The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-14

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. 1a.-ISpe-
cial]-At 8 o'clock this morning the
stockade at Tracy was burned and 800
convicts were placed on cars ready to
be started for Nashville. Four hours
before a Committee of miners awoke E.
O.Nathurst, superintendent OF the mines
for the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail-
road Company, and asked him that tho
miners be allowed as many hours work
in each week as the convicts. Nathurst
replied that he would submit the propo-
sition to the company and to dowhat he
could. Tho committee then left and
Nathurst, knowing that secret oath
bound organization had been formed
some weeks ago for purposes unknown,
at once began to suspect trouble. He
went to Deputy Warden Burton and to-
gether they began to circulate among
the minners who were gathering in
groups and tried to influence them to
keep quiet.
Their efforts were Of no avail. Slowly
the ominous air of excitement became
tinged with open threats and threats of
destruction to the stockade or q battle.
AT $40 o'clock an organized body of $50
men, 100 of them armed and so appar-
emily unarmed, advanced on the stock
AIDES. To capture it was quick work.
Without undue confusion every piece
OF property belonging to tho Tennessee
Coal, Iron and Railroad Company was
carefully removed to safe distance
and the convicts who were in the stock
ade were let out under guard. Then
the torch was applied and at O'clock
the buildings were u mass Of flames.
The miners at once proceeded to the
mines, took possession of the convicts,
marched them to the railroad station
and loaded them in box cars. Next the
telegraph wires were cut and o guard
placed over every engine in the yards
to prevent it from carrying the news
down the mountain.
| There has been much dissatisfaction
among free miners at Tracy because of
| the lease systems, which allowed the
bulk of work to be done in the mines by
convicts. Yet the miners at Tracy have
been among the most conservative in
the State, and tho company has had
very little trouble with them. They
have been determined to support no
party or candidate in the coming cleo
tions that was not pied god to the prompt
abolition OF the system. Governor
buchanan stated that the convicts
would be brought to the main prison
here, and kept until new stockade
could be built, when they would DO re-
turned as had been dono at Coal Creek.
James Bowron, secretary of the com
pany, on being asked for further lnfor-
nation, said:
Tine trouble has como from about
100 of the miners at Tracy, or about
one-third OF the body It is the result
OF secret, oath bound organization,
which was formed some weeks ago
That was where the definite action be-
gan. The incidens was the reduc ton of
hours necessitated by the lax markets
We contemplated shutting down our
furnaces two weeks ago, but found it
lester TO run even on half tlmo than not
to run at all. The attack on the stock
ade was absolutely unexpected. I re.
ceived letter from Nathusst this morn
ing, in which he reviews the whole sit
uation and concluded with tho assurances
that everything would remain orderly.
drew breath of relief when read it,
and the telegram was shock"
special from Cowan, Tenn, says:
This morning after the convicts en-
tered the mines at Tracy City about 400
armed men walked into the stockade,
and, after clearing it Of everything OF
value, set it on fire and burned it TO the
ground. They then marched TO tho
mines and ordered the convicts brought
out and took charge of them and the
guards. loaded them in box cars and or
dered Conductor Fitch and Engineer
Bolton 10 leave Immediately. Being
covered by guns they we're Obliged to
obey. The train arrived here att D. No p
Capt. Hurton with % guards have $50
or 800 convicts in charge aud under con
troll. Between Sewauee and Mont Eagle
the convicts cut the train in two, and
II or Is made break for liberty. Sev-
eral shots were fired. Matt Wilson,
white was killed, and Tom Smith, col
ored, wounded. Six or eight made good
their escape. The wires were cut be-
tween here and Tracy city, and nothing
further can be learned Of the insurgents.
The Committee will Meet Wednesday.
New York, Aug. 3.-iSpeciall The
Democratic national campaign commit
tee will meet next Wednesday. All the
members have sent word that they will
be- present The heavy work Of tho
campaign will then be begun and the
committeeman will settle down here for
the summer, excepting Z. G. Wall, of
Wisconsin, who will have charge of the
canvass in the Northwestern States.
..l'
The Weekly Bank Statement.
New YORK, Aug 13-[Sneciali-Th