The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-19
THE MILITIA AND THE CITIZENS.

Evidence that Little sympathy Exists Be-
tween the Soldiers and the People.
HOMESTEAD. July 1S-There was q very
interesting alarm given the Thirteenth
Regiment early this morning while on its
tour of duty as provost guard. Shortly
after half past 2 o'clock q crowd of men
gathered on the Pemlcky tracks near the
MILL and seemed disposed to come mp to the
soldiers. The company was at once called
out and word sent to the relief, which az
once put the whole regiment under arms.
Then the crowd of strikers disappeared in
tha gloom and everybody began
to try to lind out what 10
was all about. Among the search
rs for information was an aged
Hungarian who became impressed with the
belief that the soldiers. who were looking
into back yards. and peerIng into alleys,
intended to violate the sanctty of his
chicken coops. Experts who heard the old
gentleman, declared that he gave one Of
the rarest exhibitions of profanity they
ever heard. Every word seemed TO have
trimmings on il. and the vIgor of the per-
fOrmance soon brought out an admirina
and excited audience of Huns. The Hut
tering dove-cotes were long time in set
ly. aud Homestead went to sleep again.
On the whole the incident goes To show
tho gradually increasing bitterness of feel
ing that Is growing up between the troops
and certain portion of the townspcople.
Jeering remarks as the soldiers march by
are common to-day, while when the militia
first came there was nothing but compli-
ments. The sentries and guards, on the
other hand, give their orders harshly and
abruptly. and the situation can be very
fairly described as showing more tension
than before. This does not necessarily
mean that there will be q collision. but
rather that the conditions favorable TO an
outbreak are becoming more manifest.
They have existed all the time. The peo-
pie of Homestead are unit in support Of
the Amalgamated Association. There is q
large body of irresponsible and reckless
men in town, all of them passably we'll
armed and oil of them having easy access
to o great many saloons, whore inspira-
tiOn for deeds of violence is to be had
quite cheaply. A great many Of these peo-
pie cannot speak English. and only under
stand that the troops here are for the pur-
pose of tyrauniZing over them. The more
intelligent classes also object to the pres.
ence of the troops, and very small act
might bring about grave consequence.
That the military. while not expecting. are
making serious preparations for trouble.
can be seen by moot cureory survey of the
situation in the camp A large additional
amount of ammunition has been ordered
from the Frenkford arsenals. and boxes
containing one thousand rounds each are
piled ali around the side of the school
house. where General Snowden has his
headquarters. There are about 250,0O0
rounds of ball cartridges here, and at least
fifty thousand more rounds are expected.
The Fourth Reaiment, Colonel Case, $50
strong. was brought over the river into
Homestead this morning and given the
days tour of provost duty. This makes
4,1tO men on duty on this side to-day. and
it is understood that three other of the
north bank regiments will be brought over
day by day until the mills have opened for
OrE