The record-union., 1891-07-21
REACHED A CLIMAX.
THE STRIKING MINERS AT BRICE-
VILE MAKE A MISTAKE.
They Swoop Down on the Troops and
Convicts and Capture Them
Serious Trouble Ahead.

Special to the REcoRD7UNIoN.
NASHVILLE Tenn.), July 20.-A spe-
cial from Briceville says: The crisis
came at Briceyille to-day at about IL
O'Clock, when the miners and crowd of
sympathizers from the surrounding
country gathered around the camp of the
State militia and captured the troops and
convicts.
They marched them to the depot, put
them on train and shipped them to
Knoxville. The camp was little knoll
in hollow, surrounded on all sides by
mountains. The miners and friends, to
the number of twelve or fifteen hundred,
divided into squads and approached the
camp from four sides.
They sent flag of truce and commit
tee TO the officer i'll command.
The committee notified the officers that
they. had como to take the eonvicts-
peacefully, if possible, or by force if
necessary.
The officers parleyed awhile and then
agreed to surrender. The troops were a.
lowed to keep their arms and amnluni-
| ton, and with the c0nvictS marched TO
the train and sent To this city, arriving
ABOUT 4:30 clock.
The troops. who number l07. arc at the
armory OF the Knoxville Rifles, where
they now remain awaiting the Governors
orders.
The convicts were locked in Jail. An
immense crowd met the troops ut the
depot. They were freely cheered rs thew
marched through the streets. The men
mad been on duty nearly five days and
had seen but little i'll the way of pfoyis-
ions and camp equipment. Their faces
were bronZed. but they presented SOL
dlerly appearance as they marched up the
street.
The city is now intensely excited.
LeMiing men of all political parties say
the law must be upheld.
The sympathy which had been entirely
on the side Of the miners is now against
them for their lawleSS act at a time when
everything was being done to relieve the
situation.
The mob was to-day celebrating the
victory by cheering, carousing and shoot
ing; A force Of 500 men properly equipped
and led could subdue the entire party, for
they have no idea Of openly facing a good
force. They knew to-day from state
ments made to them yesterday that the
troops would not fight, but every one
feels that the mob has made bad mis-
take and will be subdued. In other
words they have lost pub sympathy.
1t is reported here that ten companies
OF State militia are en- route with arms
and Gatilng guns, and that they will be
taken to Coal Creek at once.
a report also comes from Coal Creek
this afternoon saying that the miners had
declared that no troops can be landed
there. There are threats that they will
wreck trains and burn railroad bridges.
When the miners made the attack on
! the camp to-day Lieutenant Chandler of
the Knoxville Rifles saluted the Colonel
and volunteered TO fight the mob with
his twenty men.
Governor Bachanan's administration
is that of the alliance, and some poll
tlcians are discussing what the Alliance
Will do. The great mass of citizens, how
ever, say that the law must be observed,
and that Governor Buchanan must en-
force the law regardless of caste or senti-
ment.
MORE STATE TROOPS.
MEMPHIS PTenn.), July 20.-The
.Chickasaw Guards, Hibernian Rifles.
Bluff City Zouaves and Roster Zouaves
under orders from Governor Buchanan
| left this city at $50 o'clock tonight for
Briceville. The companies are small,
averaging about 80 men, and are under
command of General Sam Charnes.
They will reach Knoxville about noon
tomorrow.
The sentiment is that the Governor
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
asked the President for 800 regulars, but
the truth of this cannot be verified.
1t is known that the leaders of the mob
were not miners. One Eugene Merrill
led them. He is small merchant at
Briceville. 1t is said that he is a deter
mined man. The other leaders are known.
and the sentiment here is that they must
be arrested and taken to Nashville and
punished.
The miners have appointed n commit
tee to say what dispatches shall be sent
out and what not, and this committee or
some one of it is in the telegraph office all
the time, and reads all the matter sent out
by the newspaper men. The committee
told the operator on duty that if he did
not let them read the messages 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. Yesterday many of the
troops were allowed to 90 outside of the
camp to get food and they mingled freely
with the miners. These troops told the
miners that they did not want to guard
the d convicts, and to come and get
them at once; that they would not fight
them for convicts. To-day as the troops
We're marched off the miners jeered and
/ hooted them, and yelled, '"Tell Buck
| Governor Buchanan TO send some more
dudes, and we will eat them as fast as
! they Gomez
| The citizens say the insult is to the en-
| tire State and that the Government must
arrest and punish the leaders.