Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-07-14
RLOODsHED AT HOMESTEAD. .
Ironworkers and Pinkerton Detectives En-
gage in a Desperate Battle.

| BdSc III DcspciStc baitics
| PlTTsEURG, Pa, July 6.-Pittsburg
has had another ex perience with labor
riots, and this time, as during the
fearful scenes which were witnessed
during the riots OF 1877, blood has
been shed, lie leopardized, and val
uable property placed in danger.
This time there was no destruction of
property, but the mob was thor
oushly well organized, well disciplined.
and had sufficient officers at the head
to conduct the operations. The force
embraced all the men employed IN the
extensive plants of the Carnegie Iron
and Steel company, at Homestead,
some eight miles east ot Pittsburg,
and a battle which for bloodthirsti-
ness and holiness of execution has
not been excelled i'm actual warfare
until > o'clock this afternoon, and
| only ceased when the forces OF Pinker-
ton brought to he place to suppress
the strike uncondltionally surren-
dered, leaving their arms in the harges-
in which they had been transported
to the works.
The riot today was the elimination
ri the troubles which have been brew
ing at Homestead for the past month.
| The Carnegie company submitted n
| 4. hair i'm, la.
steel plants, and announced that 1t
was their ultimatum. The scale made
a sweeping reduction in the wages oil
| skilled men, and it was officially an
nouuced that unless the terms were
| compiled with before July | the places
of the workmen would he filled by
others.
This was followed by peremptory
| refusal on the part OF the company to
recognize the Amalgamated Associa-
| tion OF Steel and Iron Workers as
snch, or to confer with any commit
| tee of the workmen short OF an ac-
ceptance OF the terms offered. The
men stated that they would never
submit to the proposed reduction,
and announced their determination
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 cul-
minated i'm such deeds OF violence and
| bloodshed that were witnessed today
in the big hive of industry on the Mo-
nongahela.
The contest was precipitated by the
workmen at Homestead by hanging
III. c. Frick, president of the company
in efligy, and in retaliation the COM
pany ordered an immediate shut
down of the big works two days be
fore the time provided by the contract
under which the men were working
The employees ut once proceeded to
organize for the defensive, and the
company erected II high board fenc,
around the works, giving them the
appearance OF an immense stockade
he sides being pierced with port
holes.
Vest erday the Carnegie company
announced their intention to proceed
To- get ready to make repairs. and TIN
officials asked the sheriff to- appoin
deputies to protect their property Y
The sheriff sent a small squad of mel
up to the works. hut the strikers as
semhle,l in force and notified them t,
get out of town, as no disorder wa
intended and that no damage woul,
he done to any property. They evel
offered tn he sworn in as deputies
and TO give bonds for the faithful per
formance of their duties as conserva
tors Of the peace.
The attempt on the part oi the Car
negie company to land 300 Pinkertol
men to guard their property and pro
tect workmen employed In the place
r OF union men precipitate'i a blood.
battle, i'm which nine OF the PinkertOl
force and eleven ironworkers wer
killed and a great many wounded
The Pinkerton men had been brough
up to the works in barges, and on at
tempting to land were fired upon b,
he strikers from the shore. Tn
fight was waged iiercely for shor
time, when the Pinkerton's were com
PEELED to retreat to the barges, wher
they were under fire Tor several hours
When it was found that little i'm
preston could he made by the cannon
on the boats, an effort was made Il
fire the barges and thus compel tn
detectives to leave the vessel or sntft.
the terrible fate of being burned alive
Hose was procured and oil wa
| SDfaltu on the utthS anu SiteS oi III
barges. While this was being don
barrel after barrel of oil was emptie,
into the river above the moorin
place, the object being t" allow it t
iioat against the boats and then ie
nite it. This terrible deed was at
tempted several times, but the boat
did not burn, and then the mob be
came infuriated and hurled dynamite
bombs at the vessels with great effect
The situation of the detectives wa
such as to appal the stoutest heart
The men had been left cooped up il
barges at the mercy of the infuriate,
mob. The towboat had left them
and they were so encompassed by tn
maddened army of strikers that M
= succor could reach them. Three time
they run up n flag of truce, but a
many times it was stricken down by