Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-07-08
The Homestead Troubles.

root, and employs 4,OUO hands. ONel
seven million gallons of water per day
are required to run these works.
The thousands oflocked-outmill men
still remain in possession of the works
The strikers have posted q Gordon Ell.
tirely around the steel works, and nc
one is permitted to pass. The heavy
steel barbados thrown up by the
strikers, and from which they poured
/. bullets and threw dynamite upon the
terror-stricken Pinkertons, are still
there. From a portfolio gapes the
cannon which did such frighttul dam
age, and across the river in an impro-
vised fort frowns its mate.
These cannon and the barbados will
be left in position-a grim menace to
Sheriff McCleary when he goes to take
the place. The strikers have nearly
700 Winchester rifles, as many revolv-
ers and any quantity of ammunition,
besides nearly 200 pounds Of dynamite.
Scouts are posted in every direction
outside of town, along the river and at
every wharf and railroad station in
Pittsburg, so that it will be impossible
for any body of men to surprise the
strikers. They are perfectly organized
under the lead of Master Workman III.
c. O'Donnell. In Is minutes from 1000
to 5000 well-armed men can be assem-
bled within the barbados.
1t will be impossible for the sheriff
posse and a formidable task for the
State militia to dislodge them. A more
determined set of men than these strik-
ers was never seen. Their blood has
been thoroughly aroused, and any at
tempt at coercion, by whoever made,
will be dangerous. Very few people in
Pittsburg or Homestead think the trou-
bic is over, and all are anXiously wait
ing developments. Probably no man
was ever in greater straits than is Sher-
if w. II. McCleary. He has certainly
shown his inability to cope with the
situation. On Wednesday, when asked
for help, he sent twelve deputies to
Homestead. These were laughed at by
the mob, and shown out of town. Then
the sheriff began series of frantic APP
pcals to the governor, but that official
declined to order out the State troops
until the sheriff had exhausted every
means of civil authority.
1t is not believed the sheriff will
make any efforts to forcibly enter the
works, but will demand their surrender
by the strikers. Upon the refusal OF
the latter he will return to Pittsburg
and report to the governor that he can
do no more. Then the latter will
order out the militia, which must
be done, sooner or later. Both
Governor Pattison and Sheriff Nc
Cleary are being severely censured
for their action in the matter, the latter
for not making q more determined eff
fort to keep peace, and the former for
unloading all responsibility upon the
.sheriff's shoulders. 1t is said in Pitts
burg that he is endeavoring to make
political capital out of the unfortunate
occurrence. Had he taken prompt
measures the loss of sixteen lives and
the destruction of 100000 worth of
property might have been avoided
Sheriff McCleary, in sending the
Pinkerton men out of the State, played
Il trick on the strikers at Homestead
They supposed when they turned the
Pinkert0ns over to the sheriff at mid
night that they would be locked up.
The sheriff took advantage of the fact
that they had not been formally
charged with any crime to set them at
liberty.
Labor organizations in various parts
of the country offer assistance to the
Homestead men.
A committee of the Amalgamated
Iron and Steel Association is in Pitts
burg arranging to place a boycott on
the future production of the Carnegie
mills should non-union men be en-
ployed.
A dispatch from Homestead, Pa,
dated 1915 this morning says: "The
steam whistles of Homestead have just
blown and armed men are gathering
from every direction. There is re-
port that four carloads of Pinkerton
men are coming to renew the attempt
to take possession Of the Carnegie steel
mill, near which the force of Pinkerton
men sent Tuesday night were defeated.
The report is confirmed by Hugh
O'Donnell. The excitement is some
thing awful
A later dispatch was more assuring,
it said; "The town is growing quieter
and the reported coming of the Pinker-
tons is now believed to have been a
false alarm"
REpIrPrrcAN EyEcIrT1vE COMMIT