The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-09-07
TORCH AND BULLET.
Tenness 70 Troops Battle With
Free Miners.
The Troops in Control Altar a
Fierce Contest.

l. 1S1OO OohUOSot
The determined stand male by the free
miners in Tennassees coal region against
the employment OF convict labor resulted in
incendiarism ami bloc lshsd. and the calling
out of all the States available troops by the
Governor. After the miners had burned
the stocka les at Tracy City ami Inman and
driven away the convicSS, they met with
Temporary repulse at Oliver Springs, but on
the following dav the stockade there was
also taken and burned, and the soldiers and
convicts We're expelled from the district.
Then. flushed with their many victories, the
miners attacked the neighboring stockade
at Coal Creek, known as Fort Anderson.
Colonel Anderson, the commander, was
captured and his life threatened by the
angry miners. After several assaults in
which n number Of lives were lost, Coal
Creek was also captured, but by this tune
the whole State was aroused.
On the following day Tennessee troops,
under the command Of General Carnes,
reached Coal Greek, took possession OF the
village and relieved the beleaguered soldiers
at Fort Anderson.
Prior 20 the arrival of General Carnes the
miners ambushed detachment which went
over the mountains under command Of Ma
jor Carpenter within quarter Of a mile OF
Fort Anderson, killed three OF the soldiers
and forcei the rest to retreat.
Gensrz Carnes, with 1900 men and q six
inch and Gatling gun, reached Coal Creek
about 9 O'clock A. u. he captured the out
posts OF the insurgents without opposition,
placed go of tha miners under arrest, and
threnc.ur1 tnat II General Anderson was
not delivered up by l P. n he would ex-
terminate the prisoners.
The miners promised to bring Anderson
in by o clock, but the hour passe1 AMI he
did not appear. Then General Carnes again
threatened retaliation, ard at about P. N.
Anderson was delivered up.
General Anderson had been captured by
five men coming un1er flag of truce. He
was entced from Fort Anderson into the
village by promise of safety; turning tne
corner he met a mob who took him to the
hotel aud produced letter to his lieutenant.
which was an order for the surrender of
the stockaie and fort. Though threatened
with hanging he steadily refused to sign the
paper, ana askel only that he be shot, and
his grave marked so that his family could
find it.
At O'CLOCK P. NJ. q special train bearing
the DO lies OF the men who were killed in the
battle at Coal Creek in the morning, three
men who we're wounded and 125 volunteers
who had gone to the front, rolled into the de-
pot at Knoxville; 5000 people were gathered
about the station, and the excitement was
higher than at any tims since the trouble
began. When the train stopped the men
poured out OF the coaches and formed IN
line, through which their dead comrades
were carried in military style. The com.
pany formsl with arms reversed and
marched behind the bodies to the Court
House.
Not until the arrival Of this train was 1t
possible to get correct statement OF the Dat
lie and the exciting incidents leading up to
it. Five men were killed in all. The dead
militiamen are: J. T Waltha ]. of Knoxville,
railway clerk, aged 90; Bruce Givsns, farmer,
Knox County, aged SO; militiaman OF the
Second Regiment (nams unknown and sup
posed to be from Chattanooga. The
wounded are. Thomas l.. Carly, lawyer OF
Knoxville, shot through the left groin, in
juries may prove fatal; Samuel u. Heiskel,
prominent lawyer and DEMOCRATIC poll
tician, slightly injured; John Milton,
laborer, slightly WOUNDED.
Two miners were killed. They are George
Miller, OF Coal Creek, and George Neil, OF
Oneida. Tenn. John Wilson, q miner OF
Coal Greek, was slightly wounded IN the
heel. J. NJ Gaut. a business man OF Knox
vile. aud one OF the volunteers, was badly
injured oy falling over a ledge Of rocks:
General Carnes captured nearly 3J0 miners
and confined them in q church at Coal
Creek.
The dead bodies of twenty-seven miners,
killed in the various engagements with the
troops, were found on the mountains. A
number OF wounded miners were taken away
by their comrades.
Volunteers from all parts Of the State
hastened to the scene OF the insurrection,
and guns aud ammunition were supplied by
the Federal authorities AMI the authorities
Of adjoining States. Mass meetings were also
held throughout the State, at which reso-
lutions condemning Governor buchanan for
his inactivity were passed.