The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-07-25
NOT A SINGLE SHOT WAS FIRED.
The Trouble Is Not Yet Settled and
Bl0m,shed Is Feared-The Coy
ernor Has Been Appealed To.
News From Near and Far Gathered
by the Associated
Press.
THE CRISIS AT BRICEVILLE.
The Miners Capture the Soldier and Con,
victs and Send Them Away.

The Miner, Capture the Soldiers and Con-
victs and Send Them Away.
BRIcEvILLE. Tenn. July 20. The
crisis came at Briceville today about IL
o'clock. when the miners and a crowd of
sympathlzers from the surrounding coun-
try gathered around the camp of the
state MALTA and captured the troops
and convicts. marched them off to the
depot and put them on the train. and
shipped them to Knoxville. The camp
was on a little knowl in a hollow and
was surrounded on all sides by the
mountains. The miners and their friends
to the number of LOO or LOO we're di-
vidcd into four squads and approached
on four sides of the square in which the
camp was formed. The miners sent up
a flag Of truce and sent a committee to
the officer in command. The committee
notified the officers that they had come
to take the convicts. peaceably if posi-
BILE. but by force If necessary. The officers
parlcyed awhile and then agreed to
surrender. The troops were all ordered
to keep their arms and ammunition and
they with the convict were marched to
the train. They were loaded in box-cars
or whatever could be had and the entire
command sent TO this city. They ar
rived here about 1870 o'clock. Troops to
the number of lOl. all told. went to the
armory of the Knoxville Rifles where
they 10Y remain awaiting the orders of
the governor. The miners made them
promise not to return to Coal creek.
| Tho pnnNisfc urnrn tnD,p o., ,,il ln,l-,l
up and fed.
An immense crowd met the troops at
the depot. They were freely chccred as
they marched through the streets. The
men had been ON duty nearly five DAYS
in the rain and had seen but little in the
way of provisions and with but little
equipment. Their faces were bronzcd
but they presented a soldierly appear
ance as they marched up the street.
The city is now intensely excited. Lead
ing 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 IA time when everything was being
done 10 relieve the situation. Gov.
Buchanans administration is that of the
alliance and some of the politicians are
discussing what the alliance will do. but
the great mass of citizens say the law
must be observed and that Gov. Buchan-
an must enforce the law regardless of
cost. The sentiment here is that he 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. Ii he has not force enough he
must call for volunteers. The report has
been circulated here that he asked
the president for 800 regulars but the
truth of this cannot be verified. 1t
is known leaders of the mob were not
miners either last week or today. One
Eugene Merrill led them in each in
stan e. He is IA "Jim crow" merchant
at Briceville. but said to he determined.
He spoke IN reply to Gov. Buchan-
an last week and really treated the
governor witt 'ndignity. Other
leaders are known and the sentiment
here is that they must be arrested and
taken to Nashville as the law provides
and punished. The miners have APP
pointed a committee to say what dis
patches shall be sent out. and this com
mittcc or some one Of it is in tn" tele-
graph Office all the time and reads all the
matter scnt out by newspaper men. The
committee. whether self appointed or by
tn, miners organization. is so acting.
and told the operator on duty at the key
that If it was decided not to let them
read the messages they would cut the
wires. The wire Is a private II and
does all the business. including railroad
and train dIspatching. There are re
ports that the railroad company will call
for special detectives to guard their
property.
Thn ,,,,l, TO-DAY 10 .alnlr,tipn &c via
tory by cheering. carousing. and shout
ing. 1t should be stated that a force of
800 men properly equipped and led could
subdue the entire party. for they have no
idea of openly facing a good force. They
knew today from statements made to
them yesterday that the troops would
not fight, but every one feels the mob
has made a bad mistake and that they
will be subdued. In other words,
they have lost public sympa-
thy. 1t is reported here that
ten companies Of state militia
are en- route with arms ana a gatling
gun and hat they will be taken to Coal
creek at once The report also comes
from Coal creek late this afternoon say
ing the miners declare no troops can be
landed there. There are threats that
they will wreck trains or burn railroad
bridges. The miners. it should be stated.
are getting the best wages ever paid
them and make from $50 to $50 per
month according to how expert the man
is and how steady lac works. When the
miners made an attack OF the camp to.
day Lieut.. Chandler of the Knoxville
Rifles saluted the colonel as a volunteer
to fight the mob with his twenty men.