Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-30
HIS HAIR WHITE
From His Experience with
Tennessee Strikers.
A New York Gentleman Goes South
to Buy Land
And Runs Into Camp Of the
Striking Miners.

They Take Him for q Spy as His subse-
quent Action Would Lead Them to Be
lieve and with a Lariat Tie Him to
a Freight Car which is Sent Dashing
Down Grade-saved by the Rope
Winding Around a Telegraph Pole.
New YORK, Aug. 30.--Gilbert G..
Rice, the man whose sufferings at the
hands of o mob of Tennessee miners did
30 much in the recent strike to turn SEN
timent against the strikers, was at the
Grand Central depot Sunday afternoon.
To reporter Mr.. Rice gave descrip-
ton of the lynching scene in which he
so narrowly escaped death.
"a month ago" said he, 81 visited
Altamont, Tenn, to purchase land. I
determined upon piece of forest be-
tween the North Carolina and st. Louis
railroad and the Elk river climbed
the side of mountain, blazing the trees
along the route. On my return lost
my way. It was nearly dusk when I
heard voices ahead Of me. / peered
through an opening and saw a group Of
miners talking with two men with
demijohns.
II saw that it was secret meeting of
some sort and ] thought it wise to get
away quickly. But stepped on twig
which cracked, and in moment they
were upon me. From their conversation
] found that they were band of strikers
who had come into the forest to nego-
tiate with Illicit distillers for supply of
liquor. The miners were for killing
me at once but the moonshiners pro-
tested, saying 1t would only bring down
on them the wrath of the government.
81 was kept prisoner several days in
hopes that would give some details Of
the convict camp. frankly admit that
/ he'd about the matter and gave much
pretended information in exchange for
food. But after the miners had made
charge, based on my misleading in
formation and were repulsed most Sc
verely, their anger knew no bounds.
"Cross-examination ELECTED the fact
that had never visited the convict
camp and the miners determined to
make an example Of me, A meeting
was held and the most painful death
was discussed. The meeting was held
near an old freight car that had been
sidetracked on steep incline and its
presence offered suggestion that was
quickly acted upon. 1t was decided to
tie me by the neck to one end of the
lariat and fasten the other end to the car
and then set the Car to rolling down the
grade.
''The decision was quickly carried out.
The moose was drawn around my neck
and the brakes loosened One of the
miners dropped the moose from my neck
to my waist. AS the car started the
lariat Strengthened out and took step
forward, then another and another, un-
til found it difficult to keep up. The
sides of the track were lined with jeer-
ing mob of miners. At curve in the
road was lost to their sight.
"There was sudden turn as the car
flew around. and at the end of ths taut
lariat felt myself flying through space.
/ had gone off on tangent and the rope
near the car struck a telegraph pole.
The rope wound itself rapidly around
the pole. There was sharp report as
the lariat parted and the car went on.
''Hours later / revived and got free
from the lariat, which had torn the flesh
about my loins into shreds. Two ribs
were broken and was bruised all over.
found a squatter's hut and two days
later was in Knoxville. have been
very ill ever since. My weight has
fallen from 1926 pounds to $50 now and
the shock has turned my hair white"