an
effort to set it afire and burn the
barges and their human freight. All
day long the Pinkerton men lay in
the sitting, shallow boats, unable to
move hand to aid themselves; their
dead lay uncared for and their wound
ed unattended. Each man felt that
the next moment might be his last, as
the bullets crashed through their
frail protection.
The imprisoned men suffered untold
agonies of mind and body. They
could see but not prevent the efforts
made to inflict upon them horrible
death. They were the objects Of
attack from men who hated them
with deadly hatred, yet could not
defend themselves. They dared not
expose themselves ali instant without
being shot at by hundred enemies.
Twice they held up white flag in
token Of surrender, and twice 1t was
shot down In desperation they made
third appeal for mercy, and then
the workmen agreed to quit shooting.
All that the Pinkertons asked was
that they be given their lives and
allowed to leave the place in safety.
The terms were accepted and the sur
render was accomplished.
Never in a civilized country, per-
haps, was there meaner and more
brutal scene than that which follow
ed. The two hundred, and more,
prisoners were formed in line by their
captors and marched to the town to
be placed in confinement. Every man
woman and child in the place seemed
determined to have a blow or kick at
their old enemies, the Pinkertons
Young girls threw sand and dust into