The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-14

Miners and Sent Hack 10 Nash Vile at tho
Measles or eu,s-The Miners Burn the
stockade and Take Possession OF the
rroperty-A Heduetion In the Output tho
Cause - Embarrassment OF Coal Greek
Miners who were Talking 70 esv. Bu.
chsuan when the News Came.
NASHVILLE. Aug. lathe Ill feeling which
has existed at Tracy City between tho free
miners and convicts eliminated to-day. Tho
miners. who were we'll armed. made . raid
and captured tho stockade. They took tho
stores Of the company out The convicts were
then loaded on train and started for Nash
VILE. The stockades were burned and the
telegraph wires were cut.
Tracy City Is town about 100 miles from
this city on q branch road OF the Nashville.
Chattanooga and st. Louis Railway. There
are extensive coal mines there belonging to
the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad Com
pnny. This company leases the convlcts from
the State OF Tennessee. and has had 800 con-
victs and probably 400 free miners employed
in tho mines.
To-day's action makes another crisis In the
convict case system, which has for years been
odious to the laboring men. The situation In
many respects Is like tho uprising at Brice-
Vile and Coal Creek In July. 1901. and at
Oliver Springs in November last, whom several
hundred convicts were set at liberty. most OF
them to wander for days and weeks through
the woods only to be recaptured.
Tho convicts at Tracy City were not re-
leased. The miners guarded them during their
journey from the stockade and the mines to
the depot, where they were huddled on board
several fat cars and then turned over to Dep
uty Warden Burton and twenty-five guards.
plovad nv fha TanDaaaea Coal. Iron And
Railroad Company.
After tho miners had set fire to the great
stockade they stood near the burning building
until 1t was nearly reduced to ashes. They
took the precaution to first remove all portal
BILE property belonging to the company to .
safe distance. spd. having destroyed the stock
ade. they went direct to the mines. and taking
possession OF them. ordered the convicts to
como out.
When all had obeyed the command they
were marched to the depot. and IN short
time were on their way to the main prison at
Nashville.
Thus tho State authorities have again been
defled BY the miners. The presence Of State
troops at Coal Creek for the past eight months
and the frequent disturbances between these
soldiers and the free miners there and a re-
duction in working hours at Tracy City have
tended to increase tho feeling Of uneasiness
among tho Tracy City miners.
For several days there have been rumors to
the effect that ill-feeling was existing among
the mon. and that an outbreak might occur at
any time. This information coming to tho
knowledge OF Gov. Buchanan. he at once de-
spatched O. o. Wade. State Superintendent Of
Prisonsto Tracy City. with instructions to make
o full investigation and report at oncs Super
intsudent Wade obeyed the instructions. and
on the following day. telegraphed to Gov,
Buchanan that everything WAS quiet and
nothing had occurred to warrant tho reports
that had been circulated.
In the mean time there were other reports
that the miners at Coal Crock were anxious to
have the Governor remove the soldiers sta
toned there. and that they were signing Pc
tition asking tho Governor to act promptly
tho assurance being given that the departure
of tho troops would mean Q restoration OF
peace
Following tho report from the Superintendent
Of Prisons to the Governor came letter early
this m orning from Mr.. E. o. Nsthurst Superin-
tendent OF tho mines OF the Tennessee Coal
and Iron and Railroad. to Mr.. Nathaniel Bax-
ter. Vice. President Of the company. in which
tho whole situation was reviewed. the COM
munication concluding with the assuranc GO that
everything would remain orderly.
NV 'S "'Sonoe@ nv uooii HiA'
Baxter received o telegram from Mr. Nathurst
announcing the destrucuon OF the stockads
and giving orief resume OF the events OF the
Day from this ana subsequent kilograms 1t
appears that at 5 o'clock this morning a com.
mittee OF miners awoke Mr.. Nathurst and
asked MIN tha1 the miners nave as many
hours work IN each week as the convicts-
Mr. Nathurst replied that he would submit
the matter to the company and do what no
couid. inc oommietee tnen ieit and Mr.
Nathurst. knowing that secret oath-bound
organization mao peen iormsd some weeks
ago 1or purposes unAn'"n' at once pegan 70
suspect trouble
lie went TO deputy warden burton and they
began 70 circulate among the miners.
VINO were eatherlng IN groups and TO try to
influence them TO Keep Quiet Thsir Efforts
wore OF no avail Boon there were open threats
OF destruction 70 the stockade or onttle.
At e:3oo O'CLOCK an organized oooy OF 10Y men.
1oo OF them armeo ana MY apparently un-
armed advanced on tne stockaae. 10 capture
IL was the Work OF minute. WITHOUT unoue