New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-14
A RIOT AT TRACY CITY.
FREE MINERS BURN THE PRISON sTocKADR
THE oONvCTs PLACED IN CARS AND REMOVED
SOME OF THEM TRY TO ESCAPE AND ONE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ABOUT WORK.
ING HOURS THE CAUSE OF
THE TROUBLE.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNAL

Nashville, Tenn, Aug. l3. The scenes en-
acted at Bhccville, Coal Creek and Oliver
Springs one year ago when the free miners rose
up in arms against convict labor and. capturing
the prison stockade, applied the torch to them,
we're repeated at Tracy City to-day the stockads
at the branch prison there being burned. In this
case the convicts were not released, but the 800
men were taken from the stockades, and mines
placed on board box cars and sent
10 Nashville The wires were cut by
the miners to prevent communication
between the local representatives Of the Tennes-
see Coal, Iron and Railroad Company and the
home office in this city, and all the engines in
the railroad yards were held for similar purpose,
but the convcts were guarded. The first infor-
nation received here concerning the outbreak was
sent from Tracy City to Monteagle, six miles dis
tant, and thence wired to Nathaniel Baxter, jr-
vice president Of the Tennessee, Coal, Iron and
Railroad Company.
Mr.. Baxter at once communicated the contents
of the dispatch to the Governor, who
was at the time being interviewed by X
Bennett, John A. Wilson and John Lewis,
committee appointed by the Coal Creek miners
to request him to withdraw from Coal Creek the
soldiers who for months have been stationed
there to prevent the release of cOnvlctS Dy tho
miners The committee had given the Governor
the assurance that il the troops were removed
there would I've no further trouble or molesta-
tion Of the convicts there. The startling news
from Tracy City of course stopped all consdera-
ton of the matter by Governor buchanan, and
the Coal Creek committee left for home on the
first train to keep down any disturbance that
might occur when the action of the Tracy City
miners became known Governor Buchanan SAID
that the convcts taken from the Tracy City
In L,nu ~ fh. main
here and kept until "a new stockade could be
| built when they would be returned, as had been
| done at Coal Creek
For several DAYS there have been rumors that
trouble was likely to occur at Tracy City. Gov
ernor Buchanan upon receiving a communica-
tion from Mr. Baxter on "Wednesday evening, sent
f. B. Wade, State Superintendent Of Prisons,
to Tracy City. TO investigate and report. MI
| Wade telcgraphed TO the Governor Oh lnurshay
night that everything was quiet, end no trouoio
| need be apprehended Similar information was
received in a letter from +. o. Nathurst, superin-
tendent of the mines. However, at o'clocs
this morning Mr.. Nathurst was awakened py
| committee Of miners, who asked that tile hve
miners Whose hours had been reduced recently DC
| allowed as many hours work in each week as 'he
convicts. Mr.. Nathurst told the comml'tee
that he would submit the matter 10 che
| ana 90 Wnat nc couiu '"'"'
| committee departed and Mr. Nathurst instantly
suspected that trouble would occur, as he knew
the miners had formed a secret oath-bouhd or
eanizatfon for purposes unknown, several weeks
ago. Calling upon Deputy Warden Burton the
! Two circulated among the miners who were con-
r,eQatinQ here and there, and tndeavored TO ges
| them 10 remain quiet
| Suddenly at 8 80 o'clock $50 men marched on
the stockade One hundred of the number were
armed with guns and pistols Most OF the guarus
| being absent at the mines, the miners easily
| took possession of the stociade. They were soom
| ioincd by 200 more men, ana IN snoIo tille az
| The stores belonging 10 the lessees had been re-
| moved from the stOckadc to prevent their ae-
| structon This having been accomplished, tie
| torch was applied TO the large building ana IL
was soon mass OF ila'nes
| The excitement then grew greater The miners
went 10 the mincs and, ordering the convicts
ont guarded them to the depot, where they werc
placed on cars and the conductor and engineer OF
The train Were ordered 10 leave at once Tor Cowan
with the convcts. who had been turned over 10
| ty-Wardcn Burton and twenty-five Suards.
| Between Sewanec and Montcagle the convlcts cue
the train in two. and ten or fifteen made a break
for liberty. Several shots were fired. MAI Wlsons
white was killed, and Tom smith, colored,
wounded. Six or eight made good their escape.
The train was held at Cowan until orders 10 come
/ ON were received from Nashville.
| An official oil the Tennessee Coal. ron an> Kali.
| road Company stated that the working hours OF
| tha free miners were reduced because OF the lax
markets The trouble came from about $50 ot
| the miners at Tracy City about one-third OK
tL. body said he We contemplated shutting
| down our furnace two weeks ago, but thought IL
| better TO run even OH halt time than not TO run
AT all H., l.
| formation of any disturbance there has been rS