The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-07-14

protected in similar manner. 1t was
intended that the men should
reach the works about 3 o'clock this
morning, but guards on duty along
the river got word of the threatened
invasion of the hated Pinkerton men
and prepared to receive them. The
barges went up the river by tow boat
but long before the Pinkertons
reached Homestead thousands of the
strikers had gathered OIL the banks OF
the river ready to give them a warm
welcome. When the boats attempted
to land the workmen broke through
the fence surrounding the mill and
entrenching themselves behind piled
up steel billets prepared to resist the
the landing of the detectives.
THE BATTLE OPENS.
BY o'clock in the morning an eff
fort was made to land the detectives
but the strikers met them and 8
fierce battle was precipitated, both
sides exchanging heavy vOlleys. The
detectives were all armed with Win.
chesters, but at the point where the
attempt to land was made there was a
steep embankment and they were
compelled to go in single file and were
soon driven back to the boats by the
steady fire from shore. The noise OF
the battle spread about the borough
like widfire, and thousands of men,
women and children went to the river
to witness the fight in progress. The
PinkertOns were determined to land
and they poured volley after volley
into the ranks of the strikers, many
of whom were stricken down by the
bullets, some of them being fatally in
jured and others killed outright. AS
the battle progressed the strikers took
position behind breastworks hastily
constructed of steel rails and billets
and from this place of safe refuge were
able to pick off the detectives as soon
as they appeared on the decks of the
boats.
row BOATS CUT LOOSE.
In the meantime Captain Hind and
Kline of the Pinker-
tons were disabled and the fire be-
came so fierce that the crew of the
tow boats hastily cut loose from the
barge and steamed up the river carry
ing as many of the wounded as they
could reach to BraddOck, from which
point they were sent down to the hos
pitfalls for treatment at Pittsburg.
Seven of the force were thus cared
for while the strikers that fell
wounded were carried to their homes
at Homestead, the dead being carried
town.
FROM PITTSBURG.
News of the riot reached Pittsburg
as early as O'Clock this morning and
thousands of mill workers now idle
pending a conference on the scale con-
in the streets, while hun
dreds of others armed with guns and
revolvers and well supplied with am
took up the line of march to
reinforce the strikers.
CANNON BROUGHT INTO ACTION.
AS soon as day broke the strikers
small brass 10-ponnd cannon
and planted it within the steel and
billet embrasure so as to command the
)arges moOred at the bank of the river.
At the same time force of more than
1000 men took up their position on the
opposite bank and also planted
cannon which they protected with
Dreastwork of railroad ties. Fire from
both sides was kept up, the barges
having beeen pierced alongsides.
shortly before 8 o'clock the cannon
we're trained on the boats and for sew
,ral hours an awful bombardment
was kept up. The stout oak timbers
the sides of the boat were
'plintered, but the heavy steel plates
On the inside prevented the balls from
the interior. Many strik-
and they sent shot after shot into the
port holes and inflicted terrible in
Jury to the impris oned men.
BURNING OIL ON THE WATER.
When it was found that little i'm
preston could be made on the boats
by cannon, an effort was made
to fire the barges and thus
compel the detectives to leave the
vessel or suffer the terrible fate of
being burned alive. A hose was pro-
cured and oil sprayed on the decks
and sides of the barges.
While this was being done barrel
after barrel of oil was emptied into
the river above the mooring place,
the object being to allow it to float
against the boats and then ignite it.
This terrible deed was attempted sew
eral times but the boats did not burn
and then the mob became Infatuated
and hurled dynamite bombs at the
vessels with great effect.
FLAGS OF TRUCE NOT RESPECTED.
The situation of the detectives was
such as to appal the stoutest hearted
men. The detectives were cooped up
at the mercy of the infuriated mob;
the tow boat had left them and they
were soon so encompased by the mad
dened army of strikers that no succor
could reach them. Three times they
ran up flag of truce but as many
times it was stricken down by bullets
fired by the strikers. Then it became
evident that the ammunition of the
beseiged detectives was either eX-
or they were too much worn
out to continue the fight and for near.
ly two hours before the end of the
was reached not a shot was
fired.
COOL HEADS PREVAIL.
Towards dusk efforts were again
made to burn the boats with their liv-
in freipht and they would don htlaSS