The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-07-23
UNCLE SAM WILL PROBABLY
BE CALLED ON TO SET
TILE THEM.
THE TROUPs ARE STILL ARRIVING.
The Militia and the People Believed to
Be in Sympathy With the Hioters.
Convicts Taking a Rest.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, July 21.-Not
since the dark days of '65 have there
been such thrilling scenes on the
streets of Knoxville as were enacted
today. Since the arrival yesterday
evening Of car load of convicts and
the return of the military the greatest
excitement has been manifest. The
court house lawn, steps, fence and
streets surrounding the place have
contained great crowds all day and
many and varied are the expressions
heard regarding the condition of
things.
A visit to the temporary prison
where the convicts are guarded is
worthy OF mention. On the lower
floor many of the colored convicts were
receiving calls from their relatives and
friends. Some were boxing to while
away time. Others were shooting
''craps," )" some singing, others patting
and dancing. launching was going on
indiscriminately, One convict was
playing Johnny your gun," on a
wheezy fiddle and another was writing
letter home. One had flag which
he waved out of the window and
all were apparently enjoying
themselves splendidly considering
the uncomfortable surroundings. At
2:45 four companies of West Tennessee
military arrived at the court square
and cheer after cheer went up as they
came in. The situation was briefly
discussed by the officers under the
shade of the court house trees. All the
new arrivals are we'll supplied with
blankets. The late arrivals were older
in years and had boards. The Other
troops looked like mere boys.
Yesterday afternoon at $3.50 O'Clock
the excitement reached fever heat. 1t
was occasioned by the arrival of ad-
ditional troops from Memphis. They
number over 100 and were in charge
of Brigadier General Carr. The com
panies represented are the Chickasaw
Guards, Roster Zouaves, Bluff City
Zouaves and Hibernian Rifles. The
men before leaving Memphis were we'll
supplied with ammunition, blanke s,
etc. Upon the arrival here of troops
at the depot they We're drawn upfn
line. While awaiting the order to
move thousands of men, women and
children crowded about the depot and
anxiously watched every movement.
The usual number of anarchistic
threats by irresponsible persons were
made, but little attention is given
them. The situation is an exceedingly
grave one. Gen. Carnes has now 500
troops ready to march to Coal Creek.
1t all depends, however, on his orders,
which he as yet refuses to make public
FIGURING ON FEDERAL TROOPS.
WASHINGTON, July 21.-Army off
GERS are watching with interest the
conflict between the striking miners
and state militia in Tennessee, appre.
hending that the failure OF the latter
to cope with the miners may result in
call upon the national government
for troops. In this case it would be
difficult for the war department to
meet the demand to secure troops for
the purpose of protecting convict
miners. The nearest army post, ex-
cepting Columbia Arsenal, where there
are no available force. of troops, is
Newport barracks, near Cincinnati.
There are only two companies of
infantry there, however, and not all of
these troops could be spared. Fort
Russell, in Ohio, has a bare garrison
OF one company, and the nearest
available troops are probably as far
west as st. Louis, from which point
their transportation to the mountains
OF East Tennessee would be difficult
and slow. Army officers here however,
have suspicion that the sentiment
of the people of Tennessee, including
the militia, is favorable to the striking
miners, who are fighting against con-
vict labor, hope that if the militia
again fails, the result may be the re-
turn of the convicts to their prisons
without recourse to federal assistance.