Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-08
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CAPTAIN M'LAINS STORY.
He Says the Men Began the Firing
From the Banks.

PIrrssuRe. July captain McLain
OF the tug Little Bill who was supposed
20 nave been slain at Homestead, re-
turned last night on the Llttle Bill.
Following Is his account OF the trip:
~ mad Contracted TO tow the two
barges To Homestead and was on hand
with the tow boat Little Bill last night
10 do the work. The barges had been
At the landing below the Manchester
docks, and according to our instruc-
tons We went to Davis Island dam.
There We met about 800 men. l sup
pose they were Pinker:Ons, and they
boarded the barges, about $50
IN each. They had repeating
rides and blue uniforms with them.
We lost nc time and l started for
Homestead. The PInkerton men, l
must say. were good set OF men.
They were orderly and perfectly sober.
They made no noise. but simply went
into the barges and staye1 there. The
captain in charge called the men to
him and commanded the strictest at
tention to his orders. "No man." he
said, evil dare to fire one shot or raise
MS piece without positive and distinct
orders. There will be no trouble at
Homestead and We won't make any.
Our business 10 to keep the peace and
not TO disturb it." He then COM
manded that the men restrain them
selves and be quiet.
The Excitement Began.
Everything went all right until we
got below lock No. /, when the tug
which was towing one of the barges
broke her lines. She blew her whistle
and the Little Bill went back, relieved
her Of her barge and went through ths
lock with both barges. When We
reached Homestead there seemed to be
! considerable excitement. As we got
nearer the excitement grew more IN
tense. The people then began firing
upon Us. We tried TO make q landing
then. My men went forward to tie up
the shore barge. while the Pinksrton
! men showed out . landing plank.
The people on the bank were aw-
FULLY excited, but the men un-
der me and the Pinkertons were
perfectly cool and kept urging them
to remain so. In the midst of all, the
Pinkerton captain swore vengeance up
on any man who would attempt to
shoot, although the balls were flying
from the other side. l state positively
that the men on shore began the firing.
By this time the landing plank had
been got of. As the men were about
10 land it, q man with revolver made
. dash for it, firing all the while.
PInkertsns Overpowersd.
The Pinkertons tried to push
HIM back and succeeded. when
two moro followed him and over
powered the few PiEkerton's. They
hired directly at the Pinkerton's, and
all over the barges, and the Little Bill.
The Pinkerton's opened quite fusilade
upon the people. As they did this they
received deadly fire from over their
heads Some persons had stationed
themselves upon the water tower and
shot right down. l was standing in the
midst of them aud one or two Pinker-
| ton men fell about me. The Pinkerton
captain, while IN front of his men, try
| ing to clear the landing plank, was
shot. He was the first Pinkerton to
fall. Several of his men rushed
out to where he lay to defend
him. He was then carried in to the
barge. The firing continued steadily.
! | was told to assist with the steamboat
the party of Pinkertons who were tax
! log care of the wounded. The boat
was brought to and the wounded put
upon It. We went to Turtle Creek aud
put them on a tram. My contract was
then ended and | started for home.
Then 1T was that our boat was the tar
get OF all the guns of the crowd.
The Little BiIi Attacked.
Bullets wbistled through the cabin.
pilot house and engine room. My
watcbman ~ss shot. The people fired
upon US until we got out of their reach
and then the bullets splashed in the
water. II the people could only look
at the case the right way they would
agree that the attack upon us WAS wrong.
was simply doing what was paid for
doing AID what any one else would
have done. Let me cay again. the
Pinkertoue behaved we'll, they were
fired on fret and attacked when they
were doing nothing and before they
touched the shore. Capt. +. IL. Heine
Was the first man wounded in yester-
days fight at Homestead. He was also
the first man brought to the hospital
| here.
Cspsais aeise's story.
This morning Captain Heine made
the following statement:
''i cannot tell anything about our
business prior to reaching Homestead,
| for that would be . breach of faith.
When we srrIved opposite the landing
and were steering IN md stream, whls-
ties began 10 blow and a skiff contain
Ing three men roved right in front OF
our boat These pulled revolvers and
| fired on us That began the skirmlsh.
We made for the landing ABOUT 2
o'clock, and my assistant went TO
land. lie was attacked by
the strikers, aud vas about
/ to rush TO hls AID when | Was shot IN
the leg. NV men were drawn up IN
order behind me with Instructions that
IL they were fired upon To return the
fire. The shots, which a. first were
scattering, become general and in
ssntly bullets we're pouring upon our
boat from every direction. The attack
came from the workmen aud our men
did not fires shot until vas wounded. Z"
BURyfs0 THEIR DEAD