The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-25
CONVICfS RELEASED.
Tennessee Stockades Burned
and $50 FelOns Freed.
The Prison Guards Overwhelmed
by a Mob of Miners.

The Tennessee convicts employed in the
mines Of the Tennessee Mining Company and
the Knoxville Iron Company, at Briceville
and Coal Greek, were liberated a few nights
ago by the free miners, and the stockades in
which the couvicts were confined were
burned to the ground.
The guards in charge Of the stockades saw
that the free miners were in overwhelming
force and made no show Of resistance, so
that the raid was not attended, with hghtlng
OF bloodshed. .
Not the least hint had been received at
Briceville or Coal Creek that the miners
intended any aggressive movement. Al
ter the courts had decided that the
lease of the convicts was legal and
the State authorities announced that the law
would be upheld at all hazards, the Miners
Committee, which had represented the dis
satisfied elements since the July outbreaks
and which had pledged their words that
there would be no resort to violence, called q
meeting Of the miners, gave a full account Oh
what had been done and disbanded.
They urged the miners to refrain from
violence and accept the decree of the courts,
depending on their power at the polls to cor
rect the evil. This advice was taken, ap-
parently in good part.
The first intimation that there was any
thing out Of the common going on in thu
mining region came when it was discovered
that the telegraph wires between Coal Creek
and Ofutts station and between ORutts n
Clinton had been cut
Shortly afterward q series Of signal tires
were seen in various places among the
mountains. Hardly had the signal fires
gather at Briceville. They came in little
parties from all the surrounding hamlets
and settlements. Every man had his rifle,
and many were armed with revolVers IN adj
dition.
Within an hour fully two thousand men
had gathered in Briceville, and the advance
was made on the convict stockade OF the
Tennessee Mining Company at that place..
When the stockade was reached the lead
ers of the mob called for the Warden and in
formed him that they had come to release
the convicts and that If the guard resisted
they would do so at their peril.
While the leaders were p%arleying with tho
Warden another party of the rioters placed
a heavy charge Of dynamite under a portion
of the stockade and the conference at the
gate was terminated by an explosion Which
blew a great hole in the outer wall Of the
stockade
This was the signal for a volley Of rife
shots, but they were all fired in the air and
nobody was hurt.
Hundreds Of the rioters rushed into the
breach, and in a few MINUTES the stockade
was in their hands. Convicts and guards
were ordered out at the point OF the rifle,
and they came.
Then followed a scene almost in6escribabl,.
The convicts were wrought up into a state
of intense excitement. As they came out OF
the breach in the walls Of the stockade they
were halted and each man was ordered to
remove the striped convict uniforms. In its
place he was given a suit Of citizens clothes,
of which the miners had brought an Inn
mensa quantity.
AS the convicts made the change Of clothes
they were headed for the North Carolina
ana Kentucky borders and ordered to leave
at once. The guards were not lnterfered
with.
After the stockade had been cleared Of all
its inmates the torch was applied in many
places and it was soon enveloped in flames.
A guard was left to see that no attempt wa
made to auench the flames, and the main
body of rioters started tor Coal Creek.
The work at Coal Creek was simply a
repetition Of that done at Briceyille. Tn
Warren was called out and informed that
the c~onvicts were to be released He saw
that there was no chance for a successful
resistance and surrendered. The con-
VlCIS "clcL ufii SuCoO Jul, II VI osAAP~S
changed for less conspicuous raiment and
they were told to leave the State as quickly
as possible. They lost 40 time in doing so.
Then the stockade was fired and destroyed.
After the destruction Of the stockade an
attack was made by the liberated convicts
on the company store, which is run by Cap
tain Chumley, formerly superintendent OF
convicts. There was about $1,000 worth of
goods in the store, consisting Of a general
stock. The c~onvicts took as much Of this as
they could aud destroyed the balance.
The total number OF convicts released was
$50. OF these al were at Briceville and 2O9
at Coal Cree6. Trainmen who passed
through the coal regions next day say that
they saw large numbers of c~onvicts making
their way towards the Kentucky line. They
marched along the roads in small parties
openly, and do not appear to be in fear OF
being arrested
Nothing was done looking to the re-arrest
of the liberated men beyond notifying the
Kentucky and North Carolina authorities OF
their escape and requesting them to be on
the lookout for them
Governor Buchanan. Of Tennessee, has
offered q reward OF $4,000 for the arrest and
conviction of tho Briceville mob.