The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-08-25
GATLING GUNS USED.
DESPERATE BATTLE RACED IN
TENNESSEE.
Miners Make Three Attempts to Take tho
Fort at Coal Creek - Reported Lynchlng
Of Captain AnderHon- Twelve Said to
Have Been Killed.
Captured the Captain.


Of Captain Anderson Twelve Said TO
Have Been Killed.
Captured the Captain.
Knoxville, Tenn. special:
Calling guns were turned upon the
miners at Coal Greek. How many were
killed and wounded no one yet knows.
The only fact which none can dispute is
that the ficrcest battle in the history OF
the Coal Greek troubles began early in
the morning and continued during the
day.
1t is stated that Captain Keller An
dcrson, in command of the Coal Creek
troops, has been captured by the miners,
taken to an unknown place and lynched.
For several hours firing was not gen.
eral. About 2 o'clock the miners made
an organized assault on the fort and
were successfully repulsed. The second
assault was easily repulsed. The third
attempt resulted in a regular pitched
battle and Calling guns got in their
work.
Position Of the Fort.
The fort occupies crest Of hill COM
mading the range of Coal Gre * valley
for five miles east and west. To tho
north is spur of the valley in which
the stockadc of the Knoxville Iron Com
pany is located. It will be impcssi-
BILE for the miners to Teach the stockade
as long as the fort holds out. To the
southwark from the fort stretches
Walden ridge, which is very steep on
the northern side and easy OF ascent
from the south. The top for several
miles is a series of great ledgcs Of sand
stone. making natural and al
most invincible fortress. The dis
tance from Fort Anderson across
the valley to the top of Walden
ridge is about !, 400 yards. On the top
of the ridge the miners had planted two
field pieces furnished them by sympa-
thizers in Kentucky. The north side Of
the ridge and creek skirting the foot of
Fort Anderson hill is dense growth
of hemlock and laurel. The assailants
of the fort had all the advantages Of
hiding. aud II one of their number should
be either killed or wounded he could be
hastily removed to place Of safety
without any one being the wiser.
No one is allowed TO approach within
a half mile of the fort unless he is known
to be in sympathy with the miners,
therefore it is impossible to get the
names or even the number of killed or
wounded.
Three Miners Captured.
Between the first and second assault
on the fort three miners were captured.
They sent up flag Of truce to Captain
Anderson to ask for release. He was
expecting such a message. and met the
men on equal grounds. He was seized
by several of them and rushed down the
hill, and finally taken TO one of the ho-
tells in the village. where he was guard
G by Robert Lindsay, deputy United
States Marshal, and a number OF
friends. They held him as a hostage,
and would not agree to give him up un-
til the troops and oonv.cts are with
drawn from the valley. 1t is from
here he is said 10 have been taken and
lynched.
A knoxville man, who arrived on the
night train, states that three miners
went to Camp Anderson rnder a flag Of
truce. Thinking they had come, as they
had on several occasions before. to hold
a conference with him. Captain Ander-
son walked outside his lines and down
10 where the miners stood. He was i'm
metliately seized, and. using him as q
shield, they took him down the hill.
The men in the fort were afraid to fire
when they at last realized what was be-
ing done for fear of killing their COM
mander. He was taken through ex-
cited mebs of miners. who were yelling
hang him." etc. They succeeded in
safely conducting him to a room In
the hotel. Once there one miner placed
O gun at HIS head, demanding him
to surrender his garrison. Looking
straightforward at the man he asked
permission to say few words. 1t was
granted. To the leader he said: Tell
my daughter dicl like soldier" and.
turning to the man who had placed the
gun to his head, he said, Now, -
you, shoot" Finally Sheriff Ruther-
ford and deputies took charge of him.
From that time on his fate is only Q
matter of rumOr.
The miners say that Capt. Anderson
was drunk and came outside Of the
fortification in a drunken manner and
the boys picked him up without trouble.
He has So far made no statement. His
force of 130 men is still holding the
fort. The men have been on short ra-
tions for three days. Every avenue OF
supply has been cut off.
Relief the Way.
A special train arrived from Chatta-
nooga at 8 o'clock, carrying Brigadier
General Carnes and the First Regiment
of the National Guards, 600 strong. and
over lVV VOluntcFrS. CltlZcnS OI Onattl-
nooga. The train was switched around
the city and started for Coal Creek. It
is reported that while he was making q
forced march from Clinton 1000 miners
attacked him. 1t was 9 o'clock at night
and he could not see a yard before him.
Suddenly a flash startled the troops. On
all sides shots were being fired at them
without mercy. They had been am
bushed. Taken by surprise the boys
did not know what to do, and panic
reigned for some minutes; then Carnes
succeeded in gett ng his men together
and fired upon the m ners, who were in
full retreat. Several OF them were hurt,
Four of Caines' men were killed and
several hurt.
Owing to the many conflicting rumors
1t is impossible to get the exact facts.
The wires are all down between Clinton
and Coal Greek, and no direct communi-
cation is possible except by courier.
IOwa's Nov e :ncnt fsr Good Road.
Judge E. II. Thayer advanced a num-
Der Of interesting suggestions in his
speech before III, good-roads cOnven-
tion at Des Moines the other day. He
advocated the cooperation Of the gov
ernment, State, county, township, city
and individual in bull ling frst-class
r.,oIxroVC thrn,svh tho Ctota nrotinu