Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1892 — BLOOD! [ARTICLE]

BLOOD!

New York may justly lay claim to being the leading Vice Presidential State of the ‘Union. She has fur nished for this office Aaron Burr. George Clinton, Daniel D. ThorupJ son. Martin Vanßuren, Millard Fillmore, William A. Wheeler, Chester A. Arthur and Levi P. Morton, with Whitelaw Reid as a possibility. It appears an oil driller named David Peck, who went from Pennsylvania to Venezuela, is the drillmaster and chief strategist of the revolutionary forces. Doubtless the steamers built in Pittsburgh for the Magdelena river ply an important role in the bloody and deplorable drama now being enacted in that part of South America. What they need down there is some firm habd, tike that of Porfirie Diaz in Mexico, to establish order. Such a man would soon be a powerful supporter of the Pan American system, and thus secure that peace and reign of law without which , no country can prosper.

Greece is learning a lesson which was long since born on the people of certain portions of this country. The reduction of its forests from 7,500,000 acres to 2,500,000 has resulted in a scarcitv of water and varlous injurious climatic effects. It may perhaps, that the weather for the past month in this vicinity is a sufficient answer for the claim that cutting off the trees brings a scarcity of water; but it is a part of the theory of those who haye made a study of the subject that the removal of the forests inter-

seres with the regular distribution of the rainfall and gives us prolonged rains as well as prolonged drought. The electrical people, says the Indianapolis News, have worked themselves into a curious state of mind over the New York law providing for the execution of murderers by electricity. The success of the last execution, the Electrical Age thinks, means that this method has come to stay unless electricians bestir themselves and work up sentimanLagainst it. But why should they? Why, they think the law tends to bring electricity into disrepute and bad odor and all that! As well might the cordage trust complain of the use ot hemp for hanging or the steel-work-ers of the use of the executioner’s swoid or the guillotine, or the granite cutters and brick makers of the use of their products to build prisons.

Us goodly people of the west, IHougET” to " §ome extent ’ an involuntarily witness in crime, are familiar with no offense so heinous as is charged against a brute of the staid old city of Philadelphia. In a suit for divorce, brought by the brute against his wife, a “detective swore that he was requested by Hillard (the brute), to endeavor to accomplish the ruin of his wife, and to allure her into disorderly houses, for which he was to receive SIOO. ” To the credit of the detective, be it said, he refused the proposal. As a rule, so-called private “detective” agencies are maintained for similar purposes, including one not a thousand miles from this State. As to the brute, he ought to be sent to the penitentiary for 99 years.

The Canadian vessels which were fitted out for sealing purposes in the expectation either that the modus Vivendi would not be renewed or that they would be as successful as last year in evading its provisions, have decided; so it is reported, to transfer their operations to the Russian side of Bering sea. The Rook 2 ery of the Russian Copper islands is exceeded in value only by the Pribylov, ..belonging to the United States. While Russia claims jurisdiction over half of Bering sea, she has never seized poaching vessels outside of a marine league from shore. Within these limits she has made many captures, confiscated the ships and imprisoned the crews. The number of sealers, however, has been very small compared to those which have operated in our seas. This year a general invasion is threatened, and there is curiosity to know what action Russia wilftake. The tallest trees in the world are believed to be a sequoia near Stockton, Cal., which is 325 feet high, and two eucalypti in Victoria, Australia, estimated to be 486 and 450 feet respectively. Kansas has four cities In which the vote of the women is larger than that of the men. One entire set of councilmen is women.

