New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-17
FREE MINERS REPULSED.
AN UNSUCCESSFUL ASSAULT ON THE STOCK.
ADE AT OLIVER SPRINGS. TENN.
SEVERAL OF 4HE CoMBATANTS w0UNDED3
ANOTHER ATTACK ExPECrED-TRooPs HUR
HE'D TO THE SPOT FROM TWO CITIES
COAL CREEK MENACED.
.sr TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNE,


Nashville, Aug 16.-Ihc excitement among tho
free miners in Anderson County, which was inten-
sifed by the developments first at Tracy City
and then at Inman, resulted in the holding Of
secret meetings at which the situation was fully
discussed and the dcision reached that bold
effort should be made to release the convic6 -
the Oliver Springs mines. These mines are four
or five miles distant from the Coal Creek minees
where the soldiers have for months been guaro-
ing the two hundred convicts employed in digging
coal there The miners laid their plans with
care and last night agreed upon as the TINS
for making the attack. They intended to destroy
the stockade and other buildings by fire after
they had set the convicts free, and thus for the
s.cond time in a wear strike strong blow at con-
vict labor.
Aiming themselves with guns and rinee tney
made the attack at O'Clock this morning. 1ns
guards, some twenty-five in number, were gam
and voley after volley was exchanges, the resuAs
being the wounding Of several men, tnree Of
them being guards and the others miners. onay
one man, a guard, received mortal wound, ws
rest escaniuc with injuries that will confine them
to their homes for some time During 'nc "'i.s
the conyicts were considerably excited, but tne
oaicia,s kent q close watch upon them, and after
the departure of the miners quiet WAC restored
excitement throughout the valley. Miners In
and around Coal Creek it was reported, decided
during the day to come to the aid of the others
and make a second and more desperate attack
upon the stockade which, 1t was thought, couio
not long be defended by the guards.
However, the prison officials managed 70 eeno
messages through to Governor Buchanan In tho
morning, before the wires were cut, ana shortiy
afterward orders were sent by the Governor 70
the commanders OF the troops at Knoxville ana
Chattanooga to get their companies togetier ana
make preparations to start on special traine ios
Oliver Springs. The orders were obeyed. ana tho
companics reached the stockade tonight and wens
info camp At that time all was quiet. IroupAe
has been expected at Oliver Springs all day. anu
NAV come tonight unless the arrival Of the troops
has a tendency to make the miners conclude
n wait awhile. The military companies In this
and other cities met to-day, and will be ready TO
r,ov. as soon "a the order is issued, should tho
Governor consider it necessary to call upon them.
Those who are well informed seem to think that
an attack will be made at Oliver Springs some
time during the night, and that Coal Creek may
be next attacked, provided the miners 90 noo
meet with a second repulse at the former place.
This afternoon band OF lOo MINERS aru'eu
with Winchesters, took possession OF tram Oh
the Knoxville and Ohio road, at Coal Creek'
bound for Clinton, where they hoped 10 NC a"'0
to intercept the reinforcements; but they wete
FOO late The issue is grave one. for the miners
are placing dynamite in dozen places On @e
Knoxville and Ohio and Waldens Ridge Rsit
road to wreck any train carrying militia 10
NIGHT the through mail trains could not 60 lor-
ward and il ia believed that the United Staces
authorities will interfere.
The prison inspectors met to-day, put a. on'
NJ the members could not be in attendance, peins
detained in West Tennessee by the serious Illness
Of his child no definite action was taKen'
although the convict question was talked over
The board will meet tomorrow, and VIII prooaoV
agree upon some course OF action
Governor Buchanan to-day had conference
with John c. HoucS who went on MONDAY "
Coal Creek to try to pacify the miners. SI'
Uoucl, said the leaders promised him that no
acts of violence would be committed untli they
had heard from him. He added that the miners
SAY that if the Governor will withdraw the miilu@
from Coal Creek, they will protect one
lessees' property, and Will not interfere
with tie convicts until after the meeuns
of the Legislature. Mr.. Houck thinks that II
tbe Governor will accede to the demands Oh the
miners by removing the militia, the mlners WI. WI.
certainly do as they agree and not Interfere win
tho convicts: but he says there Is leenng Oh
recruitment prevalent, and that unless something
is done there will be trouble. u,,,
Oliver Springs is on the east side OF Walden's
pidrn M the foot OF the mountain. Ii is abous
thirty miles from Knoxville on the railroad oe-
,ueen that pace and Hartman. The coal mines
,Ser, are owned and operated by the Tennessee
Coal, Iron and Railroad Company The stocKade ,s,e
Is a new one, having been built in place or the
one destroyed by the miners last year. aud
T,acw CIV has Wrought temporary disaster to the
commercial interests of South PittsbGrg Inc fhrfe
rrnn and Railroad employing 450 men, banked
neir trSi fire fires this morning. and will not resume
work work until the trouble is settled Inc n noatr ~,
Pttsburg pipe works have also shut aSwn unon no,
the e Tennessee Coal Company for coke used IN Us
furnaces. and are forced to suspend temp9'rarny'
Affairs in the valley are in great turmon'