The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-16
The Tennessee Miners Release
More Of the COnVicts.
lNMAN CAPTURED BY STRATEGY,
State Guards Stopped En- Route
and Sent Back Quickly.

capture Mud, After the Nieht S:uora
Had Gone OF Duty and When no Trouble
Was Exrected-Nnshville now over
crowded with Returned Prisoners, and
Gov. Buchanan Perpie xcd, hut Deter.
mined. lie Says. to Uphold the Law
Trouble Feared mt the Mine. Not Yet
Rnid-d by the Mincrs-The Mining Com.
pnny's Indifference In tho Matter.
NASHVILLE Aug. 15.-Thc state OF Tennessee
was stnrtlcd to-day. for tho second time in
three days. BY the announcement that an
armed body OF miners had. in omen defiance Of
law. captured n prison stockade and ~convicts
employed In mines and returned the latter to
Nashville. On Saturday last the miners Mt
Tracy City seized the stockndo at that place
and sent 800 %convicts back to tho main prison
here.
Att o'clock this morning a body Of miners
captured n special train which was bearing
fourteen extra guards sent to the defence of
the Inman stockade. and forced them to no.
turn. Then they visited tho stockade. made
tho sixty-fve regular guards prisoners. took
charge OF tho 272 %convicts. loaded thom on
coke cars. and took them 70 Victoria to await
transportation to Nashville. They did not
burn tho stockade because OF its proximity to
a railroad bridge. but announced their inten-
tion OF tenring It down.
This act OF lawlossness was reported to the
Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad COMPANY.
the lessecs Of the c%onvicts. and by tho com.
pany to Gov. Buchanan. The Governor re-
ceivcd many kilograms during tho day. and 1t
was apparent that he was greatly disturbed
over the new Developments. kilograms were
sent to the Sheriff Of Marion county. ordering
him to swear in as many deputies as were re-
quired. and to arrest as many OF the members
OF tho mob as possible.
he was also requested to state whether no
needed any assistance and to report results.
subsequently, tho Tennessee Coal. Iron and
Railroad Company prepared and forwarded q
communication to the Governor and the State
Board OF Prison Inspectors asking that tho
company DO protected in its rights. The
prison inspectors met Immediately upon re-
ceipt OF the communication but took no action,
adjourning to meet tomorrow morning.
The lessscs this evening formally notified
the Governor that they would not feed the
Imam c%onvicts. as they had been forcIbly re-
leased and sent back without the consent Of
the company. The State. however. will supply
the convicts with food until some decision ia
reached in the matter.
The trouble with the miners at Coal Creek
and Bricevilie last summer was followed nv
that ut Oliver Springs In the fall. Next came
the uprising mt Tracy City. and then in quick
order TINT at lnman 1t Is not surprising that
the driving away Of the ~convicts at Tracy City
was followed by a similar act at Inman. and it
would not be n surprise tomorrow or soon to
learn that miners. in their rebellion and def
ancc. have seized tho stockadc at Oliver
Springs or attacked the state militia now on
guard ut Coal Creek.
Should the latter be attempted there will no
doubt be a large loss Of life. as both miners
and troops arc we'll armed. 1t is hoped that
peace will be maintained, but tho outlook Ia
ominous.
There have been rumors ever since the out
break at Tracy City. that there would be a con-
certed movement all along the line and that
1nman would bo the next place to fnll into the
hands OF tho miners. Much uncasiness was
felt as to Oliver Springs and Coal Creek. but It
was generally believed that Inman would first
suffer. Hence. when the announcement was
made early this morning that the wire at
lnman had been cut 1t WAS at once suspected
that tho miners wero responsible for the act
and that tho stockuIe had fallen into their
hands.
Several hours later n telegram cane from
Victor. six miles from Inman. saying TINT the
guards had been captured and tho convicts
sent back and that the stockade had not been
burned. The miners had determined upon the
return of the c%onvicts to Nashville and cure.
fully laid their plans. As WAS the case at
Tracy City. they reasoned that an attack
would DO expected at night md that the guards
would be on the alert.
by descending upon the st0ckado carly in
the morning. when the night guards would be
asleep and the day guards and convicts in the
mines. they would have a better opportunity
Of making n capture. Having agreed upon
their programme. they cut the wires to Inman
during tho night to prevent warning and calls
for assistance being received.
Assembling in the very early hours of tho
morning. thoy placed pickets on the roads
leading to the mines to prevent any ono in
teriering with their work. After this had
been done. the main body OF the miners moved
toward the stockade. timing their movements
80 that they could make u sudden rush at the |
proper time.
Clarence Livingston. who had been sont
from Whitewall at midnight to notify tho In
man authorities that danger was near. WIS
nearly killed by a picket. His hors" was shot
from under him ms he tried to pass and deliver
tho message intrustcd to his care, and he was
caught and whipped.
In the mean time the chr containing the ex-
ira guards ordered 10 Inman was on its way.
suddenly the train came TO a stop. and the
guards were prisoners. no serious resistance
being offered. Having thus provided against
assistance from outside thc miners pressed
onward. and reaching tho stockadc swoopcd
down upon II.
There were enough guards to have kent
them at a distance for n reasonable time. but
tho mob Of 200 mon. which. it is said. included
thirty negroes and some cx-convicts. had no
trouble In taking possession OF tho building
and tho ~convicts. There was talk OF burning
the stoekale. but Mr.. Anderson. tho superin. |
tcndcnt of the railroad. asked them not to do
this. as the lianes would communicate to tho
railroad bridge near by and destroy it.
The minors needed the request. hut declared
that they would tear tho property down.. They
said they were determined to put u stop to tho
presence OF convict labor at Inman. They
made the convicts form q line. and undor
guard they wero marched from tho mines to
Victoria, six miles away. Arriving there the
convlcts wers nlaced in coke cars coniscsted
for that purpose. and tho conductor Of the
tain was ordered to proceed TO Bridgeport
Tho loading OF tho conyicts was completed !