New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-24
MINERS OFFER TERMS.
| TROUBLE OVER WHETHER TIE MILITIA
SHALL ESCORT THE CONvICTS BACK.
TIE GOVERNOR AFRAID TO TRUST THE CITIZEN
GUARDs-srEIKERs FEAR THAT THE AT
TENDANCE or THE SOLDIERS WOULD
EXCITE THE PEOPLE
EXCITE THE PEcPLE.


TENDANCE or THE SOLDIERS WOULD
EXCITE THE PEOPLE
Knoxville, Tenn. July 23-The miners COM
mittee left Knoxville for Coal Creek this morning
with the decision of Governor Buchanan that
if the convicts were allowed to return to the
mines from which they had been evicted by the
miners, the militia would be withdrawn and the
Legislature would be convened in extra session
for the purpose of taking such action as it saw
tit on the convict lease system. Coal Creek was
reached at II a. M and when the miners COM
mittee stepped from the train a thousand Of their
fellow-workinen were assembled to meet them
AS soon as the committee alighted from the train
loud voice was heard Gall miners to the big
grove The big grove was about mile from
the station, and thither the large crowd rapidly
made its way.
rude platform was hastily constructed. and
upon it were placed the committee and J. G. j.
Williams, who represented the Knoxville arbitra-
ton committee. The crowd was called to order
by miner. and two spokesman of the committee
related the incidents of the trip TO meet the Gov
ernor, how he received them and his decision They
said that the committee had received concessions,
and that in their minds the miners ought to grant
some. This did not meet with anything like uni
versal satisfaction but the implicit confidence the
unanimous vote to accept the report Of a Com
mittee on Resolutions which had been appointed
and which had been i'll session while the speakers
were being heard. The gist of the resolutions was
that the convicts should be returned to the mines
the miners guaranteeing that they should not be
mclested. The militia to be ordered home, and
sixty days to he allowed in which to convene
the Legislature. during which time no convict
should be molcsted and no property destroyed the
miners, if necessary, agreeing to place guards to
that the prlni.N,s w'.c kept coed.
The miners committee returned to Knoxville
at > AS p. m, and again went into conference
with the Governor and the Knoxville committee
One little incident noticed by the Associated Press
reporter will show the discipline in effect, and
explain how well the miners were in the hands
of the leaders. burly, bluff miner stepped up
10 one Of the leaders and said Il want to change
the number of my gun; I've swapped." Imme.
diatey ont came long list of names opposite
to each Of which was the number of the Win
chester rife which had been assigned.
The conference held tonight lasted three hours
and ended without any visible result Governor
Buchanan declines to consider the propO-
siion for an Immediate withdrawal of the
troops, on the ground that it would be
an implied compromise with a violation
Of law that might at the end of the sixty
days in case the Legislature declined TO comply
with the demands of the miners, be renewed with
impunty Tie representatives of the miners dig
claimed any threat, and proposed to accompany
the proposition with an explanation which would
relieve it from such a construction. The Gov,
ernor was firm, however, in his position and de-
cned to yield
There is no longer any doubt but that the
f1a
Coal Creek and Brlcevie. 1t is only a question
Of how il will be done The miners present n the
conference express the opinion that if the convictS
are returned with only such guards as are neces;
sary to keep them in custody not militia, and
placed in their stockades, there will be no inter
ference with them until the Legislature has acted
upon the repeal of the lease system. If the
militia is returned with the cOnvicts, 1t is be-
lieved that their presence will inflame the pas
sions of the already excited community, and
conflict with perhaps terrible results might follow.
This is the situation now The Governor is
considering, not what he will do, but how he will
do it. He will hold another conference with the
miners tomorrow morning There will not be
much further delay, and what is done will be done
not later than Saturday. II the Governor
his way clear to send the convicts back to the
mines safely in the custody of citizen guards, he
will most probably take that course if he does,
then quiet VIII be restored until the Legislature
is convened The whole question is whether the
convcts shall he returned to the mines with
without the protection Of the militia.
The miners are perfectly quiet at Briceville
and Coal Creek, and there no troops nearer
Coax Creek than Knoxville, thirty-lve miles
distant. The military companies are all here
awaiting orders.
At o'clock this morning Anderson Harris,
one of the Knoxville Iron COmpany's convcts,
was killed by one Of the guards, j. 4. Duncan. Har
ris stealthily approached George Torbett another
Of the guards, and began to choke him Another
negro followed. Harris was ordered by Duncan
to desist, but he failed to heed the warning and
Duncan fred. The ball took - effect under the
left shoulder-bladc, and the sjnyict died ten
minutes later.
Great excitement prevailed in the convict head
quarters. Evidently il had been agreed among
the convicts to make n dash for liberty. When
Harris was shot the second prisoner turned and
tioI Il odas