Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-11-01
THE MINERS
At Briceville, Tenn, Take the Law IL
Their Hands.
THE CONVICTS ARE ALL RELEASED
And Are Making Their Way to K'ntucky-Iarn-
isb,d With Clothing and Told 10 Go-Ins
Ssockad.s in Which They
Were Kept Burned.

KNOXVILLE, TENN, Octooer ot:-tuS
mining troubles have eliminated IN nre anu
bloodsned. c,,,,
Last night the miners Of the Coal Greek
district took the law into their own nanos'
The stockade at the Tennessee Mining
Company's plant was burned, the conVlcts
turned loose, given citizens clothes anu
told to leave the country.
In the quarters occupied by the convlcts
there was great activity. The men were
willing enough to make break, and tney
got away as quickly as possl Ole. Ihey
went singly and in groups, but quickly,
and il was but few minutes wnen the
last of the convicts had vanished IN the
woods, making tracks FOR the State line.
Soon after tue men were set Tree tue
greater portion of the mob started lor tne
mines In the vicinity, with the intention
of keeping up their work. ,..,o.
The miners came from every dlrectlOn,
and. assembling in force, marched on Tue
stockade. Their first act was TO piow up
the magazine The uprights OF the stoch-
ade were knocked OH anu the convlo'S
leased. They then volunteered 10 neip
tne,r rescuers in their attack on the
Chumles stockade.
The miners took possession oil the teie-
graph office at Coal Greek, and no messages
were allowed 10 be received or sent.
dispatch from Clinton says: LABOR
Commissioner Alleman arrived mere a'
nidnight from Briceville and was inter-
viewed. He says that the tennessee
Company's stockade has been burned anu
$50 conyicts released by miners, given
citizens clothing and told 10 SKIP.
Ii has been ascertalned tnat large puul-
bers of suits of citizens ana clotnes were
purchased several days ago, ana ~ IS now
f,,r
conyicts, whose escape would DC iaculCa
rcd nv discarding their striped clothes.
The greatest excitement prevails In the
surrounding country, owing to- the con-
ylcts being al liberty In sucn large mum
hers and the further trouble that Is anticl-
mated in anv effort tnat may De mace 10 en-
force the penitentiary convict lease law.
The first attack, it is known, was made
ot q o'clock on the stockade OF the TenneS-
sec Mining Company, at Bricevllle. Inc
| guards were overpowered oy the superior
numbers, and offered no resistance, leeilhs
/ that it would be useless, and prooaoly re,
| suit in great loss Of life. One nunureo aho,
| forty one convicts were attlreu IN clIl1ens
suits and released, after wnicn tne stoch-
| ode and three other buildings were burned
trba miners then made an attack on the
stockade OF the Knoxville Iron Company al
Coal Greek, where they overpowered the
| e,nards Conyicts to the number OF 81
I we're Furnished citizens suits and re-
The guards who have been in charge OF
tho stockade al Briceville have Just arrlv'
| cd They soy 49, the stocka"ss at Jna' Ja
Pace was e9r2sso IS Coal 5..SS, Sf ueIongng tC
the Knoxville Iron Company, was no,
burned, but the convicts employed in il
were released and are still at large. The
arms Of the guards were all captured with
trltiing exceptions. No resistance was
made and consequently no bloodshed.
The miners who effected the release
seem to have acted with the greatest
secrecy, showing perfect organization.
| There were no outward indications of i'm
mediate action, and the people were begin
ming TO believe that the matter would be
left to the courts for settlement. The
action of the miners seems to be surprise
| TO the citizens in the vicinity OF Briceville.
| The news which reached this city last
night and this morning OF the release by
| 1900 miners of the convicts working in the
mine at Bricevile and Coal Greek, and the
reporCs of Oloodshed was received with in
| terest.
The number Of convicts released at
Briceville was 163 and at Coal Greek l43,
total, BOG. The Governors Office presented
an animated appearance this morning.
The Governor and other officials consti-
tuting the State Board Of Prison In
spectors were in conference, and
one way or another i'll the affair,
were numerous. Among those who called
were Gen. j. L. Weakly, Inspector Gener-
al of the National Guard Of Tennessee;
Col. Jack Spur, of the First Regiment,
who was awaiting instructions in case the
military should be called out; Warden
Blevins and Deputy Warden Patton, of
the main prison; Col. Colyar, who
came in counsel for DR.. William
Morrow, sub-lessee OF the convicts,
who were working at Briceville for the
Tennessee Coal and Mining Company; Nat.
Baxter, Jr., and Col. Gaines, of the Ten
pessee Coal and Iron Railroad Company,
the direct lessees Of all convict labor Of the
State.
The convicts working at Coal Greek, it
NAV be here mentioned. are sub-let by the
lessees to the Knoxville Iron Company,
which operates the Coal Greek mines.
The first telegram received by Governor
Buchanan was from Z. 7. Alleman, Assist.
ant Commissioner of Labor, and was as
follows:
'KNoxvILLE, TENN, October 81.
"I lust came from Briceville. About
2 OoO miners attacked the stockade released
the convicts and gave them citizens clothes.
At 1880 O'Clock the miners came to the
stockade and began an attack.
The next dispatch was addressed to
Superintendent of Prisons Wade, and
read:
sKNoxvILLE, TENN, October 81.
"Guards overpowered. convicts released
at Coal Greek and Briceville.
T"Siguedl NJ. +. YEAKLEY."
Mr.. Yeakley is warden at the branch
prison at Coal Greek. The next dispatch
in spite of the recognized gravity Of the
situation, caused some amusement among
those who tDcame acquainted with its con-
tents. 1t was addressed TO the Governor,
dated Clinton, October 81, ana was as fol-
lows:
ME and 100 of US who was working at
Briceville was turned loose last night by
miners. We are loose at Clinton together.
What shall do.
"ISigned] RICHARD HUNTER (co,ored)."
Gov Buchanan entered into telegraahic
communication with Attorney General
Pickle, now at Knoxville, but no definite
action was formulated. The Governor
is very positive and determined
10 bring the law breakers to
justite and effectuslly put down such law
lessness The law passed by the General
Assembly at its recent extra session on the