Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-11-06
rennessee oonvicts Released.
OVER THREE HUNDRED OF THEM SET FREE
By THE BRICEYILLE MINERS.


OVER THREE HUNDRED OF THEM SET FREl
By THE BRICEyrLLE MINERS.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Nov. love
three hundred conyIcts, leased to work il
the coal mines about Bnceville, hay'
been released by the miners, who oppos
the introduction of convict labor in thu
mines.
The citizens of Briceyille began to hea
squads Of men passing through the plac,
on their way to the stockade between
and o'clock Friday night. This wa
kept up for nearly an hour. 1t was abou
$50 when 200 descended Walden's ridge
approaching the stockade from the east
They called upon Warden Cross to de
liver the keys of the prison.
While this was going on, the magazine
was blown up and the stockades sur
rounded by $500 men. Warden CIos:
gave up the keys and when the 141 con
vIcts were released they assisted IN burn
ing and destroying the property. The at
lacking party then moved on the Chum
ley, or Coal Greek stockade, and a halt
was made near there and twenty five
men were sent forward to demand the
surrender of the conyicts. The meu kept
mp continuous volleys from their rifles
Only one guard was on duty and he lost
no time in obeying. The convIets were
told to 90 and many of them at Briceville
were gwen citizens clothes. When they
were liberated they plundered Shumley':
store and destroyed the stockade furni-
tuTe.
The Office building was set on fire by
4 4 e nNA hA ,anl
thea descended to the valley, where they
set eff several dynamite bombs and fired
small cannon they had with them
The racket occassloned by these dis
charges, together with the explosion OF
the ammunition stored at the Briceville
stockade, which the fire touched off Gre
ated the impression among the non par
Elephants that small war was in pro-
gress. This. however, was not the case,
as there was not single shot fred at
any man or any personal violence. The
woods, fields and railroad tracks around
the two stOckades we're generously strewn
with the striped suits of the released con-
victs. Con,icts in gangs of tens and
over the surrounding country.
Governor Buchanan was notified and
held consultations with various State
ffi5ials. The Governor is very positive
and determined to bring the lawbreakers
to Justice and effectually put down such
lawlessness. The law passed by the Gen
eral Assembly at its recent exta session
on the subject of interfering with con-
victs is in substance this: That persons
concerned in interfering with or releasing
convcts in jails, prisons, mines or else
where shall be guilty of felony punish
able by imprisonment in the penitentiary
the principals for not less than three nor
more than seven years and the accesso
ries for not less than three nor more than
five years.
A rumor is current here to the effect
that a secret understanding exists be-
tween the miners throughout the State to
lberate all convIcts working in the mines,
In consequence it is thought the next
move will be on the Oliver Springs,
Tracy City AMI Inman, where cOnvicts
are employed The miners resumed
work Yesterday morning. The conyicts
are scattered, the majority fleeing to the
mountains of Kentucky. The total num-
Der of coEvicts released exceeds 300. The
militia are awaiting orders from Govern
or Buchanan, but the officers do not
think they will be called out, as the
damage has been done, and there is no
need for their presence at Briceyllle.
The matter has created great excitement
here, and the outcome IS looked forward
to with great interest. The failure of
the Legislature to adjust the difficulty Is
the foundation of the present lawlessness
in the mountains, and the public are IL
dignant IN their expressions.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN, Nov. NO
further outbreaks have occurred at 3rice-
vile. and the mines are al. working full
time. The convicts are hiding in the
mountains of Kentucky. The prison
officials report that about $50 convlcts
have been released. Governor Buchanan
has ordered the militia to be ready Tor
duty at moments notice.
There is much uneaslness at Briceville
and Oliver Springs, Tracy City and where
cOnvicts are employed oyer rumor that
the miners throughout the State have
organized with view to lberate all con-
victs working at these places.
MORE CoNvIcTs FREE.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Nov. AIT l
O'Clock this morning two hundred mount
ed men came in from the mountains and
liberated two hundred convicts who
worked in the mines at Oliver Springs.
SO quietly was it done that the people
in town knew nothing about what had
happened until o'clock this morning,
when it was discovered that the stOckade
of the lessees was mass of smoking
ruins. All of the short-term prisoners
were furnished with citizens clothing,
and with the exception of few captured,
all are now at large.
This makes moro than five hundred
cOnvlcts turned loose in that
locality since Friday evening. The Gov
ernOr of the State was here yesterday,
but left this morning for Nashville. 1t
was given out after his arrival here that
tie force of guards at Olives mad been
largely increased and that sn attack up
on the stockades woald be stoutly re-
sisted.
1t does not appear, however, that there
was any resistance at all, as no one was
hurt. The widest rumors prevail, one of
which is that the miners will immediate
ly proceed to Tracy City and release the
,Onvicts there. There is now no we'll
founded evidence of this, but no one can
.a1 vrhof ba aud 10 70 ba