An Awful Conflict Between Pinkertons and Strikers at Carnegie’s Works. Desperate Encounter in Which Many on Both Sides Were Killed and Wounded. Effort to get Hired Men into the Work* ReeUted—Men Shot Down like Doga— A. Wild Ruah for the River—Detail* of a San. guinary Conflict. Pittsburg, Pa., July A—A bloody battle between Pinkerton detectives and the locked out employes at the Carnegie works at Homestead occurred at 4 o’clock this morning- Twenty men were shot, and at least ten are dead. Among the killed, it is reported, were five Pinkerton men. At an early hour this morning three hundred Pinkerton detectives arrived in Pittsburg from the East. They were quietly marched tothe Monongahela river, where they were loaded on barges and shipped to Homestead at 2:15 o’clock. The news of their arrival spread when the steam tug “Steamer Tide,” towing the barges, arrived at Homestead, there were 5,000 people waiting to meet them. As soon as the Pinkertons attempted to land they were met by a firm resistance from the men. and the battle followed. The Pinkertons opened fire, and at the first volley two workmen fell. This enraged the crowd and they bore down upon the Pinkertons with resistless force. Nobody stopped to inquire whether the new comers were deputy sheriffs, Pinkerton detectives or non union laborers. After the exchange of shots, the crowd grouped on the bank fell back, and, climbing over the heap of rubbish, rushed toward the big trestle leading to the Pimlcky railroad bridge. Probably three hundred of the men stood their ground and returned a desultory fire with their revolvers. As these sjiots did little or no apparent damage thephicky band, finding that their weapons were ineffective, slowly fell back before the withering fire of the Winchesters. . ' ’ x The first shot of the engagement came from the barge. It was aimed at a big Hungarian who stood at the water’s edge. The ball went wide of the human target, but it was the signal to the Pinkerton men to begin, and for a full ten minutes they continued to fire. The first man to fall was Martin Merry, the foreman of the mills. He was shot in the left side and fell face downward on a pile of ashds. Close by Merry stood a big Hungarian. He stoopedcover Merry’s prostrate body, and as he was in tne act of raising him he itaggered, and an instant later fell by the side of his comrade. This bloody spectacle aroused the drooping spirits of the crowd, and with a hoarse cheer half a lozen men rushed to the place where Mer ry and the Hungarian lav. They picked up the bodies and carried them behind the trestle. One of the rescuers, a Welshman, who refused to give his name, was shot in the left leg just as he raised Merry’s head from the ground. Merry and the Hungarian were carried oyer the trestle work, over the Plmicky tracks, and then taken to the office of Dr. Purman, of Dixon street. The doctor, after a hasty examination. announced that both men would probably die Five more of the strikers were wounded, two of them very ly. but they were spirited away by their friends and it was impossible to get their names. Tho shots of the strike:s were also well aimed, as four Pinkertons are reported dangerously wounded. The Pinkerton men did not land, and another encounter may occur at any moment. Excitement is at fever heat it Homestead. It was exactly four o’clock when the steamer and barges were sighted by the watchers gathered on the river bank a mile below the town. Directly the fleet was sighted, three messengers, each mounted on fresh horses, started for vance of the dreaded barges. Some one notified the engineer at the electric light works, and for a second time the harshvoiced whistle sounded the general alarm The people responded with wonderful alacrity. They were old men and young men. elderly women, mothers with their babies in their arms, and a large number of children. The throng headed toward the river. The day was just dawning, and clouds of thick, grayish vapor hung over the waters. Suddenly from out the shadows were seen the lights of the steamer. On the other side of her were the barges. The moment the people on the bank- caught a glimpse of the flotillk. they made a break down the river toward the works. When the head of the line reached the city farm fence, which has been built out several feet in the water, fifty men. or more, used their shoulders as battering rams, and almost in a twinkling bad battered down the barrier. Once through the fences, the crowd poured along the steep embankment skirting the river fence and the Carnegie company, aud despite the” mud and the uneaven character of the ground, they made rapid headway. It was a strangely silent crowd. Few words were spoken, and these- sprang from the lips, of the women, who were apparently as anxious to participate In the conflict as their husbands, brothers and sons. From