The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-11-05
FREED THE OONvICTS.
THE TENNESSEE MINERS HAD
THINGS THEIR OWN WAY.

Knoxville Stirred by scenes which RE-
call the war-Citizens Firmly Resolved
Against Convict Labor--The Liberated
Men Find Refuge In the Mountains.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Nov. 2.-Not since
the days of the war has there been as
much excitement in this section of the
south as prevails today. Through every
ravine and even every hilltop in Eastern
Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky the
song of freedom for the oppressed miner
is being sung in not only the humble
log huts, but palatial farm residences as
well. Hundreds of men who wore the
prison stripes Of Tennessee and little
dreamed of freedom are wandering over
the entire south, seeking safety in fight
and using every precaution to avoid
capture. Since the trouble with the
miners in July, in which the presence of
state troops was needed to keep peace
and to work with the convicts in the
mines, all has not been well. The
miners ard leading citizens throughout
the mining section were not sa tisfied
with the compromise then effected but it
order to avoid bloodshed.
The Miners Grew Impatient.
A special session of the legislature
was called and the biggest tribunal in
the state was given chance to settle
the much discussed and troublesome
convict question. The miners and
their sympathizers grew impatient, and
for days there has been tacit under
standing among the miners Of Tenness-
see, Kentucky, Indiana and Pennsylva-
mia something positive had to be done to
secure the needed relief in this portion
Of the south. Quietly, but in a gys-
tematic manner, reliable men were Sc
| lected to make all needed arrangements
for the final attack on the convict camps
and the release Of the prisoners therein.
| There was no boisterous cond uct, and
law-abiding citizens thought all trouble
at an end. Friday night soon after
! dark, however, the hills in and about
Briceville commenced filling up witt
men and boys. By o'clock nearly LOCO
| of them, many of them armed, and
some intoxicated, had formed them.
selves into an irresistible body, and
marched to the stockade Of the Tonnes
see Coal Mining company.
|
The eight guards were taken in
! charge, and threatened with death II
| they resisted. The 1850 convicts mostly
| colored and desperate-were then taken
| in charge, and, after being furnishel
| with citizens clothes, told to leave
| They nearly all left for Kentucky. be-
! lieving the mountains in that state lu.
safest retreat for the present. After 81
/ hn1 N,tv. t1a ....
| in the stOckade out the buildings were
fired and burned to the ground. Leav.
! ing Briceville the miners and their fol.
| lowers went to the mines of the Knox
vile Mining company. two miles distant
| where were confined i40 more convicts.
many Of them being desperate charac.
ters. After the firing of cannon and
other loud demonstrations the stockadt
there was battered down and the striped
inmates told to don citizens suits anC
vanish. This the prisoners did hastily
and with relish. Many OF the men ID
the crowd who could not be handled hy
persuasive words, broke open the store
of Captain Chumbley, near the stockad T.
| Over 81 200 worth Of goods were taker
from the building. and the remaining
contents badly damaged. This action
Of the rescuing party is deplored by al
law-abiding citizens, and an effort is tC
be made to punish the guilty parties.
What VIII Come Nextf
No further outbreaks have occurred
and the mines are all working on full
time. The convicts are hiding in tht
mountains of Kentucky. The prisoi
officials report that about $50 convict
have been released. Governor Ru
chanan has ordered the militia to b,
ready for duty at a moments notice
There is much uneasiness at Bricevill,
and at Oliver Springs, Treacy City ant
Inman, where convicts are employed
over rumor that the miners through
out the state have organized with 6
view to hberate all convicts working a
HeHa rnnrnrTIa nIIM VA niIfaM---.