The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-07
THE FIRST SHOT.
The Captain of the Little Bill Says 1t
Was Fired by the Mob.


Was Fired by the Mob.
PITrsBURG, July 6, l1:b0 p. M--Capt.
Wishart Of the steamer Little Bill, which
towed the barges to Homestead. In the
course Of his story about to-day's events,
said: "When we reached Browns landing
near the salt works, the workmen sounded
an alarm which aroused the town. They
poured out of their houses as quickly as
tiremen at the sound Of fire alarm. We
made landing at the steel works without
trouble. Capt. Rodgers was standing on
one OF the barges and Supt Potter was by
my side at the wheel IL was now about
4:30 O'Clock an1 daylight, The Pinkertons
began pouring upon the foreoastle
of the barge as soon as We landed, and
meny Of them started up the banks to-
ward the works. Only about twenty of
them carried rifles, though | suppose they
were all thoroughly armed with revolvers.
There were rifles enough for all OF them
and to spare, but for some reason they did
not carry them. The first shot, | can take
my oath, was fired by the workmen. l saw
it fired. 1t came right up against the Raog
plank and was aimed at a Pinkerton.
could identify the man who fired it. Then
the firing became general and bullets came
very uncomfortably near and thick about
ths pilot house. / never was 80 mad In m y
where leaning by my side and emptied its
contents into the crowd. Then l took a
heat out of the other gun. | did not carry
away any lead in me, but l believe
they lugged away some of mine.
1 was not mixed up In the strike
In anyway and had nothing to do with the
Pinkertons or the strikers, and | did not
propose to be made target Of When the
firing ceased We took aboard the wounded
sfa mad M. 70 ruffh fhaF
Supt. Potter accompanied US to Port Perry
and returned to the city with the wounded
men.
THE STEAMER UNDER FIRE.
"When we started down between 10 and
IL O'Clock, the entire population seemed to
be lying along the bank, and bullets rained
through all parts of the boat. One shot
struck the wheel and could feel 1t jerk.
The window-glass was rlddled, and the ball
which struck the whistle was coming right
for me. 1t fell on the floor of the pilot house.
By the time we were opposite tho works
missiles Of all kinds were raining in upon
us from both sides OF the river. IL got so
uncomfortably warm that was compelled
to abandon the wheel and steer the boat
from the engine room, where we were better
protected by the machinery. l only re-
manned in the engine room for a
short distance, when l again retsrned to
the cabin. They shot at US from every
direction, and at Homestead men were in
waiting for us on the abutments. They
fired down upon us through the roof, and
kept peppering away upon US after we
passed Everybody took a crack at US for
luck One ball grazed my belt and another
passed between my legs. ] guess 1t was
luck"
When informed that bulletins at the
newspaper Offices reported hun asamong the
killed the captain dryly remarked, Il
believe that is a mistake"
The boat was a sight when she reached
the wharf at the foot of Wood street at
noon. and hundreds of people were there to
see her. Every body wanted to hear Of the
skirmish and dozens Of bullets were dug out
OF the woodwork. Many Of the balls passed
through all Of the partitions and out on the
opposite side.
THE CAPTAINS ESCAPE MIRACULOUS
From the number of bullet holes in the
pilot house ID is impossible to see how Capt.
Wisart escaped. The ball which struck the
whistle was fired from at least 45-caliber,
and IL tore piece out Of the metal as large
as a silver quarter. The great variety in
the size of the holes in the boat indicated
that great assortment OF weapons had
been used. The bloody cots on which the
wounded men had lain while being taken to
Port Perry attracted much attention.
John T. McCurdY, an Allegheny police
man, who was shot through the groin on
the Little Bill, was brought down to the city
and taken 70 the Allegheny general hospi-
tai He was employed to make the trip by
Capt. Rodgers, the owner Of the boat. He
was shot on the return trip. The men ali
laid down on the bottom of the boat back
Of the heavy timbers upon which the engines
rest. But MeCurdy was not quick enough.
He is Ga years old, aud for seventeen years
has served on the Allegheny force. He has