Passaic City record., 1892-07-09
THEY FOUGHT ALL DAY.
Battle Between Carnegie Steel
Workers and PinkertOn Men.
Many Killed on Both Sides Dur
ing the Fierce Encounters.

Pennsylvania has had another experience
with labor riots, and this time, as during the
fearful scenes which were witnessed during
the railroad riots of 1877, blood has been
shed, life jeopardizsd aud valuable property
placed in danger. This time there was no
destruction of property, but the mob was
thoroughly well ORGANIZED. well disciplined
and had efficient officers at tbs
head to conduct the operations.
The force embraced all the men emnloyed
in the extensive plants of the Carnegie Iron
and Steel Company at Homestead. some eight
miles east of Pittsburg, and battle which,
for bloodthirstiness and Dol 1ness of execu-
ton, has not been excelled in actual warfare
was waged from o'clock in the
morning until 5 o'clock in the afternoon,
and only ceased when the force OF Pinker-
tons brought to the place to protect the
property, Internationally surrendered, laav-
ing their arms in the barges in which they
had been transported to the works.
The riot was the elimination of the
troubles which have been brewing at Home
stead for the last month. With the utmost
secrecy the Carnegie firm engaged 300 Pink
erton detectives, brought them from Chicago
and other Western points, and, after the
Sherifs deputies were driven away from the
Homestead plants, the firm decided to put
the Pinkerton men into the works at once tt
DrOlecb bQ0 properly, as wen Do uuc lives VI
any of the locked-out men who could be In
duced to return to work.
1t was shortly after midnight when word
reached Homestead that two barges filed
with Pinkerton men had left point on the
Ohio River, a few miles below Pittsburg, for
Homestead, and that they would attempt to
force their way into the mill before MORN
ing. The word was carried to Homestead
at once and before 2 o'clock 5000 men,
women and children lined the river banks on
the lookout for the Pinkertons.
The barges were towed by two small
steamers. and it was after 4 o'clock when
they were sighted below Homestead. They
headed for the river gate of the Carnagie
mill yard. A thousand strikers were there
before the gang planks could be thrown
ashore. The mill yard fence had been run
out into the river to protect just such a
landing as was contemplated, but it fell like
a paper wall before the rage of the strikers.
To to this time there had not been sign
of life on the barges, but when within fifty
feet of the shore the large doors at the end
of the boats were thrown open and as many
men as could conveniently stand on the little
forward decks crowded quickly out.
One glance was enough to fire the blooi
of the most conservative of men, as through
the rapidly coming day light was recognizsd
the slouch HATED, blue.coaued, heavily armed
Pinkerton men Every one of the Pinkertons
held in his hands deadly double-barrelled
Winchester rifle, and though three score of the
glittering barrels were levelled directly at
the mill men as the boat reached the shore,
not man retreated, but rather pressed
closer to the shore in order to be the first to
fall if necessary. The din was terrific as the
Iusty-lunged mill men vented their rage up
on the intruders.
Don't come on land or we'll brain you,"
they yelled. ~,
decent men?' they howled.
Not a word answered the Pinkertons, but
as the boat touched the shore and gang
plank was thrown out. every Pinkerton man
covered as many men as possible with his
Winchester. Rage had now transformed
the usual pacific Homestead men into
demons. They knew no fear, but even
Jumped forward to wrest the h-dealing
rifles from the hands of their enemies.
1t will never be known definitely who fired
the first shot which started the slaughter
that has made so many homes Of mourn
ing. The first gun, however, was fired
from the Pinkerton barge, and was thought
to have been di charged by the Captain of
the gang of men, who was afterward killed.
ter, the crowd was surging downward
against six of the leading m.it
workers, who stood with their backs to the
Pinkertons, fairly under the muzzles of the
rifles, trying to keep the mill men back
from what seemed certain DEATH Clear as
a bell, far above the roar of the angry
crowd. came the voice of Hugh ODonnell
as. hatIess and coatless, he tried to check
the angry men.
sin Gods name" he cried, my good fell
lows, keep back, don't press down and force
them to do murder"
1t was too late, the appeal was drowned
by the sharp report of Wine tester from a
man in the bow of the boat. The first ball
had hardly left the smoking barrel on its
mission OF death before it was followed by
a sheet of fame from score of rifles in the
Pinkerton's hands. William Foy, who
stood at the front with his foot on the gang
plank staggered, and fell, his blood gushing
out. For moment the crowd was struck
dumb by the attack. Only the
The echoes of the rifles had hardly reached
the neighboring hills ere the crowd replied.
Out from the semi-darkness of the morning
flashed wall of fire. The men on the bank,
too, had arms and were using them.
The leader of the Pinkertons clapped his
hand to his breast and fell overheard, sink
ing beneath the waters, while several other
Pinkertons staggered back and were carried
inside the boat ny their comrades.
Instantly the Pinkertons were made to pay
for their work. Every man of the first rank
were shot down. Two fell into the water
and were heard of no more. One other died
but his body was recovered and the Others
were seriously injured.
That was the opening of the battle The
firing from the barges at once became gen.
erai.
AS soon as DAP broke, the strikers secured
a small brass ten-pounder cannon and
planted it within steel billet emkrasure,
so as to command the barges which were
moored at the bank of the river. At ths
same time force OF more than 1000 mer
took up position on the opposite side of the
river. and also planted cannon, which
they protected with breastword of rail
road ties. The fire from both sides was kept