The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-07-14
REDWOOD MINNESOTA, THURSDAY

started for the town hall. The mill
men used the stocks of their rifles and
struck the detectives over the head and
shoulders, inficting serious and in some
cases perhaps fatal injuries.
As the procession reached the Anal
gamated association building the de-
tectives had to remove their hats and
salute the flag. When they removed
their hats men and women hit them
with umbrellas and sticks and abused
them in every way imaginable. There
seemed to be determination to kill
the prisoners, and it was with the
greatest difficulty that the demon-like e
crowd could be restrained. The men
were finally locked in the opera house,
where they were to be kept for the
night. Thousands, however, gathered
around the building, and the wounded
men were kept in a constant state of
terror, and it was long before their
wounds could be dressed.
After the prisoners had been re-
leased from the barges the rioters had
their revenge. They carried oil into
the holds, poured it over the bedding
and furniture and then set it on fire,
first securing une parges SO they could
not float down the river and cause
damage at points below. When the
flames broke through the decks the
cheers which rent the air were deaf
ening and the noise could be heard
miles away. The hills on either side
of the river were literally crowded with
people, who could witness from this
high point all that was transpiring on
the battlefield and be out of range of
the deadly bullets.
The riot was the elimination of the
troubles which have been brewing at
Homestead for the last month. The
Carnegie Company submitted a scale
to govern their work in the steel
plants. and announced that it was their
ultimatum The scale maIe sweep
ing reduction in the wages of the
skilled men, and it was officially an
nounced that unless the terms were
complied with before July l the places
of the workmen would be filled
by others. This was followed
by peremptory refusal on
the part of the company to recog.
nize the Amalgamated Association OF
Iron and Steel Workers as such, or to
confer with any committee of the work
men short of an acceptance of the terms
offered. The men stated that they
would never submit to the proposed re.
duction and announced their determine.
ton to resist any effort on the part OF
the Carnegie company to start up their
plants with non-union men. AS both
sides were determined both proceeded
to prepare for the contest which has
eliminated in deeds of violence and
bloodshed.
The contest was precipitated by the
workmen at Homestead hanging ii. G..
Frick, president of the company, in eff
fgy, and in retaliation the company or
dered an immediate shutdown of the
big works two days before the time
| provided by the contract under which
the men were working, The employees
| at once proceeded to organize for the
defensive and the company erected a
high board fence around the entire
works, giving them the appearance OF
an immense stockade, the sides being
pierced with portfolios.
Tuesday the Carnegie company an.
nounced their intention to get ready to
make repairs and the officials asked
the sheriff to appoint deputies to pro-
tect their property. The sheriff sent d
small squad of men up to the works,
but the strikers assembled in force and
notified them to get out of town, as
no disorder was intended and that nc
damage would be done to any property.
as deputies and to give bonds for the
faithful performance of their duties as
conservators OF the peace. When this
offer was declined the advisory commit
tee which had been directing the action
of the workmen and which had hello
the turbulent spirits among the work
men in check was Immediately dissolved
and all the records of the committee
promptly destroyed.
Sheriff McCleary sent telegram tc
Gov. Pattison announcing the riot and
the inability of the civil authorities tc
cope with the strikers. He asked fo1
instructions. The governor replied that
the local authorities must exhaust
every means at theft command for the
preservation of peace. The sheriff ther
telegraphed the governor that he coulc
not meet the emergency, and urged hin
to act at once.
| Asno effort had been made by the sher
iff to secure a force of deputies after
! the failure of the twelve men sent uI
Tuesday the governor, after consulta
ton with Adjt. Gen. Greenland, sem
the following message to Sheriff Nc
Cleary:
"Your kilograms indicate that you have no
made any attempt to execute the law to enforc,
order, and must insist upon your calling upo1
the citizens for an adequate number Of depu
ties
On receipt of this telegram the sheriff
Immediately issued the following proc
lamation:
"All good citizens are hereby summoned t,
appear at the sheriff's Office tomorrow (Thurs
| day. at o'clock a. m, with arms and sub
sistence, to aid the sheriff in suppressing thu
! riot now in progress at Homestead.
Nv. H. MCCLEARY, Sheriff.
In explanation of his failure to Sc
cure additional deputies Sheriff Nc
Cleary said: 81 believe it would be
suicide for me to take my men there
Five hundred deputies could do no more
than dozen. Besides, have been
unable to secure men. They all refuse
to 60"
AS the slaughter occurred on navi
gable river and along it's banks United
States District Attorney Lyon was
asked if this brought the trouble with
in the jurisdiction of the national gov
ernment. Mr.. Lyon replied: ''Tht
general government has nothing to dc
with it. 1t is not interstate and Penn
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