the Homes tead to the pump -ho use it is a good two miles, but all things considered, these half dressed men and women made the journey in record breaking time. Once there,-.they gathered in one solid mass, the women, or a t least tho most of them, on the outskirts. The front rank of this solid wall of htimanity stood at the waters ' very edge, and every moment the crowd grew* in number and determination. Slowly the tide brought her silent consort down the channel. Just below the Plmicky bridge she partly turned her prow toward the shore, and then, amid the skrt eks oT s team wins ties and" the "angry groans and hisses from those gathered on the banks, the -occupants,, of the boats stripped fbr action. Each one of them was armed with a Winchester rifle, and each rifle was loaded to kill. Slowly the boat edged toward tho landing, and when the keels of the barges grated on the sands the grim faces of the invaders were within a few feet of their opponents gathered on the shore. - 1 There was one lonely instant of awful silence, and then a bright flash and 8 sharp report announced that the first shot of the battle hid teen fired. It also proved that the detectives had determined to take extreme measures, and. if necessary, fight their way to the mill. Almost immediately after the first shot had been tired the firing became general on both sides. v fAt first the strikers retreated. and for a moment it looked as though they were completely, routed, but the men quickly rallied, ana although they retired from the immediate Vicinity of the boats, they held their own. and hr sheer weight of numbers compelled the deputies to proceed'with caution. Up to this time no one had attempted to leave , the boat, but suddenly fortv or more of the invaders attempted to jump kshore, The strikers responded with a sharp volley, and so thick and fast came the bullets that’ the deputies retired to the semishelter of the lower dock. It was in this attempt that the Pinkertons sustained their most serious loss. Their captain

wm carried to the pilot house of the steamer. One of his men informed the reporter that although the wound was serioU*. it was not fatal. Directly after r-sfaft episode both sides rested for a few minutes and then, after another sharp volley, which did little or no damage to either side, hostilities ceased. The fighting between the Pinkerton forces and the workmen was renewed shortly after? o’clock, and the battle continued for fully half an hour. The second conflict was precipitated when when another effort was made by the Pinkerton men to effect a landing. A number of the workmen werq injured in the second encounter. ThfuwildeSt excitement prevails in |he town. Thousands of workmen from all /the surrounding places are reported to be marching toward Homestead to reinforce the strikers that have made such a vigorous and unexpected resistance to the attempts to land the noted Pinker-ton-detectiyes. In the second engagement Harry Streagel was killed and some wounded. William Foy was shot and killed at the firstengagement. The bodies of both men were taken home. Great excitement prevails. The workmen have built a fortification of steel bars oft the river bank, and over one thousand men are within. They opened fire, and it is supposed that several of the Pinkertons have been killed on the boat.

At 8:30 a. m. the firing was resumed in a desultory manner. A workman named Wallace was fatally shot at Ninth street. He was taken to his home. The crowd on shore is constantly increasing, and it is more determined than ever to prevent any one from the boat landing. All the trains are carefully watched, and all means of entrance to the works guarded by the men. and a desperate' struggle is promised. All along the river and railroads men are stationed to watch and give warning of the approach of any trains or boats. Before the second attempt was made to land, the officer in charge announced to the crowd of workmen assembled on the bank that his men were Pinkertons, and that he would land them if he had to mow down everybody in sight. He then ordered his men. to advance, and as they advanced from'the barge they were met by a shower of lead from the rifles and pistols of the workmen. The officers fell back for an Instant as if repulsed, but they were promptly rallied, and marching eight nbreast, endeavored to get ashore. They were driven back again, however. It is not definitely known how many mon are on the two barges. There are thought to be at least three hundred in the party. Several of the Pinkertons are injured, but no one is allowed to and their injuries can not be definitely told. - 10:30 a. m.—The battle continues. • The Pinkertons have made two attempts to land, but were repulsed both times. The men have intrenched themselves in the mill behind the machinery, and the boat is lying off shore. The men have received ammunition and guns, and they are better prepared than last night. They swear that the Pinkerton? will never land while a man remains in Homestead. The town is wild with excitement. Every moment

