Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-21
TENNESSEE MINING TROUBLES
why the Military at BrIceville Marched
Away With the COnyictA

to BriceviIle from the state prison at Nashville
TO take their places has at last been reached
When about 400 armed strikers attacked the
guards who had charge of the fifty felons at
Briesvins last Wednesday night and liberated
their charges it confidently predicted that
this would be but the beginning Of general
movement throughout the entire mining dis
trict of the state and Gov. buchanan was inn
mediate!y notiied and responded by ordering
two companies from Chattanooga and one from
Knoxville 20 the scene. OF the fifty conyicts
taken from the guards at Briceville two escaped
and the others brought to Knoxville, as has been
already narrated in The STAR When the militia
arrived they took the cOnvicts along back with
them and warned the mob that they would pro-
tect them at sill hazards.
Gov buchanan went to the seat of trouble
and in o speech explained his position to the
rsbellious miners He told them that it was his
sworn duty TO uphold the law and II the con-
Wet lease system wrong he was not to
blame and that the only recourse OF the men
was through the legislature. The miners an
bounced that their families were starving and
that they were compelled TO drive out the con-
victs il it cost the life Of every man In the
valley.
prsRBsRscr OF THE MILITARY.
Thsy made all sorts Of fun Of the handful Of
beardless youths, but declared that they would
not harm the ''spider-legged, cigarette-smok-
ing dudeS" a. they characterized the militia,
but that ne soon % the militia were Withdrawn
thew would release every convict IN the region.
Beooming impatient, however, at the delay in
recalling the troops they decided to try to
overcome them by force Of numbers. The
mines at Bricsviue are in a pocket formed by
three mountains. On all rides the site is COM
handed by wooded hillsides. from which
sharpshooters could pick Of the militia one at
time.
SOLDIERS SURRENDER
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning 10000 min
ers, farmers and other natives who have no &C.
cupation at all, took possession of the hills
around the Briceville camp. Fifteen hundred
of these were armed with rifles, the rest had
shOtguns and pistols. They came from all the
mines in a radius of fifty miles. The organiza-
ton was complete and their leaders placed
them along the hillsides with military skill.
On the call to arms the little garrison of eighty
eight men TUNED out calamity and prepared
for defense. 1t was apparent at glance that a
fight would result in q massacre. A meeting
of the officers was called. Some declared that
q stout resistance to the first attack would be
sufficient and the mob would withdraw Others
thought that it would be suicidal, yet every
one was in favor of doing his duty, not
withstanding the exposed position they were to
defend.
The miners called parley, and were met on
neutral ground by Col Sewer. They stated
that they had sufficient force to overwhelm the
soldiers, but did not care to shed blood if the
cOnyicts were quietly turned over to them
This request was emphatically refused. The
miners then asked Col. Sewer il he would re-
move his troops and take the conyicts with him.
He asked what would be done to the mining
company's property, which was also under his
protection They replied that it would not be
injured Col SEWER asked if an attack would
be made on the Knoxville companys stockade,
Just below Bruceville. If such was intended
he intended to fall back there and fight it out
regardless of consequences. The leader re-
piled that no attack Would be made.
TROOPS AND coSvICTs MARCH OFF.
The troops then marched out of camp, taking
with them the convicts, all Of their commissary,
supplies and baggage. They marched to Brice-
vile and there took the train to Knoxville. as
the dispatches to last nights STAR indicated.
When Col. Sewers command had been placed
on board the train and il had pulled out the
miners in the same orderly manner marched to
the mines of the knoxville Iron Company,
where the convicts have worked without trou-
BILE for fourteen years. The guards, being so
greatly outnumbered. marched out with 125
convict-, who were put on another train and
started toward Knoxville They were stopped
BY wire at Clinton, sixteen miles from Knox
vile. but later came to knoxville
The miners then started for Oliver Springs to
nberate the prisoners
The whole of eastern Tennessee Is II sympa-
thy with the miners.
Gov. Buchanan was apprised OF the turn OF
affairs and last night ten companies were en-
route for the seat Of war, some of the compa-
ries being artillery companies armed with Cat
ling guns
The miners under almost military discip-
line. arr sober and no whisky Is allowed IN their
lines The purpose they give franAly- As long
- achievements are there they will be quies-
cent. bEt Just soon as the soldiers with
drawn the cOnviets will be liberated
Governor Buchanan's presence In the coal
fields wall not be conducive 20 peace. He is
very unpopular there. in the last legislature
he voted for the convict lease Law.
All convlcts are now at knoxville In an old
building under guard. call of some labor
leaders has been issued for meeting tonight
Ii was reported last night that :he miners at
Oliver Springs had released the $50 conviets,
lat up TO q late hour this report was not yeri-
hed. The excitement last night was intense.
Streets we're crowded anu a diversity of opin-
Ion heard Many OF the labor men said
tie miners have done right.
The troops who arrived yesterday deny the
statements that they wCuld not fight, but
wished The miners to capture the convicts- The
Chattanooga boys show a brave front and are
determined to return and face the danger.
TROOPS LEAVE MEMPHIS
The Chiclasaw Guards. Hibernian Rifles
Bluff City Zouaves and the Roster Zouaves,
ander orders from Gov. Buchanan, left Mem
phis at $50 last night for Briceville. the seat
Of the mining troubles The companies are
small the four turning out about 400 men,
under the command of Gen Samuel Carnes
Each company was provided with 2. OC0 rounds
of ball cartridges. while the Washington Light
ARTILLERY takes two improved Calling guns fi--
ing $50 times per minute, with 10000 rounds
of cartridges for each gun.
II te last night Gov. buchanan ordered the
military 20 wait at Knoxville pending further
instructions. This done because he de-
sr{d 10 have Attorney General Picketts opin-
I'D TO his authority to qucll the troubles in
Gskpendent Of the Anderson county officials.
Sfsrif Rutherford of Anderson county has
al MED that he has called for the assistance of
t4Oops and says he don't want any troops and
JId not want any. IL is reported that he has
len the county To keep out Of any further con-
Election with the trouble. As matter of fact
fne summoned the first companies sent to Brice-
vile o. a posse comitatus. Under the law il
looks As II the state can interfere only in case
the county officials call for their service In
other words. the military can only be used un-
der civil authority and il is this question that
the governor desires Attorney General Picketts
" consider.
THE LEADERS OF THE MOE.
II 10 known that the leaders Of the mob were
no, miners. Eugene Merritt led them He is
. small merchant Al Bricevilie, but is said 20 be
a determined man He spoke in reply to Gov
Buchanan last week. and really treated the gov
srnor With indignity. Other leaders are known
al. ~.