The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1892-07-12
STRIKERS BLOOD
Workmen Shot Down by Paid
Pinkerton Men
WHO ATTEMPT TO MAKE A LAND
ING AT THE WORKS,

ONLY TO BE REPULsED BY THE
DETERMINED STRIKERS.
The Sight of blood Arouses Suppressed
Rage OF the Thousands Of Locked Out
workmen and Battle Results in
which Each Side Lose n Number OF
Killed and wounded.
PrrrsBURa. July 6.-The bloodiest
labor battle in the history of the country
took place at the Carnegie steel works at
Homestead today, when 300 armed Pink
erton men attempted to land at the mill.
The Pinkertons went from this city
early in the morning on two barges and
were received at the works by several
thousand enraged workmen who were
armed with weapons of all Sorts They
had been called there by three horsemen
who rode through the streets shouting;
"To the river! To the riferl The
Pinkertons are comingr'
The twenty-foot fence surrounding
the steel works was torn down by the
strikers who were determined to be
be at the landing to receive the Pinlzers
tons. Eight out of ten carried firearms
"a ooAtAC SoA y +AAOu5ii VIC 4dpiu4J COlth-
ing daylight they recognized the uni
form of the Pinkertons. each of whom
carried a double-barreled Winchester
rifle. Although sixty of these were
leyeled directly as the mill men not one
retreated, but rather pressed closer to
the waters edge.
The gang plank was thrown out and
the Pinkertons made preparations to
land. The enraged worlzmen sprang
forward to meet them, when the first
shot was fired. 1t will never be known
who fired it. but it came from the Pink
ertons.
Up to the last moment six of the lead
ing mill workers tried toinduce the men
to keep back and not force the Pinker-
tons to do murder, but even the appeal
to think of their families proved fruit
less.
The first shot from the barge was fol-
lowed by a volley from score of the
shining rifles. A number of men in the
foremost ranks of the strikers forces
fell, some never to rise again. The men
ON the bank were dulnbfounded, bp5s
soon recovered and returned tie fire
with such weapons as the mad. About
200 remained at the waters edge and
emptied their revolvers at the barge. A
number of the blue-coated Pinkertons
We're seen to fall. Out of ammunition,
the workmen retreated up the bank, d >
family cheering each shot of their
enemies.
AT the first attack not a gun was seen
among all the Homestead worlmen, but
after that, it was not long until every
rifle, shotgun, musket or firearm of
every description was in the hands some
excited workmen who was determined
to use it where it would do the most
good.
The Pinkertons kept rather close un-
der cover, but when the mill men came
down to the water and asked for con-
ference, one was readily given them. at
men in fifteen minutes they would land
and clear the grounds. They were told
the workmen had whipped them once
and could do it again.
AT $50, after the Pinkertons had
breakfasted, another attempt was made
to land, but they We're again repulsed.
Three times did the men ON the barges
shot away by the skilled marksmen
among the workmen who had now taken
sheltered positions and were getting in
their work with long-range rifles The
worlumen's cry was mo quarter
Crowded into the barges were the 800
Pinkerton's under a low roof with no
ventilation. The suffering of the
wounded must have been fearful. The
sound of an AK was heard cutting hole
to admit air. The hole was soon con-
siderable enlarged by the bullets from
ON shore, and no more attempts were
made to secure ventilation that way.
All sorts of plans We're tried to fire the
boats. Oil was pumped onto the water
and burning waste thrown into it, but
Ill. 4
would not burn. The fireworks in the
various stores in the town We're used in
vain attempts to fire the barges. Had
they succeeded an appalling fate would
have been in store for the Pinkerton
men. To escape death by fire they
would have had to face the mob at
whose hands they could expect no
mercy.
The steel workers rested and con-
sultation was held, at which it was de-
cided that if the men ON shore could
keep the men in the barges where they
were until the sheriff arrived they
would be all right.
While the meeting was in progress in
the mill another one was being held by
the beleagured ones in the boat. The re-
suit was soon shown by white hand
kerchief being cautiously showed out of
an opening and cheers greeted it.
A committee from the mill men was
sent to the barges The Pinkertons were
disarmed and taken on shere. On the
barges one man was found dead and
eleven wounded.
Not content with marching their vol
untary prisoners through the streets Of
the town, every woman and child in the
place was allowed vigorous kick or
sickening blow at the unfortunates until
each of them, young and old alike, had
to be almost dragged, through their ex-
haustion. to the prison IN which the men
were crowded, awaiting the action of
the coroner and sheriff, the former to
charge them with murder and the latter
to safely imprison them for the crime
After the Pinkertons had been taken
off the barges We're set ON fire and
burned to the waters edge.
Altogether it was an eyentful day in
Homestead that has left a crimson
page in the story of wage disputes, and
the end is not yet The working people
are just where they were before the
Carnegie people assumed charge of their
contest here. The next turn to be
taken by the company will be watched
with interest.
The people here are nervous. anxious,
but they are content with their first VIC
tory, and they seem anxious for another
tussle with capital, their ancient enemy.
If the unfortunate Pinkertons, who were
glad To throw themselves upon the work
mems mercy, are allowed to go I'M
harmed tonight there is not likely to be