Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-21
Miners at Coal Greek
Capture the Militia.
Entire Forces Of the State
Called to Their Rescue.
Men and Munitions Enroute to the Scene
All Quiet, But Intense Excite
ment To-day.


Vile report everything there quiet,
but much anxiety at the expected ar
rival of the troops.
1t is reported at Coal Creek that the
miners at Oliver Springs will be re-
leased. One hundred and sixty con-
victs were driven from Coal Creek,
and there 1870 at Oliver Springs.
The telegraph Office there has been
in the hands of the miners since Sun
day. and only such matter as they
see fit has been sent out.
1t is reported at Coal Creek that
Gov. Buchanan has called on the
Governor of Georgia for ten com
panies and two car loads of artillery.
Sheriff Rutherford, of that county,
is reported to have fled the county,
and Supt. Goodwin, who had charge
of the convicts, is also missing.
The soldiers have arrived at Knox
vile and will 60 to Coal creek this
afternoon. The whole country
round is filled with armed men ready
to go to the assistance of the miners.
Great crowds stand around the depot.
OF the nine mines only one is
operated to-day, leaving 1900 TO
500 men idle.
Following is taken from this morn
ing's American
KNOXVILLE, July 20.-The crisis
came at Briceville to-day about II
O'Clock, when the miners and crowd
of sympathizers from the surround
ing country surrounded the camp Of
the State militia and captured the
troops and convicts, marched them
off to the depot and put them on ii
train and shipped them to Knoxville
The camp was on little knoll in
hollow and surrounded on all sides by
mountains. The miners and their
friends TO the number of l,2G0 to
800 were divided in four equal
squads and approached on the four
sides of the square which the camp
was formed in.
The miners sent up a flag of truce
and sent in a committee to the officer
in command. The committee noti-
fed the officers that they had come
to take the convicts peaceably If pos
sible, by force if necessary. The
officers parlied while and then
agreed to surrender.
The troops were allowed to keep
their arms and ammunition, and then
the troops and convicts marched to
the train. There they were loaded
in box cars or whatever could he had,
and the entire lot sent to this city.
They arrived here about 4:30 O'Clock.
The troops,.to the number of 107,
all told, went to the armOry of the
Knoxville Rifles, where they now re-
main awaiting the orders of the Gov
ernOr. The miners made them prom
Use not to return to Coal Creek. The
cOnVictS were taken TO the Jail, locked
up and fed.
An immense crowd met the troops
at the depot. They were freely
cheered as they matched through the
streets.
The city is now intensely excited.
Leading men of all political parties
say the law must be upheld. Sym.
pathy which had been enlisted on
the side of the miners is now against
them for this lawless act at time
when everything was being done to
relieve the situation.
The sentiment here is that the Gov.
ernOr must send all the State troops,
who are few and poorly organized, to
the front ut once and put experienced
men and officers in charge. If he has
not force enough he must call for
volunteers.
Yesterday many troops We're
allowed to go outside to get
food, and they mingled freely
with the miners. These troops
told the miners that they did
not want to guard the id con-
victs," and TO come and get them at
once, that they would not fight them
for the cOnvicts. A Chattanooga
company, whose members largely
belonged to trades organizations, has
especially acted badly, and made
these statements to the miners.
The mob to day is celebrating its
victory by cheering, carousing and
shooting. 1t should be stated that |
force of 500 men, properly equipped |
and led, could subdue the entire
party, for they have no idea of open
ly facing good force. They knew
to day from the statements made to
them yesterday that the troops would
mot fipht Int every one feels that the