River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-08-18
The NOS RULES.
The Tennessee Miners Drive Away More
Conyicts and Destroy Another stock
AIDE.

The Tennessee Miners Drive Away More
Conyicts and Destroy Another stock
AIDE.
NASHVILLE. Tenn. Aug. l6-Ten-
nessee's convict lease system may be
considered almost as good as abrogated.
1t was not done by the processes of
legislation bat by mob violence. One
year ago the stockades at Coal - tx
and BrieeviIle were buine,s aid
several hundred prisoners set free.
-Four months later the couvicts
at Oliver Springs were released Sat
urday last the coHviets at Tracy City
were sent TO Nashville and the
mountain stockade was burned. Mon
day morning the Inman mines IN
Marion county were visited i'm like
manner, and Monday afternoon the
lessees formerly declared to the gov
ernor that they would not receive the
convicts at the mann prison here, feed
them. or have anything to do with
them. This is regarded as almost
equivalent 10 surrendering the lease.
Trouble at Inman had been looked
for from the time the news came that
the torch had been applied to the
stockade mt Tracy City, and the i'm.
preston was general that Inman would
ere long meet with the same ex-
perience. Monday miners number
ing between $50 and 200 marched
upon Inman and in short
time had captured the guards and
stoclxade and had ordered the 272
convicts out of the mines, and were en-
route with them to Victoria, where
they were quickly put on board a num-
Der of cars used in hauling coke and
started for Nashville. The stockade yas
not burned, as its destruction would en-
tail that of the railroad bridge in the
immediate vicinity, but the miners in
formed the superintendent that while
they would not set it on fire they would
tear it down.
The first information that came to
Vice President Baxter, of the Tenues-
see Coal, Iron 81 Railroad Company, the
lessees of the convicts, was from Vic
toria. which announced that no tele-
graph communication could be had
with lnman, the wire having
been cut during the night. This
news was an indication that
trouble might be expected. Then came
dispatches stating that a special
train conveying fourteen extra guards
from Nashville to Inman had been
captured by the miners at trestlc
short distance from Victoria, and that
Warden Burton and the guards had
been forced to return to Victoria,
while the miners, rejoicing over the
stoppage of the train and detention of
the forces, had gone to Inman.
Arriving at Inman they quickly over
powered the sixty-five guards stationed
there, meeting with scarcely any re-
sistance. Then they seized the stock
ade, which was well fortified, and be-
ing thus in control of the property of
the lessees they proceeded to
order the convicts to get ready
to march at a moments notice to
Victoria. After a journey of several
miles the convicts, who were guarded
by the miners and the guards en-
ployed by the lessees, reached Victoria
and were hustled into the cars. The
engineer and conductor were ordered
to move on without delay, but this or
der could not be obeyed because ar
Engagements had not been made for the
right of way over the road. This be-
ing finally secured, the train moved
out and Inman was at last free from
convict labor.
Reaching Bridgeport a special train
was provided and the trip to Nashville
was resumed The convicts reached
here Monday and were met by tine
prison officials and number of guards,
who escorted them TO the penitentiary.
The capacity of the prison is 200, As
there were already nearly /, 900 convicts
within its walls the new arrivals We're
obliged to accommodate themselves as
best they could to the surroundings.
Monday night the miners went to the
Inman stockadc, pulled down one of the
barricades, and demolished the build
ings with axes. The loss to the own
ers of the property is 50, 600. All of the
works belonging to the company will
close down.
When Gov. buchanan had been for
mally notified of the seizure of the
stockade at Inman, Adjt. Gen. Norman
telegraphed the sheriff of Marion coun-
ty to swear in as many deputies as he
might deem necessary and to arrest
as many of the offenders as possible.
JuAlAt MOOH VI iAC NOhAt
of Marion county ordered the sheriff
to proceed TO the scene of the disturb
ance and enforce law and order. Mon
day night a telegram was received by
Gov Buchanan from the sheriff, who
said that he was helpless and could do
nothing. The best citizens are indig-
nant, but popular feeling exists and
the people generally are disposed to
encouraged the act.
Later in the evening the company
sent the governor formal notification
to the effect that they would not
receive or feed the convicts who
had been captured by the miners at
Inman and brought to this city without
their consent. As soon as the com
munication was read the governor
called meeting of the board of prison
inspectors. The inspectors decided to
not only receive the convicts, but also
TO supply them with food. Mr.. Baxter
said Monday:
The company is willing TO surrender its
lease contract and leave the state free 10 make
such disposition of the convicts as the state
authorities may deem best. The company Of
fered this to the last extra session OF the gem
eral assembly, but no action was taken upon IT,
This offer has stood open to the state authori
ties since that date, and is now open TO Them
The company only asks that the law be en-
forced and the company be protected in the exc
cution of the contract, or that it be Cancelled"
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