Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-11-05
TURNED LOOSE.

Mob Renewal OF the Convict Miner
Troubles.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Nov. At is now
estimated that 800 Tennessee convicts
employed in the coal mines at Brice-
vile and Coal Creek, 80 miles north of
Knoxville. were liberated Friday night
by the moo of free miners, who blew
up and burned the stoekade. Shortly be
fore 9 o'clo * signal fires were lighted
on the .atain tops for miles sur
rounding Bliceville Soon after the
signals were answered by reports of
guns in every direction. People who
did not understand the signals sup
posed that another meeting of miners
was TO be held to pass resolutions of in
dignation against the Tennessee su-
preme court, which few days ago de
cided the convict lease adversely to the
free miners.
About $50 the dozen guards at the
stockade of the Tennessee Mining Com
pany's coal mines discovered that they
were surrounded by a mob of more
than 1000 men armed with
Winchester rifles, double barreled
shotguns, pistols and guns of all
descriptions, axes, crowbar and
picks. Almost Immediately a terrific
explosion rent the air and one whole
side of the stockade was demolished.
The powder or dynamite had been
placed under the wall early in the
night by trusty committee of miners.
The stockade was soon swept
with flames and the mob ordered
the convicts to fly to the mountains.
The guards attempted to prevent their
escape, but were overawed by the
miners, who leveled their rifles and
threatened instant death to any guard
who should interfere
BY the Light of the burning stockade
the convicts filed out in good order,
and as they went were supplied with
citizens clothes Many of the miners
had brought extra clothes with them
and many pulled off their own coats
and gave them to the convicts. A few
convicts who were not supplied were
furnished with clothes at Briceville.
Threats were made to hang several of
the obnoxious guards but no one was
hurt.
An incessant firing of guns was kept
up from the beginning of the attack
until the last of the 141 convicts had
disappeared, but the firing was in the
air. Several guards escaped, but the
road to Coal Creek was so well guard
ed that none were able to carry in
formation to guards at the mines.
The telegraph wires between Brice-
vile and Coal Creek had been cut be-
fore the attack began.
After the Briceville stockade had
been completely consumed and every
convict had disappeared in the noun
tains mobs of miners set out for Coal
Creek, miles distant, carrying several
guards as prisoners. The mob was
nearly 1000 strong at Coal Creek.
There an attack was made upon the
! stockades of the Knoxville Iron Com
pany, where over $50 convicts were en-
ployed in the coal mines. The guards
saw that resistance was useless. The
now excited mob of miners kept up an
incessant firing and the mountains
echoed with their midnight yells. The
stockades were soon in flames and the
convicts were ordered to march
out. All escaped except two-
who were sick. Many could
not be supplied with citizens clothes.
Some were supplied in the town of
Coal Creek, while many fed to the
mountains in convict garb.
When the convicts secured their liber-
ty they offered to help their liberators
in an attack on the Chumley's stockade
at Thistle Creek. The guards at the
latter place anticipated an attack and
bonfres were lighted and a continual
shooting of rifles was kept up in order
to intimidate the miners.
After the work of destruction wal
completed at Coal Creek large part
of the mob proposed to go to divers.
Is miles distant, where about $50 con-
victs are employed in the mines,
but the night was nearly spent,
railroad transportation could not
be had and the march across
the mountain was too difficult. The
proposed attack on divers was aban.
doned, though many swore that the
convicts there should be liberated with
in twenty-four hours. Before daylight
the mob of miners had dispersed and
not convict was to be seen.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Nov. Gov.
Buchanan arrived in the city Sunday
to confer with Attorney General Pickle
on the outbreak at Briceville. He has
issued two proclamations, one offer
ing a reward of $1,000 for the
arrest and conviction of the lead
ers of the Briceville riot, and the
other offering a reward of S25 each for
the capture of the escaped convicts.
The governor will not call out the
militia at present He will depend
upon the civil authorities to rearrest
the convicts and until that is done and
they are placed back in the mines there
will be no occasion for using militia at
Coal Creek.