The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-21
Tennessee Strikers Swoop Down
on q Militia Camp.
SOLDIERS YIELD AT ONCE.
Governor Is an Alliance Man, and
the Troops Are Disaffected.
National Guard Fraternixes With Law
breakers-People OF the State De-
mand That the Mob Shall BE SUBJ
dued-Federal Assistance Needed.

jury @u.-t ptCtdf-l l-1Do
crisis came at Priceville today, about Ill
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 q little
knoll, surrounded on all sides by noun
tains. The miners and their friends, num-
bering 200 or 1900, divided into squads
and approached the camp from four sides.
They sent flag of truce and COMMITTEES
to the officers IN command. The commit
tee notified the officers that they
came to take the convicts peaceably if
possible, by force if necessary. The
officers parleyed awhile and then agreed
to surrender. The troops were allowed to
keep their arms and ammunition. ard
with the convicts were marched to the
train and sent to this city, arriving about
4:30. The troops, who numbered 107. are
at the armory of the Knoxville rifles,
where they now remain awaiting the gov
ernor's orders. The convicts were locked
in Jail. An immense crowd met the troops
at the depot, and 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 pro-
visions and camp equipment. Their faces
were bronzed, but they presented q
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. Sympathy, which had
been entirely on the side of the miners, is
now against them for their lawless act at
time when everything was being done to
relieve the situation.
The mob today is celebrating the victory
by cheering, carousing and shooting. A
force of 500 men properly equipped and
captained could subdue the entire party,
for they have no idea of using arms. They
knew today from statements made yester-
day that the troops would not fight, but
every one feels that the mob has made
bad 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 that they will be taken
to Coal Greek at once. A report also comes
from Coal Greek, saying the miners have
declared that no troops can be landed
there. There are threats that they viii
wreck trains or burn railroad bridges.
The miners are getting the best wages
ever paid them, and make from $50 to $3.50
per month, according TO their ability AID
the amount of time put in.
When the miners made the attempt on
the camp today Lieutenant Chandler, Or
the Knoxville Rifles, saluted the colonel
and volunteered to fight the mob with his
twenty men.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, July 20.-The Chicka-
saw Guards, Hibernian Rifles, Bluff City
Zouaves and Roster Zouaves, under orders
from Governor Buchanan. left this city as
9:30 p. m. for Priceyille. The companies
are small, averaging $50 men, under COM
mand of General Sam earns They will
reach Knoxville about noon tomorrow.
NASHVILLE, July 20.-Governor Buchan-
ans administration is of the Alliance, and
some politicians are discussing what the
Alliance will do. The great mass of citi-
zens, however, say the law must be OBJ
served, aud that Governor Buchanan must
enforce the law regardless of cost Tho
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 for volunteers A
report has been circulated here that he has
asked the president for 500 regulars, but
the truth of this cannot be verified. 1t il
known that the leaders of the mob were
not miners. Eugene Merrill led one
party. He is small merchant at Price
vile, but is said to be determined man.
The other leaders are known, and senti-
ment here is that they must be arrested
and taken to Nashville and punished.
The miners have appointed COMMITTEES
/ to say what dispatches shall be sent ont
and what not, and this committee, or some
member Oft, is in the telegraph Office all
the time and reads all matter sent out by
newspaper men. The committee told the
operator on duty that if he did not let
them read the dispatches they would cut
the wires. Much costly machinery at
Coal Creek is exposed to the fury of the
mob.
There is another bad feature connected
with the affair which has not yet been told.
Yesterday the militiamen were allowed to
go outside TO get food, and they mingled
freely with the miners. The troops told
the miners they did not want to guard the
id convicts, and TO come and ret them
at once; that they would not fight them
for the convicts-
Today, as the troops were marched OF.
the miners jeered and hooted them. and
yelled: "Tell Buck Governor Buchananl
to send some more dudes. We will eal
them as fast as they come" Citizens say
the insult is to the entire state. and the
government must arrest and punish the
leaders. !.
French Railroad stryk. coIr.csea