Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-02
THE LAW DEFIED.
Convict Miners Released, Given
CltOhes and told to Go.
The Work of Free Miners at Coal
Greek, Tennessee.
Futile Resistance of Guards
Armed with Rifles.
SOON OVERPOWEREO BY THE THREE
THOUSAND MINERS.
WHO FREE THE CoNvICTs AND BURN
THE sTOCKADE.

The Surrounding Country Greatly Excited
Owing to the Presence of over 500 Con-
viots-Most of Them Reported to Have
Struck Out Toward the Kentucky Line
Further Trouble Anticipated.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Nov. 2. = The
miners of the Coal Creek district Frida,
night took the law into their own han
The stockade at the Tennessee Min
company's plant was burned, the B.,
convicts turned loose, given citizen
clothes and told to leave the country
The guards met the advance with firing
and several of the miners fell. They
had force of sharpshooters in the back
ground, and after several of the guards
had been hit they drew back and mado
less prominent, but little less effective
battle. They were overpowered, how.
ever, and soon the victorious miners had
entered the field and driven the men in
to their quarters
In the quarters occupied by convicts
there was great activity. The men were
willing enough to break and they got
away as quickly as possible They went
singly and in groups, but quickly, until
it was but few minutes when the lasl
of the conyicts had vanished in the
woods, making tracks for the state line.
The guards, however, kept up harass.
ing fire from their Winchesters and din
much execution. The miners lost, it I
said, ten killed and twenty wounded
order to make the arrival Of aid as slow
possible small party Of men had 60
down the railroad each way and cut
wires, thus keeping all knowledge of
affair quiet until nearly midnight.
When the trouble became known
owners of the mines began to search
new guards and they kept at this III
they had reused the sheriff and po
at midnight Nothing has been he
from them and it is not known whet
they reached Briceville at ALL They
rived too late, however, if they did {
there, for the flames had done mu
damage, having been communicat
the company's buildings. Soon after t
men were set free the greater portion
the mob started for the mines near wi
the intention of keeping up their Wort
No news of them has been heard.
Came from All sides.
The liberators numbered 5000 an
came from every section and assemblin
in force marched on the stockade. The
first act was to blow up the magazine
The uprights of the stockade We
knocked off and the convicts release
They then volunteered to help tho
rescuers in the attack on the Chum
stockade. A continuous firing was k
up. The guards of the Chumles sto
ade were preparing against the alta
Great bontires were built around to
vent a surprise. The miners l.,
possession of the telegraph Office at c
Creek and no messages were allowe,
be received or sent. Governor Bucha
has been officially notified of the
break
Most Of the convicts are reported
have gone toward the Kentucky Ii
1t has been ascertained that large MT
bers of suits of citizens clothes w,
purchased several days ago, and il
now certain that they were for the
Of the discharged convicts, whose
cape would be facilitated by discard
their striped clothes.
Great Excitement.
The greatest excitement prevail
the surrounding country, owing to
convicts being at liberty in such
numbers, and the further trouble thu
anticipated in any effort that may
made to enforce the penitentiary conv
lease laws.
The guards at the stockade made
resistance feeling that it was usele.
It is believed here that no lives WE