Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-08-27
miners IN BATTLE.
Desperate Conflict with Guards at
Oliver Springs, Tenn.
The Strikers GO So Far as to Block the
Mail Trains.

The troubles over the employment of con-
yicts at coal mines under the lease system in
Tennessee are coming thick and fast, and
eliminated in a pitched battle at Oliver
Springs mines About GOO free miners We're
observed by the head warden, Ferris, APP
preaching the stockade. They marched in a
solid body, and the leader was heard to ex-
claim: "Close up, boys, and let's take emr'
The warden yelled back; Come and get US,
il you canm
Then the miners opened hotfusilade from
two sides, and firing continued for some time,
tho miners advancing all the time. The
guards, en'renched by the stockade, respond
ed with calling fire, and soon two or three
of the miners were seen to fall, and one
guard was wounded The miners hoisted
flag of truce and asked permission to carry
off their wounded This was granted, and
three wounded men were removed, and the
miners Suddenly withdrew to cover and pre-
pare for second attack.
The news of the skirmish was flashed all
over the State, the first official information
being dispatch from the adjutant- general
10 Col Wood, directing him to order out the
Guard, and report with all available men at
once at Oliver Springs The riot alarm was
sounded at the courthouse and soon mounted
officers were seen in all parts of the city
Much delay was experienced owing to an
iEdisposition of the militia to obey the call to
arms but at 1920 Companies A and B, with
tbout fifty men, left foEthe front via Knox
vile. They reached there in safety, but NJ
news can be had, as the rioters have cut the
wires, and with drawn revolvers driven the
operators from the telegraph offices.
band of 100 miners armed with Win
chesters took possession of a train on the
Knoxville and Ohio road at Coal Creek en-
route for Clinton, where they hoped to be
able to intercept the reinforcenents, bat they
were too late. The issue is a grave one for
the miners are dynamiting in dozen places
the Knoxville and Ohio and the Knoxville
ard Walden's Ridge Railroad to wreck the
train carrying the militia The through
mail trains could not go forward, and it is
believed that the United States authorities
will interfere.
Oliver Springs and Briceville are now the
only points in the State where convicts are
employed. At the latter point detachment
of soldiers numbering 1870 are strongly en-
trenched where they have been for over a
year. a II the conyicts at Imam and Tracy
City have been released. No further trouble
is reported at tho points
All trains, United States mail trains in
cluded, have stopped running between Knox
vile and Hartman on account of the block
ade. The GROWING outrage of the miners
was perpetrated in the capture of passer-
ger train which passed Coal Greek. About
dark eighty-two miners, all heavily armed
boarded it, placed pistols at the head of the
conductor and fireman and made them carry
them to Clinton, where the coaches wered de-
tached and the passengers terrorized The
miners then hitched on two coal cars and
forced the engineer to take them to Oliver
Springs. They refused to pay fare, and M
ply had their own way by outlawry II is
now known that the battle was renewed a
short time after the Knoxville troops reached
the stockade, but result is unknown The
Chattanooga militia will have to march over
land from Hartman to divers, distance of
eighteen miles, as the Waldensridge road has
been planted with dvnamitn