The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-10

HOMESTEAD, Pa, July 9-The reign oi
quiet is still undesterbed at Homestead,
and but for the suppressed excitement oil
little groopS that cluster on the street, nc
one would suspect the tragedy that the
week had Witnessed. Discipline that
might well excite the envy of a mill ary
organization is alleged by the strikers to
exist in their ranks, and while their policy
is to wait and watch, they declare that
they are well prepared for the enemy. So
perfect Is their organization, so numerous
their sentinels up and down the river,
that surprise seems next to Impossible
from any source. The men have apparent
ly made up their minds that sooner or
later the mill owners will make another
effort to resume their dominance here,
and every preparation Is being made to
repel that effort when il comes. Several
times during the day kilograms have been
received conveying intelligence that
Pinkerton's were being shipped, or massed
Tor shipment. to Homestead and,
whether these be true or false, they had
the effect of keeping up the public tension.
that is at last beginning to tell on the
features of many of the strikers.
There is no doubt that organized labor
throughout the nation is in sympathy
with the Pennsylvania iron workers, and
there Is no doubt that in every large city
of the country the labor leaders are keep.
ing Yigilant lookout fo- Pinkerton re-
cruiting stations, and every suspicious in
uication is being flashed TO the committee
During the day numerous kilograms of
coincidence for the dead and congratulations
for the heroic resistance of the living have
been received by the strikers, and tenders
of assistance have been pouring in. While
the sentiments of coincidence and congrat-
ulation have been gratefully received, the
proffers of financial assistance were
courteously declined.
The scenes presented to the casual visitor
TO Homestead are very much like those of
a sabbath day in a manufacturing town.
There is no turmoil and no visible excite
ment. Everybody is free to come and go
as he wshes-quite contrast from the re
etrictions of yesterday. OF course, unless
the visitor ventured too near the mill, he
would never suspect the martial law that
has been declared by the Amalgamated
association. But there is martial law, and
the instant the visitor attempts TO APP
proach the scene of Wednesdays battle or
enter the mill, be is made coguiZaut of its
existence. A sentry crosses his path, and
in a tone that is courteous but positive,
informs the saunterer that he can proceed
30 further.
The feeling of fear yesterday that the
military might be summoned has died
away. The visit of the strikers committee
10 the governor last night has apparently
satisfied the men that no danger need he
apprehended from the military while the
present condition of things continues, and
only in an extreme case viii the troops be
summoned.
The locked-out workmen talk already
about the mills being in possession of the
company, and point out the fact that the
comDSny's waichmen are on guard there,
and that the clerks of the firm come and
20, as evidence of this. They further de-
clare that none of their men are liz the
yards, and are careful that the locked out
workmen shall not assume the right to en-
Ter the place An understanding, it is
well known, however, exists between the
workmen and the watchmeD, and the lat
ter are there entirely on the sufferance of
the strikers. 1t Is so patent as to hardly
need statement that the possession of the
property by the firm is in name, rather
than in fact, and in illusion rather than in
reality. No one pretends that the firm
could do what it wills with its property.
Or that for one instant would the works be
permitted quietly to serve the purposes
for which they exist.
1T is now question of endurance"
said one OF the leaders, when asked for an
epitome of the situation. Should
it come to the worst, aud that step be
necessary, we will walk out and leave the
town. But we believe we will win,"
Barring the prospects of state inter
vention, but two coursessseem open to the
firm of Carnegie. Phipps & Co. One
is TO leave the works idle and Starve out
the men by II slow process; the other is to
make an effort to force their way into
their works with an armed force strong
enough tor the purpose. and also guard
the non-unlon men whom the firm shall
employ. The strikers uniformly express
the belief that the firm cannot and will
not adopt the first course. Hugh O'Dou-
nell and other leading workmen here say
that IN their opinion "A second conflict is to
come, and that the firm is massing Pin
kerton force prepatory to a second raid.
Mr.. O'Donnell said this afternoon that
their news was TO the effect that the
towns surrounding Homestead and Pitts
burg had large numbers of strangers in
them and they believe that the Pinker-
tons are getting ready for another move.
As nothing could be learned from the
-Amalgamated association men in charge
of the Carnegie works, and admission was
denied to all newspaper men, an Associ-
ated Press reporter obtained field glass
aud took observations. Nothing of
startling nature was observed, although it
was discovered that the men who have
been there for the last two days have been
busy. The buildings damaged in the bat
tie on Wednesday have been repaired and
the wreck of the Plnkertou earges has
been cleared away. The Notifications used
by the strikers have been moved in such 4
manner as 10 strengthen the weak points
on the river bank. II equal precautions
have been taken on the other side of the
works. the strikers have an almost inn
pregnable fort, and il will take large
force OF men TO dislodge them.
A startling report WAS in circulation az
IL O'Clock tonight. 1t was that Robert aud
William Pinkerton. in company with 500
men, armed with Winchesiers. were on
their way 10 homestead, via the Wheeling
division of tie Baltimore and Ohio rail-
way. The report alarmed the mill men.
and large force OF scouts WAS despatched
TO make AN Investigation. The story WAS
To the effect that TIE purpose WAS To sur
prise all hands by II quick forced move
over the hills TO Fort Friok. AMI il WAS
said that the men VINO had been collected
in the surrounding towns were being
mobilized. The matter has not been veri-
fled. The town is quiet. IL may be, like
other rumors. some OF which seem 10 have
no object except 10 keep the men ready TO
fight.
AREPLY TO FRlCK.
n