th<situation becomes more critical Reuben Forrest was shot through the heart at 9:33. Another Hungarian was taken to the temporary hospital dying. The Pinkertons seem bound to make another move to land their boat. It is almost riddled with bullets. DeWilder has just received two wounds, and David Sutter is reported as killed. Silas Waynes has just been carried down the street, dead. 11 a. m.—The strikers have fired a car of oil, standing near the works on the railroad, for the purpose of firing the boat in the river. They expect to set the river on fire. The men nave placed a cannon on' the hill on the north side of the river, and are firing into the boats. The balls and pieces of iron are being used, and at every shot the boat’s side is penetrated and pieces blown into the river. No move has been made to stop the firing. Not a soul can be seen in the boat; and no w<srd can be gotten from or to it. The strikers claim at least five men in the boat were killed or fatally injured. One man alone says saw six fall. Dr. J. Osborne’s house is turnedinto a hospital and he has treated ten men. On every hand men are gathering ammunition of all kinds. Every possible form fire arms is being gathered, and shotguns are being loaded with buckshot. The steamer Little Bill camo down the river shortly before 11 o’clock to take of the Pinkertons, who were"!mprisoneflrrn the barge. There was a large number of new men on, the boat. The moment it reached the shore a regular fusillade j,o°k place. The men say it has assistance for the Pinkertons imprisoned In the barge. At all-events a fusillade began, in which the strikers, the Pinkertons and persons on the Little Bill took part. It continued ten minutes, and wa£ mixed with hoarse, derisive cheering from the men in the mill. The number killed is now ten with eleven wounded. Excitement is so intense that it is impossible to get names. The strikers now claim that besides the captain and lieutenant four other men were shot and fell from the barge. One Pinkerton becoming desperate, jumped off the rear and tried to swim; he was drowned; the pilot of the Little Bill was killed. The boat was driven off and proceeded down the river. The men telegraphed to have it held at the dock, A flag of truce was displayed bv the Pinkerton men and was shot down. It was hoisted the second time, with the same result. The third t4me the flag was riddled with bullets, and hardly enough of it left to hoist again. The mill workers have heard that the militia has been ordered here, and they now seem to be determined to rid the place of every Pinkerton man before the troops get heye. Men on both sides of the river, opposite the barges containing the Pinkertons, are lying in wait for the detectives to show themselves. The men fire at every moving object on the barges. An occasional shot comes from tho barges. It is thought some of the Pinkerton men have been wounded during the skirmishing. The story that theG. A. R. and Sons of Veterans of Homestead had turned over their arms to the strikers, and that two cars of ammunition and arms had gone from this city, is denied by the Amalgamated officials here. V At I:<> this afternoon eighteen men were taken from the yard of the mill. Three of them were dead, two of them were Pinkerton meu. The wounded xnen were faken home and some sent to the Pittsburg hospitals. The dead were taken out and put into undertakers’ wagons. Flames are n<?w spreading along the river front and the mill is threatened. Several explosions hiving been heard, the people are taking to the hills to get away from-the fire. At 2 o'clock one of ihe Pinkerton men raised hfs head above the edge of the barge. A shot was fired, and he fell back dead. WHAT PRECIPIT A TEDTHE TROUBLE. Pittsburg, July 6.—The Carnegie people Tuesday threw down the gauntlet by appealing to the sheriff of Allegheny county for protection. H. C. Frick, after whom the Homestead plant has been christened “Fort Frick,” went to Sheriff McCleary's office at 10 o’clock and asked the sheriff to take charge of affairs at the Homestead plant. Frick gave it as his opinion that the time had come when it was necessary for the county to protect the interests of the Carnegie Steel Company. He asked for one hundred deputies to go to the scene of the conflict at once. There had been nd demonstrations on the part of the locked-out men, and just why Mr. Frick should request protection at this particular time Sheri fi McCleary could not make out. At any rate, however. he promised to render the steel company all the help within hfe power, and to that end he immediately wont to Homestead, accompanied by several deputiesThe presence of the sheriff and the deputies at Homestead created a sensation. Excitement was at fever heat. The workers claimed that the steel company intended to start its works at once, and

