Grand Rapids Herald

BEATEN BY THE MEN
The Deputy Sheriffs Return Home AFTER VISITING HOMESTEAD
They Are Escorted to the Boat Under the Protection of the Citizen-Workers.

HOMESTEAD, Pa., July 5.-The first aggressive movement on the part of the Carnegie Steel company to start their mills was made today, but was unsuccessful. The mill workers came off victorious at every point. This morning the Carnegie Steel company applied to Sheriff McCleary, of Allegheny county, for help to guard their Homestead property, and protection for those men whom they claim are willing and anxious to go to work, but are in fear of bodily harm from the strikers. Sheriff McCleary, accompanied by ex-Sheriffs Gray and Clung, came from Pittsburg at noon, and repaired to the strikers' headquarters, announcing that they would assume control of the Carnegie Steel company's property, and would send some deputies to guard the works later in the day, but before doing so wished a personal inspection of the grounds. They asked for a pass to visit the interior of the mill, which was not only given by the advisory committee, but a body guard of ten men was furnished the sheriff to show him everything in sight. After an inspection of the works the sheriff was escorted back to headquarters where a committee was awaiting him. The chairman of the advisory committee addressed the sheriff as follows:

They Offer to Guard It

"Mr. Sheriff, the Homestead people, both before this trouble came and since its precipitation, have expressed their intention of not only guarding their own property, but the property of their employers, the Carnegie Steel Company, as well. The property is not endangered, but the bringing into Homestead of deputies ostensibly for the purpose of guarding property which is not in danger is unnecessary. Now, we the people of Homestead wish to make an offer. We will place from 50 to 500 of our best citizens inside of that mill to guard that property, if the firm think it is in danger, and these men will protect their property with their lives if necessary; and further than that, a bond of $50,000 will be given for the faithful vigilance of each man posted. We don't want deputy sheriffs here, as it will precipitate trouble, and therefore make this offer."

Sheriff McCleary said that he was unable to accept the offer, although he acknowledged the generosity and fairness of this proposition and stated that he had been instructed to bring fifty deputy sheriffs to Homestead during the afternoon and would do so.

"Then bring them at your own risk; we hereby dissolve the advisory committee and will not be responsible for any trouble which may accrue from their coming," said the chairman. The sheriff then left for Pittsburg, but before he got out of town the following petition, signed by many of the most prominent residents of Mifflin township was flying over the wires to Pittsburg:

Asked for an Injunction.

"J. Brennan, Esq., Pittsburg: The citizens of Mifflin township ask for a temporary injunction to restrain the sheriff of Allegheny county from sending deputies to the Homestead steel works. We believe it is a move calculated to cause unnecessary disturbance."

No reply had been received from Mr. Brennan up to a late hour. The word that the advisory committee had been dissolved and that the sheriff would attempt to place his men inside the works before night caused great excitement, and in less than an hour a petition was in circulation among the leading merchants of the town praying Governor Pattison to repair to Homestead immediately and take some steps toward avoiding trouble and possibly blood-shed, which appears near at hand. A few minutes after 4 o'clock word was received that seventy-five blue-coated Pinkerton men had just landed at the station in Pittsburg, on their way to Homestead, and fully 2,000 men within a few moments were distributed along the railroad track near the station, in readiness to receive the Pinkertons should they attempt to land in Homestead. Although the workmen were disappointed regarding the Pinkertons, they soon had excitement enough. At 4:30 p. m. word was received the ex-Sheriff Clung with eleven deputies was rapidly nearing Homestead on the Pittsburg, Virginia & Charleston railway, due at 4:48. A rush was made toward the City Farm station, and when the train passed about 3,000 people had congregated about the depot, but the deputies did not appear. A mighty shout came from 1,500 people gathered at Munhall station, above which is the main entrance to the mill, telling the crowd below that the deputies had landed.

A Mad Rush to Be First

The scene which followed is indescribable. The crowd at City Farm station were compelled to come up along end of the fence about 300 yards before getting on to Eighth avenue leading to Munhall station, and as every man wanted to be the first to get to Munhall the narrow passageway was crowded to suffocation by the struggling mill workers, all tumbling over each other in their great haste when the crowd reached Eighth avenue. They were joined by a larger crowd, all pressing toward Munhall and the sixty foot street was hardly able to hold them. Before the deputies with ex-Sheriff Clung at their head could make an effort to reach the works the strikers overtook them, and the spokesman addressed Acting Sheriff Clung, saying "I cannot permit you to enter this mill; it does not need your protection, should we allow you to enter it would be against our interest, so we shall not allow it; should you wish to return to Pittsburg we will see that you get safely out of town." Acting Sheriff Clung, after a few moments' consultation with his assistants, said: "We will go back to Pittsburg and will depend on you for a safe escort out of town." A large guard of workingmen formed about the deputies and started toward headquarters until the steamer Edna could be summoned. There was but little demonstration. Half an hour later the march to the Edna, a quarter of a mile distant, was begun. Each deputy was escorted by a workman, and none were permitted to follow in their rear. Not a loud word was spoken. Acting Sheriff Clung brought up the rear of the procession with Burgess McLuckie of Homestead, and when the river bank was reached each deputy sheriff shook hands in turn with his escort, thanking him, and stepped aboard. As Sheriff Clung stepped upon the gang plank he turned and said: "I am much obliged, boys, for your kindness, and now I will walk the plank." The Edna pushed off amid dead silence and the little crowd quietly dispersed.
ATTITUDE OF THE COMPANY.
It Will Ask Protection For Men That Want to Work.

PITTSBURGH, July 5.-Secretary Lovejoy, of the Carnegie Steel company, said tonight: "We do not believe any attempt will be made to destroy our steel works. Our object in placing the works under the protection of the county is to protect our employees. We expect to begin repairing our plant by next Monday and will put 400 or 500 to work, possibly more. We have a railroad running directly through the plant and the men will be sheltered and fed inside of the works. If necessary we can put 10,000 men to work, and there will not be the slightest necessity of bringing them from a foreign country. There are plenty of idle men right here in Pittsburg who will go to work when they see that protection is guaranteed. We ask the sheriff for no specific force. We do not think that 100 deputies would be enough. We have 700 men under contract at Homestead to work for us. Owing to dullness in the iron business about 50 per cent of the Connellsville region coke ovens are closed down, throwing thousands of coke workers out of employment. It is said that men could be secured in the coke region to do unskilled work at Homestead. Sheriff McCleary said on returning from Homestead this afternoon that he had found all quiet. The decision to send the deputies was merely a precaution, and they would only be on duty inside the fences surrounding the mills."