Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-26
Miners War in Tennessee.
An Armed Rebellion Put Down by the
Militia with GatIimg Guns.

Militia with GRtling Gums.
The state of Tennessee had a veritable
armed rebellion on its hands last week
which it required determined action by the
the state troops to put down. The cause of
the revolt is the convict lease system, UNI
der which the state hires out its criminals
to work in the coal mines side by side with
free miners. Last year the free miners at
Coal Creek revoltcd and made themselves
masters of the situation at the mines.
They disbanded, however, and went back
to work on the promise of the governor to
call an extra session of the legislature to
amend the convict lease law. The session
was called, but after six weeks of dallying
and wrangling it adjourned without taking
any action. The real reason for the refus-
al of the legislature to act was that it
feared to cut off the 100000 revenue de
rived from the lease of convicts and to in
cur the outlay for new prison which the
abrOgation of the system would necessi-
tate. The Alliance is strong in the state,
and its demand for economy was sufficient
to overawe the lawmakers.
The miners remained quiet until week
before last when trouble broke out at
Tracy City. The immediate grievance was
the placing of the free miners on half time
and half pay, while the convicts were EN-
poyed on full time. On Saturday. the
18th inst, the miners attacked the convict
stockade at Tracy City, burned it to the
ground and sent the convicts in box cars
under guard to Nashville. Several of the
convicts escaped and few were shot dead
while attempting to get away. The fight
was continued last week, when several
other stockades were empted and de
stroyed.
Governor Buchanan was asked at once
for troops in sufficient numbers to quel
the disturbances. He responded by send
ing an inadequate force When it had be
come apparent that the militia would not
be sufficiently strong, fresh appeals were
made, but Buchanan refused to listen
He would neither call in the troops already
in the field nor send reinforcements. Al
first he laughed at the fears of those who
dreaded disaster and promised to settle all
difficulties by peaceable means; when the
militia on the scene of action had surren
dered to the insurgents he took the ground
that the demands of the miners must be
granted. Finally, as the trouble grew
more serious, he took to his bed, overcome
by nervous prostration.
The trouble eliminated in series of at
tacks made by the miners on the troops al
Coal Creek Calling guns were finally
brought to bear on them and they gave W
the fight. The sound of the battle wa.
heard at Knoxville, the riot bell was rung
and the streets were filed with excited
| people who cursed Gov. Buchanan for hi,
inefficiency. Capt. Anderson, in command
of the troops at Coal Creek, won a hero
reputation by his brave action in the fac,
of the mob of insurgent miners. Called
out by flag of truce, he was seized an,
| held a prisoner and threatened with in
slant death unless he ordered his troops I,
surrender. Calmly facing the leader o
the mob, he said: "Tell my daughter tina
| died like brave man. folded his arm
and told the man to shoot. The eade
| quailed under this and Anderson was after
ward released and delivered over to Gen
| Canes, who commanded the militia. Thu
unconditional surrender of the miners fol
lowed on Friday.
Wholesale arrests of miners engaged il
the disturbance have been made this week