Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-17
BOUND BY AN OATH
The Tennessee Miners Enter
into Compact
TO STAND FOREVER TOGETHER
In One Common Band for the Protection
of Ala Fight and q Flag
of Truce.

CHATTANOOGA, Aug. lb.-lhe most
intense excitement has seized upon the
people of this city. Colonel Wolford,
astride y weak-zneed horse. has been
securing the city all day for men.
Small details have been doing their
duty. trying to conscript men, but al
most without avail. At 7:30 "A" COM
pany had supplied only nineteen men.
while "C'' added but fifteen 70 the
number. The total number of men
who will leave tonight will not reach
fifty. Their equipment is almost =
mockery of modern warfare.
No line of action has yet been laid
out and 1t is supposed that 1t will he
but dangerous repetition OF. Coal
Creeks disgrace of last year. Oliver
Springs, where the latest outbreak has
occurred, is little mining town III An
derson county. Ii is on the Walden's 8
ridge road. The defenses consist of q
block house and about forty guards.
About breakfast time the miners came
to the stockade, they demanded the
surrender of the place. "Come, take
us and be Cd damned" was the an
swer sent by superintendent Farris.
700 miners glanced down The barrels Of
their weapons and streaKs Of flame
leaped from the muzzles as the leaden
messengers sped toward the block
house.
Flag of Truce Respected.
The guards manfully answered and
the sharp cracks of the rifles struck
terror to the hearts of the assailants
A flag of truce was raised. Capt. Far
ris respected IT and called to the leader
TO come and talk with him. Both sides
rested on their arms while the
wounded were collected. 1t is i'm
possible to say how many miners were
wounded or killed. Two guards were
ehghtly hnrt. Quiet then reigned for
some time and hurried messages were
sent to the governor. In the mean
while new company recently formed
at Hartman went to the scene.
Twenty-eight men from Knoxville also
went to the battle ground. Adjutant
General Norman had heavy ordnance
supply arranged and boarded the train
At Nashville for the scene of the trouble
at 4:30. The Chattanooga boys will
join him here at $3.50.
Oath of the Miners.
The miners are held by q strong
oath, which is as follows: "The tie
that holds the outlaws. You do, each
of you, solemnly swear in the presence
of Almighty God and these witnesses,
that in joining this company you do
SO voluntarily and of your own free
will and accord. You do each cove
nant to obey all orders committed to
you and to keep profoundly secret all
our objects aud aims, not even giving
the name of any one member of this
company to any individual or inquisi-
t0riai power whatever. You do further
tolemnly swear to obey your officers
and not refuse to act in any capacity
where the interests of the company de-
mand your service. And you further
bind and obligate yourselves by all you
hold sacred in this and the future
world not to desert or to betray this or
ganization into the hands of its ene-
mics either by signs, words or acts, or
in writing symbols or carlcature, and
further you promise to keep forever
secret this obligation, suffering your
selves TO be rscked or hung to the glib
bot; your right arm severed rather
than reveal anything detrimental to
this labor company, for the express
purpose of mutually protecting every
member from injustice, risking even
your own lives IN their defense.
Promise to Brave Dangers.
You solemnly promise to rise at the
hour of midnight and go through rain
and cold if need be to succor a member
IN peril and do all man can do for their
relief.
Prison bars should not deter nor hinder
you from being true to the ordei of
which you are member. Pledge
yourselves to stick to it for one year
unless sooner discharged. Even then
you agree to keep secret the names of
this band. In the event you betray
this band you solemnly call heaven TO
witness your eternal disgrace. Pledge
your neck for fultillment of this SOL
emn and voluntary oath, and may God
and heaven record the same against
us ALL" This blood cemented tie dld
not seem 10 satisfy the conspirators and
they stood in a circle around the fire,
every man clasping his neighbor' $
hand. The following covenant WAS read
by the leaders and chanted by the
range of file. Impressive aud grue-
some WAS the mountain tones OF the
deep voices repeating the covenant:
"Iu this covenant we this day agree, TO
act jointly and together. We swear 10
be true to each other; to stand by one
another If it should he to death, to
keep what we do secret from all the
world and If any one betray 1t the
others swear TO follow him wherever
he may flee; seek wherever he may
shelter himself and take vengeance up
on hlm by taking his life. II any of
us fail in this oath may we be accursed
ever after
RIOT AT HOMESTEAD.