the appear for protection was solely for that purpose. Sheriff McCleary before leaving Homestead was asked by the advisory committee of the locked-out men not to put deputies on duty at the works. They promised to guard tne company’s property faithfully. The sheriff replied that he'could not recognize the request. Ten deputies were then placed within the fencad-up works, and the sheriff returned to Pittsburg. Within a few minutes after the sheriff’s departure the deputies were convinced tha| they were" in a dangerous camp, and all threw up their workand returned to Pittsburg. The Carnegie officials say they have turned the plant over to the county, apd look for protection, NOTES OF THE AFFRAY. The Pinkerton men claim the strikers were the first to fire. Carnegie is in Scotland, on the sth he was presented with® the freedom of the city of Aberdeen, because he had given £I.OOO for the fine library there. The Governor was telegraped to send troops. « ’ Representative Caminetti of California Wednesday iptroduced in the House a resolution authorizing the appointment by the Speaker of a committee of five members to investigate and report on the causes of the strike at the Homestead (Pa.) mills and the conditions producing the same. THE SURRENDER. Towards dusk, efforts were made to burn the boats again with their living freight, and they would, doubtless, have succeeded had it not been for the interposition of the leading officers of the Amalgamated Association, who went to the scene of 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 had lost friends and acquaintances during the day. Besides, as in ail such outbreaks, there were thousands of iurbulentcharacters 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 it was not until some of the strikers pointed their guns at the outsiders that a hearing was obtained. At 5 o’clock the Pinkerton men hung out another white flag, and this time it was respected, and a committee or strikers went aboard to prepare terms of capitulation. They guaranteed safe conduct for the Pinkertons, provided they left their arms and ammunition behind and agreed to leave the place under guard. The detectives had no alternative, and promptly accepted the terms.some of the men saying that it was the first time they hadevor submitted to such ahumiliating surrender. When an inspection of the boat was made it was found that at 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 besmeared with blood,, while all of them showed signs of exhaustion from the lohg confinement in the close quarters between decks. The most shocking and dastardly deeds, however were committed while 'tlie prsoners were escorted through the streets by the escort of guards apnointed by the strikers. An angry mob lined the streets on both sides. As the men passed by, each in charge of two deputies, the mil) men and their frieuds kicked them, throwing some down. The unfortunate detectives begged,for mercy. Some of them had wounds in their heads, and three were seen that had their eyes shot out. Several wepe shot In the shoulders, arm? 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 eyes punched out by an umbrella in the hands of a-woman,- Sand was thrown in, their eyes and they were hit with clubs and their missiles. Many were knocked down with clubs and trambled upon, and some were too weak to walk when they started for the Town Hall. The mill men used the stocks of their rifles and struck the detectives over the he: and shoulders, inflicting serious and, ii. „ome cases, perhaps fatal injuries. As the procession reached the Amalgamated Association building the detectives had tolake off 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 imaginable way. There seemed to be a determination to to kill the prisoners, and it was? with the greatest difficulty that the in* men were finally lodged in the Opera House, where they weto to be kept for the night. Thousands, however, gathered around the building, and the detectives weue kept in a constant state of terror, and it was long before their wounds could be dressed. 