Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-22
STIRRING TIMES IN KNOXVILLE.
The Presence of Many Soldiers Recalls the
Days Of IS.

STIRRING TIMES IN KNOXVILLE
The Presence of Many Soldiers Recaiis the
Days Of IS.
Not since the dark days Of IS have there
been such thrilling scenes on the streets of
Knoxville as were seen there yesterday. Since
the arrival Monday evening from Coal Creek
of the car load Of convicts and the return of
the militis the creates. excitement has been
manifest When the armory was reached by
the Knoxville and Chattanooga troops great
crowds gathered on the sidewalks and gazed in
wonderment at the movements of the soldiers.
The troops were marched on the arrival Of
I the middle Tennessee companies to Court
! Square, where they went through some military
/ drills. and after stacking arms reclined in the
shade to await the west Tennessee reinforce
meuts. Court house lawn. steps and the streets
surrounding the place contained great crowds
all day and varied were the expressions heard
regarding the condition of things
At 2:45 four companies of west Tennessee
| militia arrived at Court Square and cheer after
cheer went up as they came in. The situation
! was briefly discussed by the officers under the
| shade of the court house trees. All the new
arrivals we're well supplied with blankets. Late
| arrivals were older in years and had boards.
The other troops look like mere boys
THE OPPOSING FORCES.
They number 100 and were in charge Of
Brig Cen Carues. Companies represented
are: Chickasaw Guards. Roster Zouaves, Bluff
City Zouaves and the Hibernian Rifles. There
were nineteen companies in all and contain
nearly GOO men. Careful estimates placed the
number OF miners at Coal Greek and Briceville
at f.500. but first signs of hcstilities would
doubtless call out nearly thousand more.
General surprise was manifested that the
governor did not accompany the troops from
Nashville. The feeling that while his
presence might not avert a conflict his absence
prevented further conference with the miners,
so that the presence OF troops would mean the
surrender OF the miners u conflict
An luminous feature of the situation was the
quetude and Lack of boastlng on the part of
the miners. There was quiet determination in
their attitude, which indicated dangerous
desperation. The purpose of the troops was
OF course, to return the convicts and protect
them IN their work at the mines, as well as to
arrest the leaders of the movement for forcing
the troops and convicts to leave on Monday.
Sheriff Rutherford of Anderson county, who
called on the governor for troops in the first
instance. was reported to have fed the coun-
try. Supt. Goodwin, who had charge of the
cOnvicts at Coal Creek, was also said to have
left in hot haste.
MEETING OF COAL CREEK MINERS.
A meeting Of miners at Coal Creek, which
was called for noon, adjourned about D. H.
WheE the men first assembled there were a few
hotheads who began to talk about fire, but
they were outsiders and not miners The
miners leaders took Possession of the meeting
ana would rot allow such talk. There were
speeches By number Of leaders all of q
conservative tone and advising against any sort
OF act III violation of the law. The men said
they simply wanted the convicts cent away. and
nothing more or less. Finally a resolution was
unanimously passed to appoint committee of
i've TO go to Nashville aud Knoxville, il ueces-
sary, to confer with Gov. Buchanan to arbitrate
the present difficulties. Commissioner Ford
ard Assistant Alleman were invited and asked
to 60 with the committee.
resolution was unanimously passed that
each man pledge himself on his honor that not
one dollars worth OF property would be de-
stroyed. and the companys property should be
guarded. 1t was further determined that no
one should offer violence to any one except in
seIf-defense. There was a sense OF relief and
quiet since the meeting. The miners seemed
TO feel that they were taking the proper course.
The meeting resulted in good. A telegram was
received from the Kentucky side at Jeilico
Offering large number Of men in case help
was needed The reply was for the men to
hold themselves In readiness in case they were
called for. Nearly every man present had a
double-barreled shotgun in his hand, and
there we're a few Winchesters and not a small
number Of revolvers- The meeting was held
In grove near the Knoxville Iron Company's
mine.
Last night the committee of five miners went
to Knoxville with the hope that board of ar
bitration might be obtained and the trouble
be settled without further resistance or blood
shed. The committees mission was to see Will
lam Rule. general manager Of the Journal, and
United states pension agent Judge Ii. H. Glib
son, Chancellor j. c. Williams. ex-United
States district attorney, and Maj. ID. A. Carmen
ter, wel-known capitalist and ex-United
States pension agent. To these the local CEN
tral labor committee, at the request of the
miners, added the name OF Hon Dennis leahy
eA-me mber OF the state legislature. This com
Mission was nearly equally divided politically
the brit two being leading republicans and the
neSt two leading democrats and the fifth a re-
PItheau, VITO AZ also one OK the leading organ
leo labor meE IL the state.
TIE .ovERSon's Ar1HcRrrY
The question as 10 tine governors authority
! 20 proceed tc qaeli tie miners riots independent
| OF the civil authorities. the sheriff of Ander-
son county having left the scene. was under
discuss'cI ny his excelency and official friends
| all Day Yesterday. Attorney General Pickle ar
I we'd ii. the morning and he and Gov. Marks
were cioseted win she governor fer an hour
he attorney general then proceeded to draft
his opinion anG war occupied with thr during
the entire day. The paper, which was an ex-
laUstiye one, war handed to the governor late
il. the afternoon, nut be and all concerned de-
clined 20 Rake a word of it public. No orders
were issned &c the troops, however. and the
governor and the attorney general left last
| night for Knoxville.
Although none of the gentlemen in confer
once with the governor would talk, it was
l learned thst Attorney General Pickle takes the
| position that Gov. Buchanan was justified by
law IL sending the military to Anderson county
I III answer to the sheritfs demands. but as the
/ sheriff fab retired igrominiousiy from the
! field, the governor il At the end Of his row.
| The military can only be used under civil au-
| thority, and in the absence of the sheriff the
| troopr cannot be utilized. So that unless the
sheriff of Anderson county comes forward and
| again asks for assistance and summons the Ma
tiona, Guard az a posse, the soldiers will come
| marching home.
Gov. Buchanan was very indignant at the
sheriff Of Anderson county for his failure to up
| hold the dignity of the law.