The Washburn leader., 1891-07-25

The Brsiceville Riots.
BRE1cEv111E, Tenn, July 20.-A
crisis came at Breiceville taday 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 convlcts. marched them off
to the depot and put them on the train
and shipped them to Knoxville.
The camp was on little
knoll in the hollow and surrounded
on all sides by mountains. Six miners
and their friends to the number OF
twelve or fifteen hundred were divided
into four equal squads and approach ed
on four sides Of the square in which the
camp was formed in. Miners sent up
flag Of truce and sent in committee to
the officer in command. The committee
come to take the convicts peace:
ae1Sis1y %s synd then agreed o syaxrende ef
Troops were allowed to keep their arms
and ammunition, and they with the
conviots were marched to the train.
They were loaded in box cars or what.
ever could be had, and the entire lot
about 4 80 O'clock. Troops to the num-
Der of 1O7 all told, went to the relief of
the Knoxville Rifles, where they
now remain awaiting orders from the
governor. The miners made them
promise not to return to Coal Greek
The convicts were taken to
the Jail looked up and fed.
An immense crowd met the troops at
the depot. They were freely oheered
as they marched through the street.
The men had been on duty nearly five
days in the rain and seen but little in
the way of provisions and but little
equipment. Their faces were bronzed
but they presented 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 up
held. The 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 relieve the situation.
Governor Buohenan's administration is
that of the alliance and some of the pol
iticians are desirous to see what the
alliance will do, but the great mass of
citizens say the law must be observed
and that Governor Buchanan must en-
force the law regardless of cost. The
sentiment here is that he must send all
state troops, who are few and
poorly organized, to the front at
once and put an experienced man and
officer in charge. If he has not force
enough he must call for volunteers A
report has been circulated here that he
asked for 5000 regulars, but the truth
of this cannot be verified. 1t is known
that the leaders of the mob we're not
miners either last week or today. One
Eugene Merrill led them in each in
stance. He is 'Jim Grow" merchant at
Briceville, but said to be determined
man. He spoke in reply to Governor
Buchanan last week and really treated
the governor with indignity. Other
leaders are known and the sentiment
here is that they must be arrested and
taken to Nashville as the law provides
and punished. Miners have appointed
q committee to say what dispatches
shall be sent out. and this committee or
some one of it's number are in the
telegraph Office all the time
and reads all the matter sent
out by. the newspaper men.
A committee. whether self-appcinted or
by the miners organic alton, 10 SO act
ing and told the operator on duty at the
key that if he did not let them read the
messages they would cut the wires The
wire is private one and does all the
business, including railroad and train
dispatching. There are reports that the
railroad company will call for special
detectives to guard their prop
erty. Another view Of the sit
uation is the danger to capital invested
at Coal Greek. Large sums of money
have been invested at Goal Greek; large
sums of money have been invested there
by men in New York and other places
and the great development of properties
machinery is exposed the fury Of the
handed outrages as that of today will
will cease to come in for develop.
another as T bad ''' feature re- connected
with the affair which has not vet been
brought out. That is the conduct
of the militia that has been on
these grounds, and yesterday many
were allowed to go outside to get food,
and they mingled freely with the miners.
These troops told the miners that they
did not want to guard conviots and to
come and get them at once; that they
would not fight them for the convicts.
The chattanooga 90. whose members
largely belonged to the trades organiza.
tions has especially acted badly and made
statements to miners. The citizens
here say the act of the mob was direct
insult to the governor. Today as the
troops were marched off the miners
jeered and hooted them and yelled,
''Tell Buck to send some more Dutch;
we will eat them as fast as they come.
Citizens say it is an insult to the entire
state and say the governor must arrest
and punish the leaders, The mob to.
day is celebrating its victory by cheer
ing, carousing and shooting. It should
be stated that q force Of 500
men properly equipped and led could
subdue the entire party, for they have
no idea Of openly facing good force.
They know today from the statement of
them yesterday that the troops would
not fight, but everyone feels the mob
has made bad mistake and that they
will be subdued. In other words they