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 the barges 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 hiys on either side of the river were literally crowded with people, who could witness from these high points all that was transpiring on the battle field and be out of range Of the deadly bullets. . The day was one that will be long remembered by the people of the borough * and the citizens of the entire county, who for the second time will be compelled to pay an enormous amount of money entailed in the shape of losses. DEAD AND WOUNDED. A complete Fist of the killed and wounded was not obtainable at midnight. As far as could be ascertained, eleven work men and nine detectives were killed, and eighteen workmen and twenty-one detectives injured in the battle. In addition to these at least one hundred detectives weto seriously injured by the strikers while on their way to the jail this evening. The list of killed as near as can be ascertained at midnight is as follows: Joseph Supper, Martin Foy. John Mdfris, Jules Markowsky, Henry Streigel, Peter Heise. David- Davis, Robert Foster, William JohnstonriJ. H. Klein, two unknown Hungarians, nine Pinkerton detectives, names unknown, as most of them were down by numbers; The wounded, so far as known, are: David Lester, detective, shot in the head and ankle sprained, not seriously; Fred. H. Hind, chief detective, shot in the leg; Russell Wells, detective, shot in the leg; J. G. Hoffman, detective, shot in the knee; George W. Rutter, Homestead steel , worker, shot in the hip and" dangerously wounded; Lawrence Laughlin.steel work- ■ er. thigh broken; an unknown Pole, shot in the knee.unconscious from loss of blood; ; John McCurrey, watchman on the Little ! Bill, shot in the groin, dangerous: John Cain,shot thrpugh the leg; Captain Henry; Andrew Schuyler, shot through the knee cap: Andrew Zutler. Joseph Zsi, Joseph Wallace. Michael Murray, John Kane. Harrv Hughes, an unknown man, Miles Langhlin. All the above are seriously injured. PINKERTONS AT PITTSBURG. PrrrsKURG. Pa.. July 7.—Shortly after 12 o’clock this morning it was rumored about Homestead that the prisoners were to be takon to Pittsburg on a special train brought up by Sheriff McCleary. - About 12:30 President Weihe, of the Amalgamated Association, appeared and ordered the hall cleared of all outsiders' He then informed the waiting crowds that the outrages of this afternoon w< e cowardly, and that when the prisoners Were inarched to the station they must bejbrotected. His remarks were received wjth cheers. A few minutes later the profession, started for the depot. The wounded brought up

the rear, several being carried «n chain, and no demonstration was made qn the way to the station. The trip down to Pittsburg was made quietly; but at even station a large crowd was gathered and jeered and hooted. En route one of the men, Peter Gorman, of New York, had a fit, requiring four man to hold him in his seat ( The train reached this city at 2:30 this morning. Twenty-seven of their number were wonuded-and were sent to the West Pennsylvania Hospital. They one and*all refused to make any statement or to be interviewed. They are now at the station, waiting,Jt is thought, for a Western train, their destination probably being Chicago. At 3 o’clock this morning it was learned that the detectives were to be held here and tried for murder. TICKET AGENT MARTIN DESCRIBES THE SURRENDER. John Martin, ticket agent of the Panhandle and the Pittsburg, Virginia & Charleston roads, at Fourth avenue, this city, was a spectator of the surrender of the Pinkertons. He returned to Pittsburg at 8 o’clock to night. Agent Martin said: “The hills on all sides were black with people massed together. When a esfi'non was placed in front of the barge the Pinkertons knew it was all up with them, and they tried to make the best terms possible jyj>h tfie strikers. The latter took themput in a double tile, and for a momentrdidn’t know what to do with them. Crid?[of ‘To the woods,’ ‘To the woods.’ ‘Lynch the dogs,’ etc., were heard on all sides. It was proposed by the leaders te gather the Pinkertons together on the bank, to be marched to the big skating rink and there tried for murder. Many of the captors wbuld not listen to %hts; some wanted to take the scared Pihkertons and shoot them as they stood. Cooler heads, however, prevailed, and the march to the rink began. “The Pinkertons were scared half te death, as the looks of the strikers were not calcultaed to inspire' them with any hopes of mercy. Many of them quaked with fear ffnd had to be supported tokeep them from falling to the ground. Sdferal thousand people crowded around on all oides and demanded revenge for the killing of the strikers during the day. In the crowd were hundreds sf women, who seemed worse than the men. They crowded around and tore the clothing from the backs of the guards. The latter had their uniforms on over their other clothes, and these were torn off and thrown into the fiver. All fire arms were taken from them, and after considerable fighting the leaders forced a passage through the crowd, The guards, with most of their clothing torn from them, were compelled to march right through the town to the rink. On both sides of them stood lines of strikers and their friends hooting and yelling as they passed. As the men passed the gauntlet f they were kicked and cuffed on ail sides. ' Their captors triea to protect them, but it was