The Somerset reporter., 1892-07-14
A FIERCE CONFLICT.
STRIKERS AND PlNktRTON MEN
ENGAGE IN BATTLE.
Both SIDES Suffer Greatly Through the
Terrible Collision STRIKERS Train ~
Cannon m Their Hated Foes.

BON sides suffer Greatly Through the
Terrible Collision strikers Train n
Cannon nm Their Hated Foes.
PlTrsGiRG, July 7-Pittsbure has had
another expcrience'yth labor riots, and
this time rs during the fearful scenes
which were witnessed during the railroad
riots of 1871, blood has been shed, life
jeopardized and valuable property placed
in danger This time there was no de
struction of property, but the mob was
thoroughly well organized, we'll dis
ciplined and had efficient officers at the
head to conduct the operations. The force
embraced all the men employed in the eX-
tensive plants of the Carnegie Iron and
Steel company at Homestead, eight miles
cas-; of Pittsburg, and II battle which, for
bloodthirstiness and bodness of execu
tion, has not been excelled in actual war
fare, waged from o. lock yesterday
morning until > clock in the afternoon,
and ouly ceased when the force of pnkrr-
tons brought 10 the place To suppress the
strike unconditionally surrendered, leav-
ing their arms in the barges in which they
had oeen transported to the works.
The detectives had been rendezvoused
some five or six miles below the city on
the Ohio river, at which point two model
barges had been prepared for them. The
barges were al the best build and We're
used in shipping iron rails down the river
from the Carnegie mills at Braddock. The
holds We're fitted up with hunks. cooking
arrangements and other accommodations,
and as an extra prccaution were lined
with heavy steel plates on the inside,
while the Whole back deck was protected
in similar manner
Il Wa the Intention that the men
shenll reach the works about 3o'clock
ye,tt rday morning, hut the guards Which
Wcrr uu duly along the river got word Of
the threatened Invasion of the Pinkerton
men and prepared u receive them. The
barges were lowed up the river by a tow
boat. but long before the men reached
homestead thousands oi strikers had
gathered al the banks of the river really
To give them "a warm Welcome. When the
boats attempted TO land the workmeu
broke through the fence surrounding the
mil, and entrenchiug themselves behind
piles of steel hiilets, prepared to resist the
landing of the detectives
BY o'clock in the morning an effort
WAS made to land the detectives but the
strikers met them, AMI
Fierce Battle Was precipitated,
both sides exchanging yolley of shots
The detectives We're all armed with Min
chester riir~ but at the point where the
ATTEMPT 10 land WIS made there was II
steep embanknent, and they We're com
PEELED to 90 in single file, and We're soou
driven back to the boats by the steady
fire from the shore. he noise of the bat
tie spread about the borough like wild
fire, aud thousands of men. women and
children thluu2ed to the river bank to
witness the ii.ght in progress. The Pinker-
ton men were determined 10 land, and
they poured volley after volley into the
ranks Of tue strikers. many of whom We're
stricken down by the bullets, some of
then being fatally injured and others
killed outright
As soon as day broke the strikers Sc
cured small brass ten pound cannon and
planted ii with IA steel billet embrasure
SO rs to command the barges which Were
moored at the bank of the river. AT Tia"
same time "A force of more than 1000 men
took up position on the opposite side
of the river aud also planted II cannon,
which they protected with IL breastwork
OF railroad ties
The fire from both sides was kept mp,
the barges having been pierced along the
sides Shortly before . oclock the cannon
were trained un the boats, and for several
hours an awful bombardmcnt WAS kept
up. The stout oai>en tlmb"rS forming the
sides of the boat were spintered, but the
lcaey steel plates ON the inside prevented
the balls from penetrating the interior
Many OF the strikers, however. were eX-
peri mark smen, and they sent shot after
shot into the portfolios in the boats, and
innieting terrible injury ON the impris-
oncd men.
W men an inspection of the boats was
made it WAS found that nj least seven of
the pinkerton men had been killed and
twenty or thirty wounded. many of them
SO badly that they will die As they were
brought from the boat they presented a
terrible appearance Many were be
smeared with blood. while all of them
showed signs of exhaustion from the long
confinement in the close quarters between
decks.
The most shocking and dastardly deeds,
however, were committed while the pris
oners were being escorted through the
streets by the guards appointed by the
strikers. An angry mob lined the streets
on both sides. As the men passed by, each
in charge of two deputies, the mill men
and their friends kicked them and threw
some of them down. The unfortunate de
tectifes begged for mercy. Some of them
had pistol shot wounds in their heads
and three were seen that
Had Their Eyes Shot Out.
Several were shot III the shoulders arms
and legs, and could scarcely limp along.
Blood was running in streams down their
shirts and they fairly yelled with pain
Fully thirty injured men were taken to
the town hall one of them had his eye
punched out by an umbrella in the hands
of IA woman. sand WAS thrown in their
eyes and they were hit with clubs and
other missiles. Many were knocked down
with clubs, trampled upon and some were
too weak To walk when they were started
for the town hall The mill men used the
stocks Of their rifles and struck the detec-
tives over the head and shoulders, infiict-
ing serious, and in some cases, perhaps
fatal IN uries.
The Result
As far rs can be ascertaned | work
men and detectives were killed and IS
workmr aud 81 detectives injured in the
battle. In addition to this ut least 100 de