The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-07-24
BL00DSHED ISPR0BARLE
The Governor Of Tennessee
Calls Out the State Soldiery.
THE MINERS VERSUS THE MILITIA

THb MINERS VERSUS THE MILITIA.
Troops Overpowered by Men who DO
Not wish to Compete with Convict
Labor and Driven from the Scene.
But They Have All Gone Back Again.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, July 2l.-The crisis
in the trouble between the oustcd miners
in this district and the convicts who were
brought here from the state prison at Nash
vile has at last been reached. When about
ADarmed strikers attacked the guards who
had charge of fifty felons Mt Bricevile last
Wednesday night and liberated the prison
ers it was confidently predicted that this
would be but the beginning of general
movement throughout the entire mining
district of the state. Governor Buchanan
was Immediately notified and responded
by ordering two companies from Chatta-
nooga and one from Knoxville to the scene.
VI the fifty convicts takenfrom the guards
at Briceville two escaped and the others
were brought to this city. When the mill
tia arrived they took the convcts along
back with them and warned the mob that
they would protect them at all hazards.
The Law Was at Fault.
Governor Buchanan at once proceeded to
the scat Of trouble, and in neat speech
explained his position to the rebellious
miners He told them that IL was his sworn
duty to uphold the law, and if the convict
system was wrong he was not to blame.
and that the only recourse of the men was
fbrnnph ba al
nounced that their families were starving
and that they were compelled to drive out
the convicts il it cost the life of every man
in the valley. They made all sorts of fun
of the handful of beardless soldiers, but
declared that they would not harm the
spider legged cigarette smoking dudes"
as they characterized the militia, but as
soon as they were withdrawn they would
release every convict in the region.
A Massacre Seemed Imminent.
Becoming impatient, however, at the
delay in recalling the troops they decided
to try to overcome the soldiers by force of
numbers. At 10 a. m. 1900 miners, farm
ers and other natives who have no occupa-
tion at all took possession of the hills
around the Briceville camp. Fifteen hun
-,
rest had shotguns and pistols. They came
from all the mines within radius of fifty
miles. The organization was complete,
and their leaders placed them along the
hillsides with military precision. At the
call to arms the little garrison turned out
gallantly and prepared for defense. 1t was
apparent at glance that fight would re-
suit in massacre. a meeting of the Off
GERS was called
The Hostile Forces Farley.
Some declared that stout resistance to
the first attack would be sufficient and the
mob would withdraw. Others thought
that 1t would be suicidal, yet every one
was in favor of doing his duty, notwith-
standing the exposed position they were
to defend. The miners called parley and
were met on neutral ground by Colonel
Sewer. They stated that they had suffi-
cient force to overwhelm the soldiers, but
did not care to shed blood IL the convicts
were quietly turned over to them.
This request was emphatically refused.
The miners then asked Colonel Sewer if
he would remove his troops and take the
convicts with him. He asked what would
he done to the mining company's prop
erty, which was also under his protection.
They replied that it would not he injured.
He also asked II an attack would be made
on the Knoxville Iron company's stockade
Just below Briceville II such was in
tended he intended to fall back there and
fight 1t out regardless OF consequences.
The leader replied that no attack would
be made.
Then the Troops Evacuated.
The troops then marched out Of camp,
carrying with them the convicts. all their
commissary supplies and baggage. They
marched to Briceville and there took the
train to Knoxville. The promise not to
attack the Knoxville company's stockade
has already been violated and the 15O con-
victs at that place were put on train and
sent to Knoxville. The mob then started
for Oliver Springs, where they also intend
liberating the prisoners. The whole of
Eastern Tennessee is in sympathy with
the miners.
The Militia Badly Treated.
Troops from Briceville arrived here at
O'Clock. They are all in good spirits and
will return In the morning with reinforce
ments. The boys were badly treated by
the people of Knoxville, who seemed to be
in perfect sympathy with the lswless ele-
ment in Coal Creek Valley. ..e
The States Entire Militia Called Out.
Governor Buchanan, who has been
guided by the utmost caution since the
troubles began, at once decided to call out
the entire militia OF the state, and for that
purpose he Immediately telegraphed each
company and instructed General j. l..
Weakly to arrange railroad transportation
for them. Each company was ordered to
secure three days rations. Tents and
blankets were issued from the Capitol and
sent down by the special train. The train
pulled out at q o'clock with three Nash
vile companies, a Springfield company
and one from Franklin on board, and they
will pick up along the line companies
from Murfreesboro, Shelbyville, Tulla-
homo aud Sewanee. Clarksville and Leb-
anon companies passed through later and
four companies from Memphis and one
from Jackson are also en- route on another
special train. There are fourteen COM
panies in all, comprising 45O mon, and 100
will be taken on at Chattanooga.
Spying on the Governor.
A number of the leaders in the mob