Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-01
RELEASED CONYICTS.
Over 300 Tennessee Prison
Birds at Large.
No Effort Made by the State to
Recapture Them.
The Homeless Culprits at a Loss to
Know What to Do.
One OF Them Telegraphs the Governor
for Observation-Disclosures Assisted
the Miners in Setting Them
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Oct. 81. 1.-The gov
ernor received dispatches from the state
authorities stationed at Briceville and
Knoxville this morning, confirming the
dispatches last night about the release
of the convicts by miners. The latest
accounts state that 1853 were released at
Briceville and 143 at Coal Greek.
Nothing of particular interest has
transpired since morning, the day being
occupied by consultations between the
governor and other state officials.
Amusement was caused during the af-
ternoon by the receipt of telegram
from Richard Hunter, colored convict,
dated Clinton saying: "Me and 100 of
us, who was working at Bricevill, was
turned loose last night by miners. They
burned up everything. We are loose at
Clinton together. What shall dor"
Governor Buchanan is determined to
bring the lawbreakers to Justice, but a
plan of action has not yet been decided
upon. The legislation of the last special
session provided severe punishment for
interfering with convicts. The affair is
the talk OF the state, and from all sec
tions comes a demand that the miners
who participated in the affair, shall be
brought to justice.
A special to the American from Knox
vile tonight says: A reporter just re-
turned from Briceville and Coal Creek,
reports everything quiet tonight. The
Briceville stockade, including ten eight
room houses and large dining hall,
were burned at Coal Creek. The Office
building and guards shack were burned
and the furniture Of other buildings de-
molished. The miners began to gather
last night at about O'Clock very rapidly.
At 8 80 two hundred men called upon
Warden Cross to deliver the keys of the
prison, which he did. By this time the
stockades were surrounded by twenty
five hundred men, who kept up con-
tinual firing from rifles to intimidate
the townspeople, and the guards lib
Grated the convicts, aided the men in
burning and destroying property, and
also looted the store OF Warden Chum-
ley at Coal Greek. The magazine at
the Briceville stockade was blown up,
and this, together with the ex-
plosion of several dynamite bombs,
created the impression in town
that terrible fight was in prog
ress. AS a matter of fact, however, no
one was injured. The convicts, in gangs
of tens and twenties. were today wander
ing all over the surrounding country,
and whenever they asked help it was
freely given by the natives.
A special from Oliver Springs tonight,
says the people expect the miners to re-
lease the 22O convicts at that place.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Oct. 31.-The
guards in charge of the stockade at
Briceville, arrived here, state that the
stockade at that place was burned as
reported last night; that at Coal Creek,
belonging to the Knoxville Iron COM
pany, was not burned, bnt the convicts
employed in it were released and are all
at large. The arms of the guards were
all captured. No resistance was made
and consequently no blood was
shed. The miners who effected
the release seem to have acted
with the greatest secrecy, showing per-
feet organization. There are no outward
indications OF immediate action, and the
people are beginning to believe that the
matter will be left to the courts for set
tlelnent. The act of the miners seems
to be surprise to the citizens in the
vicinity of Briceville. Those who, in
defiance of the law, released the con-
victs, repaired to the stockades soon
after dark, gave their orders, and the
work was done. All was quiet at the
mines this morning, and no immediate
trouble need be anticipated.