The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-19
THE TENNESSEE WAR.

The Convict Camp Attacked by Miners
Captain Anderson Captured.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
KNOXVILLE. Tenn. Aug. 1S.-Capt Ken
ton Anderson, who for nearly . year has
guarded the convicts at Coal Creek, is in
the hands of the miners at last. Reliable
reports say that battle at Camp Anderson
was commenced at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. For several hours firing was
not general. About 2 O'Clock the
miners, to the number of one thousand.
made an organized assault on the fort and
were repulsed. A second assault was
easily repulsed. The third attempt re-
suited in q regular pitched battle. and
Gattling guns got in their work, but TO
what extent is not known. Several of the
asasilants were wounded and some of them
wcre probably killed, but no one knows
for certain.
Between the first and second assaults on
the fort three miners were captured. The
miners sent up q flag of truce to Captain
Anderson to ask for the release of the pris-
oners He was expecting such message.
and met the men on equal grounds. He
was seizod by several of them and
rushed down the hill. and finally
t.ken to one of the hotels in
the village. The miners are holding
him as hostage and will not agree to give
him up until the troops and convicts are
Withdrawn from the valley. In the mean
time, Burt Lindsay q desperate character,
is trying to organize mob to lynch Ander-
son. Tho hotel is surrounded by some three
hundred well-armed men. Another story is
to tho effect that Captain Anderson was
drunk and came outside of the fortifica-
tion anc that the boys picked him up with
out trouble. He has so far made no state
ment. His force of $50 men is still holding
the fort The men have been on short ra-
tons for three days. Every avenue of sup
ply has been cut of.
DISPATCHES from Clinton say that In max.
ing the last assault the miners captured
the convicts, and with them Captain An
dcrson, the officer in charge. who was
personally defending the prisoners
stockade. Clinton dispatches show ths,
the first assault was made about o'clock.
Before the battle commenced the miners
out the wires and destroyed about two
miles of railroad tracks. Track repairere
and linemen arc at work, and both tele
graph and railroad lines will be repaired
before morning.
HOW ANDERSON WAS CAPTURED.
Reports are conflicting. and it is difficult
to learn the truth of the days events. An.
other story from Jasper says: "A reporter
who was under arrest By the miners since
night before last. and just escaped says
that the fighting begun at 8 O'Clock and
continued. without cessation, until {
O'Clock. During the fight two or three Of
the leaders of the miners were captured
by Captain Anderson's troops. A truce was
raised, and the miners told Anderson If ht
would surrender their leaders they would
allow him to return to his fort He tool
the men and went down among the mob
When ont of range of the guns ht
was captured and not allowed &C
return. The leader of the mol
Is the notorious Bud Lindsay,
who has murdered eight or ten men In bis
time. Lindsay put pistol to Auderson's
head and told him he must order his mer
to surrender or he would shoot. Genera
Anderson answered by q defiant wave o
ha ha odA
ing that he would never tell his men tG
surrender. Anderson was then taken to q
hotel as a prisoner"
At IL o'clock the wires are still dowr
and real news is not obtainable. 1t il
known that Major Carpenters Knoxville
men reached Offutts. q point on the rail
road five miles from Coal Creek, in safety.
At this place he disembarked his com
mand and marched out into the woods
The pickets of the miners are sta
toned along the railroad three mileI
from Coal Creek. Carpenter thus has
chance to get back into the mountains ant
attack Coal Creek in the rear. and it II
possible the first heard of him will be thai
he Is inside Camp Anderson, after slighI
sklrmIsh with the surprised miners
He knows every bypath in Ander
son county. and much 10 expected Of him
Confused and contradictory rumors came
from Coal Creek. courier came int
Clinton at IL o'clock with news that firins
had been kept up all the afternoon. tha
the Gatling gun was out Of condition. ani
that four soldiers had been killed. N,
credence is given this, however.
1t now transpires that the firing has beer
desultory, no set attack having been made
The miners claim that mono of them hav,
been injured, but this - not believed. 4
report also comes that General Ander
son has been removed from the ho
tel at Coal Creek, and that b.
will be killed tonight. IL thi