AMERICAN SUMMARY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11611, 13 August 1892, Page 2

AMERICAN SUMMARY.

THE GAENEGIE STEIICE. A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION. June 28. The prospects of a satisfactory settlemeet of the wages difficulty now existing between the Scotch- American steel millionairo, Andrew Cnrnegio and his. workmen 19 growing dimmer. The ironworkers assert positively that thiy will not accept a reduction, and the tirm aro equally determined in their stand. It is stated on what is considered best authority that every Union man in Carnegie's works will be discharged shortly, and the firm are determined to run (non-Union men. They have therefore taken precautions to protect their plant. The property is entirely surrounded by a "high board fence, and search lights have been placed in the mills. A sensation was caused on tbe 28th by a report that hot water would be thrown from the fire plugs in case of the men attempting to surround or enter the mills. The crisis will affect some 60,000 operatives. The men will not recede from their present position on any material point. They have a defence fund of 260,000 •dollars, and this will be increased to 500,000 dollars if necessary. It is believed in some quarters th*t the Carnegie Company intend to call upon the United States Government for aid in case of trouble. In an in interview on July Ist, the Socretary of t\:e Carnegie Steel Company outlined the policy of the firm. The milla at the Homestead have been closed, he said, for repairs, and will remain closed for two or three weeks. About the 19th or 20th July there will be published and posted a notice that any of the old employes may return to work, and must make application by s certain- day. 11l who do not apply at the time specified " will be considered as not desiring work, and their places will be filled by new men. Then tho real conflict will begin. It will be easy, however, to get new men into the mills, as a railroad passes directly through the property. The number of iron and steel mills that closed on June 30th number 400 odd, employing about 100,000. h The glass factories, shut down on July Ist, employed 250,000 men. • -Affairs at Carnegie's works reached a climax on July 6th. when 300 armed men were brought to tho Homestoad ta overawe tho strikers, and take possession of the works. The force belonged to WPinkerton, a detective officer, and a bloody battle ensued between these hired mercenaries and the workmen, which lasted all day, and ended with a loss of many lives on both sides. The striking mon fought with desperate bravery, and finally defeated the Pinkertons, who begged mercy. They said thny had misunderstood the object for which they wore sent, and it was only by the judicious management on tho part of the leaders of tho striko that the annihilation of tho entire 300 was prevented. Several companies of tho State militia liavo been rendezvoucd at the Homestead. The Giant Powder Works, situated about 1 1 miles from San^ Francisco, blew up.wiih such, tremendous force th»t the omcussion fractured tho window pines in all the piincipal buildings in the city The shock wns felt 150 miles at sea. The number killed was ovor 100, but with the oxcepHon of three white men they were all Chinese employes. The explosion was due to carelessness of the omplojea in watching the tanks in which nitric and sulphuric acidb were being mixed by glycerine. If these tanks are not properly wntohed there is always danger of explosion from this process. Parsimony is alleged against tho Company luring small aged Chinamen, ignorant of the naturo of tho •business, and suits for damages is spoken of on all sides. The property owners of Bm-kely have sued for an injunction against the ro-orection of the works, and tho directors have selected a siti more ramote. The Company lose 10,000 dollars hy the catastrophe.