The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1892-12-12
ITS HORRIBLE IF TRUE
EIcltsnslt 0Isf The Alleged Poisoning
Of nen at Homestead.
PLACED IN THEIR FOOD

a Cook Accused OF Administering
Deadly Drugs to Non-Union
Workmsn-Some Ar
rests Mado.
PrTTspuRo, Dec. ia Sunday paper
publishes story to-day Of n conspiracy
70 poison by Wholesale tho non.union
workmcn at the Carnegie steel plant. Dc-
velopments made, IL says, implicate q
member Of the advisory committee. mem-
hers Of the AmalRamated association and
officials Of some labor organizations sym
pathiaing with the locked-out men. As re-
euli Of the conspiracy Il 10 alleged that
several persons have lost their lives,
while scores Of others arc still suffering at
their homes and in the hospitals from tho
effects OF the poisonous drugs admins
tered them with criminal intcnt. To-day
nine OF more persons, moro or less idcnti-
Ned with the strike, were placed under or.
rest, ostonsibly on less serious charges,
but really for the purpose OF averting sus-
picion until all those who arc claimed to
DO In the conspiracy are secured. The
only name given Of those charged with ad-
ministerinR poison 10 Robert Beatty, who
was arrested at Louisvills last night. Sew
eral others, however, are under heavy
ball on other charges and new charges
will probably be made tomorrow.
Details Of the foul plot arc sufficient to
cause shudder, especially when il ID
known that at least two deaths, and per
haps q number Of others. havc been Al
ready traced to tho work Of the willing
tool selected to carry the muricrous plan
into execution. II will no remembered
that shortly after the arrival Of the state
militia ut Homestead, and non-union men
to work In the mills, cases OF
sickness wcro reported, but attributed 10
the impurity Of the water. A supply from
other sources was secured and notices wcrc
posted conspicuously nbout tho mill warn
ing employees. Despite tho precautionary
measures the sickness continued. aud
an epidemic was prevailing among tho
men In the enclosure.
The first intimation that tho men were
the victims Of q conspiracy was obtained
more than two months since, but in such
. manner that II was impossible to mako
arrests Immediately, and not until yestcr-
day was the evidence deemed to DO suf-
ncently strong 10 warrant the apprehen.
usyu VI - tG81t 0ssU oA~ sisonS saatss~osS<As
The price to be paid when the mills closed
down was 5000.
Tho1usvthas plot, according 10 infosma-
0lblaIned BY the reporter from man
whe u Ia the plot 10 substantially as fol-
lows: One of the chief cooks at Home
stead met him ono day and asked II he
wanted job at Homestead. He said
that the informant could mako big money
II hs would help him. He said he was
was not only employed by the Carnegie
company. but also In the pay Of labor as
sociations and members Of the strikers'
committee and WINS just coininG money.
A hs grew more confidential and was
prompted by questions about pay from
the association. he told them Of . plan to
poison the food Of the men employed In
the mill, 90 ~ TO make thcm sick and
render them unable to work. He detailed
the plan he had bcen pursuing and as
serted that nearly u not all the sickness
among the men was causes! by tho poison
hs placed In the food. He said he was 10
get 1900 II hc succeeded In closing the
mill. He urged thcm to accept the places,
told them Il would DO utterly impossible
for them TO be detected and finally left
with tho understanding that he would
meet them In the city tho next day and
give them some advance money and take
them 70 Homestead with him.
Rsalising the Nervousness of the propo-
sitiou. the mon called upon Chairman
Frick and laid the matter before him.
Upon the advice Of tho company's at
tornsys, they met the cook and proceeded
70 Homestead with him and were duly in
stallsd I'm positions by tho cook. The
day after their arrival o number Of men
were reported sick and the cook told how
he placed the poison. . colored powder.
into thsir food aud told them 10 watch for
an oppuetunity 20 use Il In the food. Pear
ing The men could not be trusted. two
Piukestons wcrc engaged TO keep close
surveillance on tho infornants as well as
the cooks. The latter became suspicious
and nj once discontinued to use the
powder.
E.v, Brock, counsel for tho Carnegie
Steel company limited, was seen tonight