An illustration from Harper’s Weekly, July 6, 1892, showing the burning of the barges that had brought Pinkerton detectives.
The barges were a site of violent engagement between Pinkerton detectives and Homestead strikers. Despite multiple attempts to burn the barges while the Pinkertons were on them, the barges were not successfully burned by strikers and Homestead townspeople until after the surrender and disembarkation of Pinkerton agents.