Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-23
Tennessee Troops and Convicts Sur
render to an Organized Band
of Miners.
Intense Indignation Aroused and
Fierce Demands That the
Law be Upheld.
Later Dispatches Report Available
Troops Sent to the Scene
O. the Trouble.


crisis came at Briceville today about II
o'clock when the miners and crowd of
sympathizers from the surrounding coun-
try gathered around the camp of the state
militia and captured the troops and con-
victs, marched them to the depot, put
them on the train and shipped them to
Knoxville. The camp was on a little
knoll surrounded on all sides by noun
tains. The miners and their friends
to the number of 200 or 1900 divided
into squads and approached the camp
from four sides. They sent flag of truce
and committee to the officer in COM
mand. The committee notified the off
GERS that they had come to take the con-
victs peaceably, if possible and by force if
necessary. The officers parlayed a while
and then agreed to surrender. The troops
were allowed to keep their arms and am
munition and with the convicts marched
to the train and sent to this city,
arriving about 4:3O. The troops,
who number 107, are at
the armory of the Knoxville rifles. where
they now remain awaiting the governors
order. The convicts were locked in jail
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 and had
seen but little in the way of provisions
and camp equipment. Their faces were
bronzed but they presented a soldierly
appearance as they marched up the street.
The city is now intensely excited. Lead
ing men of all political parties say the law
must be upheld. The sympathy which
has been entirely on the side of miners is
now against them for their lawless act at a
|, 10 b
lieve the situation. Some politicians are
discussing what the alliance will do. The
great mass of citizens, however, say the
law must be observed and that Governor
Buchanan must enforce the law regardless
of the 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 volunteers. The report has been
circulated that he asked the president for
500 regulars but the truth of this cannot
be verified. 1t is known that the leaders
OF the mob were not miners. One, Eugene
Merrill, led them. He is a small mer-
chant at BriceviIle, but is said to be a de-
termined man. Other leaders are known
and the sentiment here is that they must
be arrested and taken to Nashville and
punished. The miners have appointed
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 told the operator
on duty that if he did not let
them read the messages they would
cut the wires Much costly machinery
4 Tn,IT 10 ln f,,,. yoFS 81,
mob. There is another bad feature con-
nectea with the affair which has not yet
been brought out, and that is the Conduct
of the militia that has been on guard.
Yesterday many were allowed outside to
get food and they mingled freely with
miners. These troops told the
miners they did not want to
guard the convicts and to come and get
them at once, that they would not fight
them for convicts. Today as the troops
were marched off the miners jeered and
hooted them and yelled, Tell Buck (Gov.
Buchanan) to send some more dudes; we'll
eat them as fast as they come. The citizens
say the insult is to the entire state and
that the government must arrest and pun
ish the leaders. The mob today is ceIe-
brating the victory by cheering, carousing
and shooting. A force of five hundred
men properly equipped and led
could subdue the entire party for they
have no ideas of facing a good force They
knew today from statements made them
yesterday that the troops would not fight,
but everyone feels that the mob has made
a mistake and will be subdued
In other words they have lost
public sympathy. 1t is reported here
that ten companies of state militia are en-
route with arms and gatling guns and
they will be taken to Coal creek at once.
The report also cones from Coal creek this
afternoon saying the miners declare that
no troops can be landed there
There are threats that they
will wreck the trains or purn the railroad
bridges. The miners are getting the best
wages ever paid them, and make from $50
to $3.50 per month, according to their stbil-
ity and the amount of time they put in.
When the miners made the attack on
the camp today Lieut.. Chandler, of the
Knoxville rifles, saluted the colonel as
volunteer to fight the mob with his twenty
men.
Later-Troops Sent.
MEMPHIS Tenn, July 2O.-The Chicka-
saw guards, Hibernian rifles, Bluff City
Zouaves and Roster Zouaves are upper
orders from Gov. Buchanan, and left this
city at $50 tonight for Briceville. The
companies are small, averaging $50 men,
under the command of Gen Sam Carnes.
They will reach Knoxville about noon to-