Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-04
C0NVICTS IN 'DROVES
Camping Out in Northern Tennessee
Mountains. Many of Them
NOW HEADED TOWARD KENTUCKY.
All Received by the Mountaineers Kindly
and Fed Heartily.
Only A FEW FUGITIyES BEING CAUGHT

ISPbClAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH
KNOXVILLE, Nov 3.-From reports re-
ceived here to- day it is known that many of
the convicts released by the miners on Fri
day and Sunday nights are already across
the Tennessee line and are exciting much
fear in the minds of the villagers and farm
ers of far Southern Kentucky This shows
that the convicts are travelling rapidly. So
far the attempts TO reeapture them or arrest
their flight have been so slight that it may
he said that they have been rnmolested.
These 450 half.clad, moneyless convicts are
now well clear of Anderson county, where
the mines are situated, and are scattered
through Claiborne Campbell and Scott
county, which lie against the north line of
the State
Conductors of southbopnd trains running
here say that there have been several groups
of convicts or hali-clothed men who looked
like eonvicts trudging along the line of the
railroads in northerly dire ction; also sew
eral persons have come into Knoxville from
towns 40 and 20 miles to the north. They
have seen few convicts, but only few.
From this it would appear at first that the
$50 are travelling in small numbers.
Camping Quietly in the Mountains.
The largest number reported seen to-
cether was Is, but there is good reason to
believe that at least one body numbering so
men is camping in the mountains not far
IN the county seat of Warren county, and
is said that these men are making no at
mpt to get further on. Several of them
re armed. The people up that way are in
state of great alarm.
One mountalneer who lives in the wilder
ness Is miles from Coal Creek and far from
the line OF railroad. told THE DISPATCH cor
respondent this morning. that Is convicts
from Briceville stopped at his house last
night and demanded food This made him
only the more courteous to please them, and
when his wife finally got together food
enough. they fell upon it and devoured it as
though they had not eaten for a long time.
They ate up all there was in his house and
then went away. He said they made no con-
ceahnent of where they had come from, and
that their leader told him they would stay
with him longer if they were not afraidof
pursuit
The country through which most of these
COuvictS are travelling IS wild and rugged,
with only residences or houses occasionally
and small food supply. The most of the
ConVicts are keeping away from the main
roads and from tine lines of the railroads.
They are received by the mountaineers in a
friendly way, and are allowed to go as soon
as they get ready. No mountaineer ever
thinks OF arresting tbem-partly through |
sympathy for the cause of the miners of
Waiden's ridge, but more through fear of
what ten or - desperate men might do. 1t is
certain that $50 persons cannot long depend |
upon charity for their support.
Crimes of All Kinds Looked For.
Knoxville people feel sure that in few |
davs stories efom mere theft to arson and |
violence will begin TO come in. Arson and |
certain forms of violence are the commonest |
crimes among these convicts. Their natur- |
al disposition-a combination of ignorance |
of Jaw and decency and the most brutal as |
sociations-wiu soon assert itself Indeed, |
news travels so slow through this section |
that many crimes may have already |
been committed. While the fear of |
east TenneSSeeans is tempered by /
sympathy, the fear of the kentuck- |
lan7 upon whom tins foul stream OF criminal
humanity Will soon be discharged is not IN !
any way mitigated. They know that by the 4
time the convicts strike Kentucky, food will |
le wanted and the sense of freedom viii be /
strong in the minds of the convicts The |
authorities of the Kentucky towns from |
Aliddlesboro to 100 miles west are preparing |
for their unwelcome visitors and propose to /
make il exceedingly warm for them.
Tenpessee officials made their first at /
tempt toward the recapture of the escaped 1
convicts. A considerable force of guards, !
under the direction of the wardens OF three /
stOckades. started for Warren county to get /
at that body OF convicts camped in the |
mountains. There were about 20 men in the
expedition, and it is said that the wardens /
will get 10 or Is recruits at Wartburg, the /
county seat of Morgan county.
4 Dispute About the Rewards.
4 few convicts have been brought in here /
and a few are reported arrived in several /
villages to the NORTH, but, all told, there are
not more than 20 or 80. One man who
brought in two he found IL the woods, near
Oliver springs, willing to come, demanded
lis reward. Straightway there was con-
troversy. Governor Buchanan, in his proc
lamatlon. said by authority OF law he offered
SO for each convict, the reward to be paid |
by the lessee. Now the lessees say that this
reward should be paid by the State, because
the convicts did not escape, but where re-
leased through no fault of the lessees. They
therefore refused to pay. Thus the matter
stands, and II is doubtful If the Governor |
will pay anything for recaptured convicts. |
The ,e>sees OF the convicts are very bitter
again t Governor Buchanan. Their Super
inten dent. Mr. Wade, says that he warned
the Governor as soon as the miners lost
their case in court that there would be
trouble and asked him TO authorize the
strengthening OF the guards OF each stock
ade. He says tile Governor paid no atten-
tion to him The lessees lay all the mishaps
in the mines TO that first weakness of the
Governor when his militia were run out of
the mines hastily. They say that that was
the time for 1irmness and tnat now there is
no chance TO do anything. TIE DISPATCH
cores pondent in Briceville this morn .
ing and talked with many of the miners. |
They are iubiiant and defiant They have
no fears either of punishment for what they
have done or OF any attempt to rebuild the
stockades and put back the convicts.
Now THAI convict lbaor has been banished
from the mines the free miners think it is a
good time to demand the settlement of sew
eral grievances they have been nursing for
some time past and it is highly probable |
that big strike will be the next diversion,
and that within a week.
You need not be afraid of the twinge of
rheumatism. When it comes use Salvation
Oil