The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-07-09

they would doubtless have succeeded had II
not been for the interposition OF the leading
officers of the Amalgamated Association, who
went to the scene Of the war in the afternoon.
Through their efforts it was agreed to allow
the detectives to surrender, but this was not
secured without the greatest objection on the
part of the men, many Of whom having lost
friends and acquaintance during the day.
Besides, as in all such outbreaks, there were
thousands of turbulent characters attracted to
the place, and as they owed no allegiance to
any organization could not be controlled.
| They wanted to see the carnage go on, and 1t
| was not until some of the workmen, pointed
| their guns at the outsiders that a hearing was
| obtained.
At O'Clock the Pinkerton men hung out
another white flag, and this time 1t was re-
spected and a committee of workmen went
aboard TO prepare terms OF capltniaton.
They guaranteed safe conduct for the Pinker-
tons provided they left their arms and ammu-
milton behind and agreed to leave the place
under guard The detectives had no alter
native and promptly accepted the terms, some
of the men saying that it was the first time
they had ever submitted to such a humiliating
surrender.
SEVEN PINKERToN MEN DEAD.
| When an inspection of the boats was made
it was found that at least seven of the Pin
kerton 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 terrible appearance. Many were
besmeared with blood, while all of them
showed signs of exhaustion from the long
confinement in the close quarters between
decks.
| CAPIIvES ROUGHLY TREATED.
The most shocking and dastardly deeds,
however, were committed while the prisoners
were being escorted through the streets by
the escort of guards appointed by the work
men. 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 detectives 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 in the should
ers, arms and legs and could scarcely limp
along. Blood was running in streams down
their shirts, and they fairly yelled with pain.
AN EYE PUNCHED OUT.
| Fully thirty injured men were taken to the
town hall. One ofthem had his eye punched
out by an umbrella in the hands Of a 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 detectives over the head and should
ers, inficting serious and in some cases, per-
haps, fatal injuries.
MADE TO SALUTE THE FLAG.
| As the procession reached the Amalgama-
ted Association Building the detectives had to
remove their hats and salute the flag. When
they removed their hats men and women hit
them with umbrellas and sticks and abused
them in every way imaginable. There seemed
to be determination to kill the prisoners,
and 1t was with the greatest difficulty that the
demon. like crowd could be restrained. The
men were finally lodged in the opera house,
where they were to be kept for the night
Thousands, however, gathered around the
building, and the wounded men were kept in
a constant state of terror, and it was long be-
fore their wounds could be dressed.
THE BOATS BURNED.
After the prisoners had been removed from
the barges the rioters had their revenge.
| They carried oil into the holds, poured it over
the bedding and furniture, and then set it on
| fire, first securing them so that they could
not float down the river and cause damage
at points below. When the flames broke
through the decks the cheers which rent the
air were deafening, and the noise could be
heard miles away. The hills on either side
of the river were literally crowded with peo-
pie, who could witness from these high points
all that was transporting on the battlefield and
be out of range Of the deadly bullets.
The day was one that will be remembered
with horror by the people of the borough, as
well as the citizens of the entire county, who,
for the second time, will be called upon to
nav the enormous amount of money entailed
in the shape of riot losses.
PIYKERTON MEN NOT SWORN.
The Pinkerton men taken to Homestead
were not sworn in as deputy sherifs. They
were accompanied from Pittsburg by Deputy
| Sheriff Gray, who was supposed to have
sworn the detectives, but he denied doing it.
He said that he had no authority himself to
take such action, and that Sheriff MeCleary
had not authorized him to do so.
A REDUCTION IN WAGES OF THIRTY PER CENT.
DEMANDED BY THE COMPANY.
The sanguinary conflict which began at
Homestead this morning is a fight for
supremacy between the strongest organiza-
ton of steel workers in the country on one
side and the largest individual steel manu-
facturers in the world on the other. Upon
one hand is ranged the strength of the Anal
gamated Association of Iron and Steel Work
ers of the United States, an organization 30,
600 strong, with balance in bank of $780,
600, and hundreds of thousands more in re.
serve, and on the other the prestige, power
and wealth of the Carnegie Steel Company,
Limited, the new title of the associated in
terests of the Carnegie firms, with capital
of $25, 100000.
THE OLD SCALE OF WAGES.
The Amalgamated Association is resisting
reduction in wages of 80 per cent of 25G
workers, and an attempt on the part of the
! Carnegie Steel Company to make such work
ing terms as it deems applicable to the pres
ent condition of the steel business and the
mechanical improvements effected in the
process of manufacture.
This condition of affairs has arisen out of
the expiration of a three years sliding scale
of wages in operation at the Homestead
works Of the company, and the action OF the
company in substituting another with marked
reductions in rates.
The Homestead employees have been paid
by the tonnage Settlements during the last
three years have been based on the selling
price of steel bilets, the minimum basis
being S25 per ton; that is, no matter how
much the market price ran below S25, pay
ments were to be made on the basis of that
figure, If the market price was higher pay
ments were to be made accordingly. As a
matter of fact, billet; have been selling for
several months at $22 and S22.50, while set
Elements with the men have been made at
$25, and, of course, at loss of the difference
to the company.
THE NEW SCALE OF WAGES PROPOSED.
In anticipation of the expiration of the
three years scale on June 80, the Carnegie
Steel Company formulated schedule of
rates to operate from July to January l.,
1894 The minimum basis was changed from
$25 to $22, and reductions which average 10
per cent. were made on the rates for the
various kinds of employment.
The workers on the other side presented
the company with scale which differed
slightly from the old one. On conference
| both sides made concessions, but parted with
out a settlement. The company had pre-
viously fxed June "a as the last day opento
the workers for accepting the scale as an sr
ganized body. After that date the men wern
to be treated with only as individuals.
The day passed without approaches from
either side, and both parties began forthwith