The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-21
Miners, Well Armed with Guns, Flock
ing to the Seat of War at Briceyille.
Far More Serious Encounter Expected on
Second Attempt to Work the Felons-Gov.
Buchanan Calls for More Troops


between the enraged miners, who are fight
ing against convict labor at Briceville, and
the State militia sent to guard the felons.
came to crisis to-day. A pitched battle
was narrowly averted. About IL o'clock
this morning the miners and crowd OF
sympathizsrs from the surrounding coun-
try gathered around the camp of the State
militia and captured the troops and con-
victs marched them off to the depot, and
put them on q train and shipped them to
Knoxville.
The camp was on little knoll in a hol-
low aud surrounded on all sides by mount
aims. The miners and their trends, to the
number of 1900, were divided into four
equal squads and approached on the four
sides of the square. which the camp was
formed in.
The miners sent up flag of truce and
sent in a committee to the officer in COM
mand. The committee notified the officers
that they had come to take the
convicts peaceably if possible. by
force if necessary. The officers par
leyed while and then agreed
to surrender. The troops were allowed to
keep their arms and ammunition. and they,
with the convicts, were marched to the
train. There they were loaded in box cars
or whatever could be had. and the entire
lot sent TO this city. They arrived here
about AGO o'clock.
The troops to the number of 107, all told.
went to the armory of she Knoxville Rifles,
where they now remain awaiting the or
ders of the Governor. The miners made
%h<.x.. xsany1 Nal AL
The cOnvicts were taken to the jail, locked
up and fed.
An immense crowd met the troops at the
depot They were freely cheered as they
marched through the streets: The men
had been on duty nearly five days in tho
rain. and had seen bat little In the way of
provisions and but little equipment. Their
faces were br0nzed. but they presented o
soidierly appearance as they marched up
the street. The city is now intensely ex-
cited. Leading men of all political parties
say the law must be upheld. Sympathy
which bad been enlisted on the side of the
miners is now against them for this law less
act at time when everything was being
done to relieve the situation.
Governor Buchanan's administration is
that OF the Alliance. and some OF the poll
ticians are discussing what the Alliance
Will do. but the great mass of citizens say
the law must be observed and that Gov
ernor Buchanan must enforce the law re-
Rardless of cost. The sentiment here IS that
he must send all the State troops. who are
few and poorly organized, to the front at
once and put experienced men and officers
in charge. If he has not force enough he
must call for volunteers. A report has been
circulated here that he asked the President
for five hundred regulars, but the truth of
this cannot be verified.
THE LEADERS OF THE MOB.
1t is known that the leaders of the mob
were not miners, either last week or to-day.
One Eugene Merrill led them in each in
stance. He is Jim Crow. merchant at
Briceville. but said to be determined
man. He spoke in reply to Governor
Buchanan last week, and really treated the
Governor with indignity. Other leaders
are known, and the sentiment here Is that
they must be arrested and taken to Nash.
vile, as the law provides, and punished.
The miners have appointed a committee
to say what dispatches shall be sent out
and what not, and this committee, or some
one of it. is in the telegraph office all the
time and reads all the matter sent out by
the newspaper men. The committee,
whether self-appointed or by the miners
organization, is so acting, and told the
operator on duty at the key that if he did
not let them read the messages they would
cut the wires. The wire is q private one,
and does all business. including railroad
and train-dlspatchlng. There are reports
special detectives to guard their property.
Another view of the situation is the dam
ger to capital invested at Coal Creek.
Large sums of money have been invested
and the great developments of the property
are largely due to this money. Costly ma
chinery is exposed to the fury of mob.
Citizens say that such high handed out
RACES as that of to-day Will destroy public
confidence, anu mOnay will cease to come
q 4 N a TT
is another bad feature connected with
the affair which has not yet been
brought ont. That is the conduct OF the
militia that has been on these grounds.
Yesterday many were allowed TO 90 out
side to get food. and they mingled freely
with the miners. These troops told the
miners that they did not want to guard
the 60 cOnvicts." and to come and get
them for the convicts. Chattanooga
company, whose members largely belonged
to trades organizations, has especially act
ed badly, and made such statements to the
miners.
a dispatch from Knoxville saws: After
the release of the convictS at Briceville
this morning and the troops and conyicts
had been placed on the train. the mob
went 10 the mines of the Knoxville Iron
Company and surrounded the stOckade and
captured the 125 convicts there with the
guards. They were shipped away to Knox
Vile and arrived here about $50 o'clock.
All conyicts are now here in an old build
ing under guard. A call of some labor
leaders has been issued for a labor meet
ing here tomorrow night. 1t is reported
here tonight that the miners at Oliver
Springs have released the 40 convicts, but
at p. NJ. this report has not been verified.
The excitement here to- night ia intense.
Streets are crowded, and n diversity of
opinion is heard. Many of the labor men
say the miners have done right.
MORE TROOPS COMING.
A special train will arrive here at IL
o'clock tonight with the first lot of troops.
and at O'clock the second train will ar
rive. Troops are undoubtedly being hur-
ried forward. The troops who arrived
here to-day say the statements made
that they would not fight. but wished the
miners TO capture the eonvicts. are not cor
rect. The Chattanooga boys show a brave,
determined mind to 60 back to the front.
Many miners from Jellico aud Newcomb
were In the mob to- day.
Troops from Briceville arrived here at
o'clock, together with the convicts whom
they are protecting. They are all in good
spirits and will return In the morning
with achievements The boys were badly
treated by the people of Knoxville. who
seemed TO be In perfect sympathy with the
lawless element in Coal Creek valley.
At 10 O'clock this morning two Thousand
miners. farmers and other natives who