Evening journal., 1891-07-21
BLOODSHED lSPROBABLE
The Governor of Tennessee
Calls Out the State Soldiery.
THE MINERS VERSUS THE MILITIA.


Troops overpowered by Men who DO
Not Wish to Compete with Convict
Labor aud Driven from the Scene.
But They Have All Gone Back Again.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, July 2i.-The crisis
in the trouble between the ousted miners
IN this district and the conyicts who were
brought here from the state prison at Nash
Vile has at last been reached. When about
100 armed strikers attacked the guards who
had charge Of fifty felons at Briceville last
Wednesday night and liberated the prison
srs 1t was confidently predicted that this
would be but the beginning Of a general .
movement throughout the entire mining |
district OF the state. Governor Buchanan |
was Immediately notified and responded /
by ordering two companies from Chatta-
| uooga and one from Knoxville TO the scene |
or the fifty convicts taken from the guards
at Brioeyille two escaped and the others
were brought to this city. When the mill
! tin arrived they took the convicts along
back with them and warned the mob that
they would protect them at all hazards.
The Law Was Mt Fault
Governor Buchanan at once proceeded to
the seat Of trouble, and in neat speech
explained his position to the rebellious
miners. He told them thatit was his sworn
duty to uphold the law, and II the convict
system was wrong he was not to blame,
and that the only recourse Of the men was
through the legislature The miners an
nounced that their families were starving
and that they were compelled TO drive out
the conyicts II It cost the life Of every man
In the valley They made all sogs Of fun
Of the handful Of beardless soldiers, but
declared that they would not harm the
"spider legged, cigarette smoking dudes"
as they characterized the militia, but as
soon as they were withdrawn they would
release every convict in the region.
Massacre Seemed Imminent.
Becoming impatient, however, Mt the
delay in recalling the troops they decided
to try TO overcome the soldiers by force Of
numbers. At 10 a m. 1000 miners, farm
ers and other natives who have no occupar
tion at all took possession OF the hills
around the Briceville camp. Fifteen hum
) dred Of these were armed with rifles, the
rest had shotguns aud pistols. They came
from all THE mines within radius Of fifty
miles. The Organization was complete,
) and their leaders placed them along the
hillsdes with military precision At the
call to arms the little garrison turned out
gallantly and prepared for defense II was
apparent at a glance that fight would re-
suit in massacre. A meeting Of the otii-
e GERS was called
r The Hostile Forces Farley.
Ie Some declared that q stout resistance :,
ie the first attack would be sufficient and thl
mob would withdraw. Others thought
se that it would be suicidal, yet every on,
8. was In favor Of doing his duty, notwith
It standing the exposed position they wer,
J. TO defend. The miners called parley anC
t. were met on neutral ground by Colone
Il SEWER They stated that they had sufi
e Client force to overwhelm the soldiers bui
did not care to shed blood II the convict,
were quietly turned ever to them.
This request was emphatically refused
The miners then asked Colonel Sewer Il
ID he would remove his troops and take th,
conyicts with him. He asked what woult
1r be done 10 the mining company's prop
a erty which was also under his protection
a. They replied that II would not be injured
Y. He also asked II an attack would be made
e. on the Knoxville Iron company's stockadC
IN just below Briceville. II such was in
n tended he intended TO fall back there and
s fight it out regardless OF consequences
y The leader replied that no attack would
T., be made.
" Then the Troops Evacuated.
e. The troops then marched out Of camp
ID carrying with them the convicts. all theil
m commissary supplies aud baggage. They
marched 10 Briceyille and there took the
ih train to Knoxville. The promise not tC
s attack the Knoxville compAny's stockad,
I a. ~, sf
n yicts at that place were put on a train and
"a sent to Knoxville. The mob then started
for Oliver Springs. where they also intend
liberatinR the prisoners. T.s whole o.
Eastern Tennessee is in sympathy Will
le the miners.
y The militia BADLY Treated.
Troops from Brlceville arrived here at
a o'clock They are all in good spirits ant
i will return in the morning with re-enforce
\ ments The boys were badly treated by
4 the people Of Knoxville, who seemed to b
i, in perfect sympathy with the lawless ele
ment in Coal Creek Valley.
The States Entire Militia Called Out
Governor Buchanan, who has beer
ar guided by the utmost caution since TIL
NJ troubles began, at once decided 70 call ou
NJ the entire militia OF the state, and for tha
a. purpose he Immediately telegraphed eacl
ba company and instructed General J. L
IA Weakly to arrange railroad transportation
~ for them. Each company was ordered q
- secure three days rations. Tents anI
blankets were issued from the Capitol ant
sent down by the special train. The traii
pulled out at o'clock with three Nash
n. | Vile companies, a Springfield compan,
- and one from Franklin on board, and the,
M will pick up along the line companie
,is from Murfreesboro, Shelbyville, Tulla
na homo aud Sewanee Clarksville and Leh
y. anon companies passed through later am
=. four companies from Memphis and on
= from jackson are also en- route on anothe
special train There are fourteen CON
panies in all, comprising $50 men, and 10
will be taken on at Chattanooga
en Spying on the Governor.
~ A number OF the leaders in the mo
~ ~ were in the city getting all the informs
y tion they could Of the intentions of th
III governor. Some Of these men returned
~ Coal Creek on the $50 train and others n
~ mained in the city. Excitement her
seems to be increasing every minute an
thousands are on the streets. A big effol
is being made for rousing labor meetin
II tonight.
Martin ID. Waller Talks.
ds NEW LONDON, Conn, July 2l.--Marti
we B. Waller, treasurer of the Long Islan