Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-21
Twelve Hundred Armed Miners in
Tennessee Override the Law
AND DEFY THE GOVERNOR.
The Contract Labor CODvictS Sent Back With the
SOldisrs-Ths Supreme Authority Of the State
Set at De6ancs--All Glasses Of Citizens
Demand Vigorous Action.

! Chattanooga military companies at Coal
Creek says: "Have just reached Coal
Creek on retreat to Knoxville. Twelve
hundred miners heavily armed occupied
the hills surrounding the camp at $3.50.
A committee of the leaders came to the
camp and after conference demand
was made and agreed to that the troops
withdraw, taking the convicts with
them to Knoxville. The miners won't
attack the stockade at Coal Creek until
the troops are away.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, July 2O.-A
special from Brnceville, says the crisis
arrived to-day about II 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,
marched them off to the depot and put
them on a train and shipped them TO
Knoxville.
The camp was on a little knoll in
hollow and surrounded on all sides by
mountains. The miners and their
friends to the number Of 1900 or 1,50O
were divided into four equal squads and
approached on the four sides Of the
square, which the camp was formed in.
The miners sent up flag OF truce and
sent In a committee to the officers In
command. The committee notified the
officers that they had come to take the
convicts peaceably if pOSsible-by force
if necessary. The officers parleyed
awhile and then agreed to surrender.
The troops were allowed to keep their
arms and ammunition, and they with
the convicts were marched to the train
They were loaded in box cars or what
ever could be 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 remain awaiting
the orders of the Governor. The miners
made them promise not to return to
Coal Creek. The convicts were taken
to the Jail and locked up and fed.
they passed d0NEd NEHdrdah met The The raGes ssrests
They men had been on duty nearly five
days in the rain and had seen but
and but little equipment. Their
| ldCoS WGIO OlOuLCus Oub IutJ
a soldierly appearance as they marched
up the street. The city is now intense
ly excited. Leading men of all p0liti-
cal parties say the law must be upheld.
Sympathy, which had been entirely on
the side Of the miners, is now against
them for their lawleSs act at time
when everything was being done to re-
lieve the situation.
Governor Buchanan's administration
is that Of the Alliance, and some of the
politicians are discussing what the ALI
ance will do, but the great mass Of citi-
zens say that the law must be observed,
and that Governor Buchanan must en-
force the law regardless of cost.
A report was circulated here that he
asked the President for 500 regulars,
but the truth Of this cannot be verified.
1t is known that the leaders OF the mob
were not miners, either last
week or to-day. One. Eugene
Merrill, led them in each instance. He
is "Jim Crow" merchant at Briceville,
but said to be determined man. The
miners have appointed committee to
see what dispatches are sent. out and
told the operator on duty at the key
that II he did not let them read the
messages they would cut the wire. The
wire is private one. All business in
Guiding railroad and commercial business
passes over it. There are reports that
the railroad company will call for
special detectives to guard their prop
erty. Large sums OF money have been
invested at Coal Creek by New York
capitalists and men from other places,
and the great development of the prop
critics are largely due to this money.
Costly machinery is exposed to
the fury OF the mob. Citizens
here say that the act Of the mob is
direct insult to the Governor To-
day as the troops were marching off the
miners jeered and hooted them and
yelled: "Tel Buck to send some more
dudes; we will eat them as fast as they
come" Citizens say that the insult is
to the entire State, and say that the
Governor must arrest and punish the
leaders"
The mob to-day is celebrating its vic
tory by cheering, carousing and shoot
ing. They know to-day from the state
ments made them yesterday that the
troops would not fight, but every one
feels that the mob has made a bad
mistake and that they will be Subdued
They have lost public sympathy. 1t is
reported here that ten companies of
State militia are en- route with arms and
gatling gun and that they will be
taken to Coal Creek at once.
A report comes from Coal Creek late
this afternoon saying the miners de-
clare no troops can be landed there.
/ There are threats that they will wreck
the trains or burn railroad bridges. The
miners, it should be stated, are
getting the best wages ever
paid them and make from |
| $50 to $3.50 per month, according to how |
expert man he is and how steady he |
works.
When the miners made the attack on |
the camp to-day Lieutenant Chalmer, Of |
the Knoxville Rifles, saluted the Colonel |
as volunteer TO fight the mob with his
90 men.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, July 20. = The |
Chickasaw Guards, HiberDian Rifles,
Bluff City Zopaves and the Roster Zou-
aves, under orders from Gov. Buchanan, |
left this city at $50 tonight via the
Memphis & Charleston road for Brice-
Vile, the seat Of the mining troubles.
The companies ore small, the four turn
Ing out about $50 men, under command
of Gen. Samuel Carnes. They will
reach Knoxville by noon tomorrow. ]