The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-07-16
BATTLES.
Thirteen Hour Conflict Between
Strikers and PinkertonS.
Bullets, Dynamite, Cannon and Fire
Employed By Strikers.
The Pinkertons Surrender and Are Placed
in Jail-Unheard of Crueltles Follow
the Surrcnder-Eleven Strikers
and Nine Detectives Killed.


day morning 800 Pinkerton detectives
attempted to land at Homestead, from a
small boat They were fred upon by
steel workers who were on watch and
a slIirmish took place. About 100 shots
were exchanged. Two strikers were
shot. The PinlIertons were repulsed.
In all about a dozen were wounded.
For two hours before the boats ar
rived 5000 or 5000 persons awaited
their coming on the river banks.
The mills have landing for boats
within the enclosure of the fence,
and at first it appeared that there
would be no way to prevent the Pinker-
tons entering the mills. Shortly be-
| fore the boats reached Homestead n
horscman riding at mad gallop spread
the alarm that the Pinltertons were
coming. AS the boats steamed toward
the landing it was impossible to longer
restrain the crowds.
With whoop and yell of derision an
onslaught was made on the fence. Soon
one hundred feet of the enclosure was
torn away and 1000 men were at the
landing.
A second battle took place shortly af-
ter a. IN. The captain of the steamer
Little Bill, which carried the Pinller-
tons there, was shot. The firing for
some time was almost continuous. The
strikers attacked the barges from both
sides of the river. 1t is said that four
Pinkerton men were killed in this
scrimmage, and that their bodies fell
| from the barge into the river.
A 1880 a. m, the boat Little Bill,
which towed the barges to Homestead,
was seen coming down the river,
large United States flag flying from the
masthead. The appearance of the
boat was the signal along the river
front for renewed activity both on and
off the barges
"Shes coming to take the barges
away" was the cry raised on the shore.
AS the boat came nearer it was seen
that she carried squad of armed men
who We're lined up on the side 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
Pinkertons in the barges 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 a shield.
So warm was the fire from the shore
that the men on the boat were driven to
cover. Several men on the boat were
seen to fall, and it is certain that they
| were wounded. No one on shore was
injured by the firing from the boats.
The Little Bill made an attempt to tie
up with the barges, but this was impos-
sible. The attempt 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 a switch
On this was run car filed with barrels
of oil, lumber and waste. To this
| lighted torch was applied and the car
cut loose. The flames sprang up dis
tance of hundred feet, while great
volumes of smoke rolled heavenward.
| The crowds on the hillsides overlook
ing the scenes sent up 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 its
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 to a stop. The heat,
however, was intense and the little
steamer was soon smoking hot. All
this time a continuous fire was kept up,
and it is estimated that / 1000 shots were
exchanged during this brief engage
ment. For some reason those in charge
of the cannon on the opposite shore did
not fire shot during the battle.
The steamer Little Bill, which had
evidently received fresh supply OF
ammunition and reinforcement of Pink
erton's, continued down the river.
AT 2:10 p. m. flag of truce was dis
played by the PinBerton men and was
shot down. 1t was hoisted the second
time with the same result. The third
time the flag was riddled with bullets
and hardly enough of it left to hoist
again.
Sheriff w. H. McCleary telegraphed
to Gov. Patterson for instructions and
received the following reply: Local
authorities must exhaust every means
at their command for the preservation
of peace"
PITTSBURGH, July AT 2 o'clock
Thursday morning complete list of
killed and wounded was not obtainable,
but as far as could be ascertained eleven
workmen and nine detectives were
killed; eighteen workmen and twenty
one detectives injured in the battle
In addition to this at least one hundred
detectives were seriously injured by the
strikers while on their way to the Jail
Wednesday evening. One of these
victims has since died of his injuries,
and another is dying.
During the all-day battle the boat
was bombarded for several hours with
brass tcn-pounder cannon.
The stout oaken timbers forming the
sides of the boat were splintered, but
the heavy steel plates on the inside pre-
vented the balls from penetrating the
interior. Many of the strikers how
ever, were expert marksmen, and they
sent shot after shot into the port holes
in the boats, and inflicted terrible in
jury to the imprisoned men.
When it was found that little impress
sion could be made by the cannon on
the boats, an effort was made to fire
the barges, and thus compel the detec-
tives to leave the vessel or suffer the
horrible fate of being burned alive
4 ii i