a physical impossibility. They might as well have tried to stop a fusiladeof bullets. Women and girls ran out of the two lines and with sticks and clubs beat the poor wretches. One woman, who had a stocking filled with iron, struck one of the Pinkerton men over the head with it. I do not think any of them got through without beipg cut or bruised. The leaders of the strikers could not keep the people away from the prisoners. Scenes that almost beggar description were enacted aH the way to the rink. It Was the general supposition that themen would be given a speedy trial and convicted by a Judge Lynch jury. “While the men were being formed in line for the march to the rink partoi the strikers boarded the boats, They ransacked everything and secured 360 Winchester rifles. The men took from the boats just what they thought was of value and then set fire to them and burned thefn. In one of the vessels was found everything in the way of edibles. Thpre was enoflfch provisions to last a regiment a week. The Winchesters were divided up among the men, and many of the residents are now the possessors of first class rifles It did not take the barges long to burn, ana as they burned they were fired into by the strikers. Scores of shots were fired into the vessels as the flames were licking up everything. There was little pity, expressed for the captured guards.” STATEMENT FROM THE COMPANY. The Carnegie Steel Company (limited) give out the following statement to the Associated Press this afternooh: “Our Homestead steel-works were, on July 1, taken possession of by which was immediately thereafter otoanAmalgamated Association of Iron ai)d Steel-workers, and £ll our mechanics, mill-men and even foreman and superintendent of departments wereiorcioly denied admittance thereto We were also notified by a self-selected advisory coffimittee that no fires would be permitted kt the works lest the men become excited to further awful acts. This continued until yesterday, when we called upon thesheriff of Allegheny county- for protection and assistance in regaining possession of our property. The sheriff went to Homestead, and on his return sent deputies to the works and posted a proclamation ordering the men to disperse. His deputies werd touted and his proclamation torn down. The sheriff then, through his chief deputy, attempted to take three hundred of our watchmen, who were sent to the works by boat last night. These men werq met more than a mile below the works by an,armed mob of Amalgamated men along the river bank, which fifed rifles and revolvers at the barges. The shooting was continuous for twenty-five minutes before a shot was returned from the boats, which was not until the boats were tied up at our landing. On the arrival of the boats the mob tore down a large portion of the fence about the works aiid iiLlad tho bluff above the landing, keeping up a continuous fire and wounding three of our watchmen. Then, and notiuntil then, was the fire returned, resulting, we are advised,in some loss of hfe. The mob was so large as to prevent the lauding of tho guards, who are at this time on the boats awaiting orders from the authorities. We are not taking anv active part in the matler at present, as we can not interfere with the sheriff in the discharge of his duty, and are now awaiting his further action.” . X CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. The cause of the trouble which hasculminatod in riot and bloodshed at the Homestead mills is one of wages, involving thru points? ——— First—The wages of a number of men in the steel works are arranged upon a sliding scale, based upon a minimum price of steel billets. The arrangements have been made for three years. In that made in 1S8.» the minimum price was 125.50, Steel billets are now selling for 822.50 to $23. The mill owners insist that $23 shall be the minimum, aud tho workmen insist on tho old rate. Second—A change of the date of the ex pirationof a scale from June 30 to DecemThird—A reduction in tohngebßrites at those furnaces and mills improvements have been made and new machinery lias been added, which has increased the output about2o per cent., and, consequently, the wages of tho workmen. Where no such improvements have been made no reduction in tonnagcrate is asked. Thrre nr four c.onfgrencos warn ha.J.hnt no arrangement could be made for the Homestead mill, though in other mills th? old scale was agreed to. The Homestead mills shut down the last day of June. Since that time the workmoq have pre*vented the owners from going to the mills. admitting only a few ordnance officers representing tho navy, who are stationed there to inspect the plates for the war stops. It is.stated that oniv a small part of the employes are affected by the ehange of scales, and le-« by the tonnage proprfSition. All of whom are hifh-prlced and skilled Workmen. /