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WE NEVER FORGET
Steve Horvat-August 12, 1909
Martyr of th McKees Rocks Pressed Steel Car Strike
From The Pittsburg Press of August 12, 1909:
Major Smith, Colored, Shoots Into
Attacking Crowd and Fatally
Wounds “Steve” Horvat
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PICKETS IN STRIKE ZONE
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More rioting, during which a foreigner was shot and killed, and the eviction of strikers and their families caused intense excitement in the Schoenville strike zone today.
Major Smith, a negro, said to be employed as a strike-breaker by the Pressed Steel Car Co., early this morning shot and killed “Steve” Horvat, one of the striking workmen. Smith was attacked by several foreigners and says he shot in self-defense. He was badly beaten up during the fight, and this afternoon was lodged in the county jail…..
Witnesses to the shooting say the negro fought at great odds and only fired when his life was endangered, and while lying on the ground, having been felled by a rain of blows from the fists of the strikers and a large rock wielded by one of the attacking party. The shooting occurred at 5 o’clock this morning.
The dead man was 27 years old, married living on Lewicki street, McKees Rocks. He leaves a wife and one child…..
At the strikers’ mass meeting today the death of Horvat was discussed and he was referred to as a martyr to the cause. A subscription fund was started to bear the funeral expenses and give aid to the widow. About $1,500 was subscribed, but some of this money will not be available until after the men get to work.
The revolver which caused Horvat’s death was exhibited at the meeting. It is a Colt’s automatic revolver. It was said that the car company had furnished its employes with these, the strikers claiming that they had seen many of them since the strike started and arguing that they are too expensive for the ordinary laborer to buy…..
[Emphasis added.]
From The Pittsburg Press of August 14, 1909:
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Body of “Steve” Horvat, Who Was Killed As Result
of McKees Rocks Labor Troubles,
Laid At Rest
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MARCHERS REPRESENTED TEN NATIONALITIES
—–Accompanied by over 3,000 strikers, the body of “Steve” Horvat, the first and only victim who met death as the result of the labor troubles at McKees Rocks, started to its last resting place shortly after 9 o’clock this morning. The strikers carried American flags, the city police having put a ban on any emblems of other nations.
Ten nationalities were represented in the marching body…..
Shortly after 7 o’clock this morning the men began gathering on the Malleable field at the end of Lewicki street, McKees Rocks. They divided into little groups and discussed the strike situation.
All of the men were neat in appearance wearing their “Sunday best,” with white collars. Members of various nationalities brought their national colors, but they were informed by the leaders that only American flags could be carried in the parade. It is said this information was conveyed to the strike leaders by Mayor William A. Magee.
During the early morning hours there was a constant stream of people passing into the dimly-lighted room to take a last look at the dead striker.
PLACED IN A WHITE HEARSE.
At 9 o’clock the body was carried from the house and placed in a white hearse. The widow and 3-year-old daughter and a close relative occupied the first carriage behind the hearse. Five other carriages containing relatives and friends followed and in an open carriage in the rear were the keepers of four hotels.
After the body was placed in the hearse there was a long delay, the band which was to have furnished the music failed to arrive.
At 9:25 o’clock a telephone message was received, stating the band would meet the cortege in the city and march to St. Nicholas’ Croatian Catholic church, North Side.
Heading the procession was a committee of 20 men, representing all nationalities. Directly in the rear were the hearse and then the strikers, arranged according to nationalities and marching in the following order: Americans, Croatians, Slavs, Poles, Roumanians, Servians, Lithuanians, Italians, Germans and Bohemians.
The route was from the dead man’s home across Donovan’s bridge to Island avenue, to Chartiers avenue, to West Carson street, to Point bridge to Penn avenue, to Sixth street, to Federal street, to Ohio street and east to the church.
All of the West End police were stationed along West Carson street under command of Lieutenant T. J. Dorgan.
Each of the marchers wore a small piece of red and black ribbon, the Croatian colors.
GREAT CROWDS ATTRACTED.
At 11 o’clock the funeral procession started across the Point bridge. Great crowds collected on the sidewalks of the streets through which the marchers went.
In the downtown section, particularly, the strikers’ procession attracted much attention.
When the cortage reached Chestnut street, North Side, the bells on St. Nicholas church, began tolling and continued doing so until the body was carried into the church, at 12 o’clock, noon.
As many of the marchers as possible crowded into the church, but as it has a capacity of only 2,5000, many were compelled to remain outside. There was a large crowd of people at the church when the procession reached there.
Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Ferdinand Dutch, pastor of the church. The Sloga Croation Singing Society of 20 voices rendered music.
After mass and a blessing service an address was made by Kosto Unkovic Meic, manager of the International Advertising Agencies, of East Ohio street.
After the services the strikers continued with the body to the ‘Bohemian cemetery at West Vies, where interment was made…..
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote Mother Jones, Pray for dead, Ab Chp 6, 1925
https://www.iww.org/history/library/MotherJones/autobiography/6
The Pittsburg Press
(Pittsburg, Pennsylvania)
-Aug 12, 1909
McKees Rocks Strike, WNF Steve Horvat, Ptt Prs p1, Aug 12, 1909
https://www.newspapers.com/image/141319742
-Aug 14, 1909
McKees Rocks Strike, WNF Funeral Steve Horvat, Ptt Prs p1, Aug 14, 1909
https://www.newspapers.com/image/141321485/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/141321531
See also:
For more on the McKees Rocks Strike
-and conditions leading to the strike, see:
The Survey, Volume 22
Apr 1909-Oct 1909, Vol 22
Charity Organization Society, NY, 1909
https://books.google.com/books?id=pjRHAQAAIAAJ
From The Survey of Aug 7, 1909, pages 656-665 (with photos):
“The McKee’s Rocks Strike” by Paul U. Kellogg
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=pjRHAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA656
More from Pittsburg Press:
Pittsburg Press of Aug 12, 1909, page 1
-re death of Steve Horvat
Pittsburg Press of Aug 12, 1909, page 2
-re death of Steve Horvat
Pittsburg Press of Aug 14, 1909, page 1
-re funeral of Steve Horvat
Pittsburg Press of Aug 14, 1909, page 2
-re funeral of Steve Horvat
Pittsburg Press of Aug 15, 1909, page 4
-re funeral of Steve Horvat
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The Red Flag – Socialist Victory Choir
Lyrics Jim Connell, 1889