The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-21
TROOPS OVERAWED.
Striking Miners in Tennessee Com
pei the Soldiers to Withdraw,
TAKING THE CoNvIoTs WITH THEM


After q Farley with the Leaders of
the Mob Colonel SEWER Yields to
Their Terms-Governor Buchanan
Calls Out the Entire Military
Force of the State.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. July 81. - The
crisis in the trouble between the ousted
miners in this district and the convicts
who were brought here from the state
prison ut Nashville has at last been
reached. When about 400 armed
strikers attacked the guards who had
charge of fifty felons at Briceville last
Wednesday night and liberated their
charges, it was confidently predicted
that this would be but the beginning of
a general movement throughout the en-
tire mining district of the state. Gov
ernor Buchanan was Immediately noti-
fed and responded by sending two COM
panies from Chattanooga and one from
Knoxville to the scene. OF the fifty con-
victs taken from the guards at Brice-
vile two escaped and the others were
brought to this city.
When the militia arrived they took
the convicts along back with. them, and
warned the mob that they would pro-
tect them at all hazards. Governor
Buchanan at once proceeded to the seat
of the trouble, and in neat speech ex-
planned his position to the rebe1lious
miners. He told them that it was his
sworn duty to uphold the law, and if the
convict lease system was wrong he was
not to blame, and that the only recourse
of the men was through the legislature.
The miners announced that their fami-
lies were starving and that they were
compelled to drive out the convicts if it
cost the life of every man in the valley.
They made all sorts Of fun of the hand
full of beardle5s youths, but declared
they would not harm the "Spider legged,
cigarette smoking as they charac-
terized t he militia, but that as soon as
the militia were withdrawn they would
release every convict in the region. Be-
coming impatient, however, at the tardi-
ness i'll recalling the troops, they decided
to try to overcome the military by force
of numbers, and succeeded.
Met Miners in Fighting Trim.
Troops from Briceville arrived here
at p m. yesterday. They are all in
good spirits and win return in the morn
ing with reinforcements. The boys were
badly treated by the people of Knox
vile, who seemed to be in perfect SYM
pathy with the lawless element in Coal
Creek. Two thousand miners, farmers
and others who have no occupation at
all took possession of the hills around
the Briceville camp. Fifteen hundred
of these were armed with rifles, while
the rest had shotguns and pistols. They
came from all the country within ra-
dius of fifty miles The organization
was complete and their leaders placed
them along the hill sides with military
precision. AT the call to arms the little
garrison turned out gallantly and pre-
pared for defense.
Officers Feared a Massacre.
It was apparent at glance that a
fight would result in massacre. A
meeting of the officers was called. Some
declared stout resistance to the first
attack would be sufficient, and the mob
would Withdraw. Others thought that
it would be suicidal, yet everyone 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 grounds by
Colonel SEWER. They stated that they
had sufficient force TO oyerwhelm the
soldiers, but did not care to shed blood
if the conyicts were quietly sent away
This request was at first emphatically
refused, as the officers feared the result
If the prisoners were allowed to go un-
protected,
They Promised to Avoid Destruction
The miners then asked Colonel Sewer
il he would remove his troops and take
the convicts with him. He asked what
would be done to the mining company's
property, which was also under his pro-
lection. They repli ed that it would not
be injured. He also asked if an attack
would be made on tho Knoxville Iron
companys stoclsade, just below Brice.
Vile. If such was intended he intended
to fall back there and fight it out re-
gardless of consequences, The leader
replied that no attack would be made,
The Troops March Ont.
The troops then marched out, carry
ing with them the conyicts, all the COM
missary supplies and baggage. They
marched to Briceyile and took the train
to Knoxville. The promise not to at.
tack the stockade has already been vio-
lated, and the 1850 soldiers at that
i place were put on train and sent to
! Knoxville The mob then started for
/ Oliver Springs. where they also intend
hberating the prisoners. The whole Of
east Tennessee is in sympathy with the
! miners.
Another Wholesale Release.
After the release of conyicts at Brice.
vile and the troops and conyicts had
been placed on the train the mob went
to the mines of the Knoxville Iron com
pany and surrounded the stockade and
captured the 1875 convicts. They were
shipped away to Knoxville, and az.
rived here about $50 o'clock All con.
victs are now here in an old building
under guard. A call of labor leaders
has been issued for labor meeting here
this afternoon. 1t is reported here that
the miners at Oliver Springs have re.
leased the 1870 convicts there, but this
report has not been verified. The ex-
citement here is intense. The streets
are crowded, and diversity of opinion
is heard. Many labor men say the
miners have done right.
The Entire Militia Called Out.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, July 21.-Gov-