Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-18
TERHoR IN TENNESSEE.
Troops Ordered Out to Meet the Victorious
Miners.

Miners.
EXCITEMENT IN cHATTASooGA AND KNOXVILLE
DETAILS OF THE CAPTURE OF THE CONVICT
CAsTLE-rRoUBLE EXPECTED AT COAL
CREEk-THE CRISIS To BE REACHED TO-DAY.
Anarchy reigned supreme in the mining
regions north of Knoxville last night. At
Knoxville the excitement was intense and was
heightened by the lack of definite information
from the scenes of the trouble. the wires having
been cut. The mob was in actual possession of
the property Of the East Tennessee railroad in
the neighborhood Of Coal Greek and divers.
They had cut the wires in many places. torn
up the tracks in every direction and captured
every locomotive in the mining regions.
At a late hour Tuesday night over thousand
miners captured three locomotives and several
empty coal cars ut Coal Greek and forced the
engineers to take them to Oliver Springs, where
about ninety-fve convicts we're employed in the
mines of the Cumberland Coal Company. They
arrived Mt divers about 4 o clock in the morn
ing and at once planned an attack on the stock
ade. whore convicts were confined. About Z
o clock they assaulted the stockade and lively
battle proceeded. The stockade was defended
BY fifty picked guards and n company of thirty
eight militiamen. Two companies of National
Guards en- route from Chattanooga via Uarri-
few miles from divers on account of displaced
rails Hundreds of shots we're exchanged. hut
strange to say, no one was injured. Guards
and militia. seeing that it useless TO combat
a force of 1000 Infatuated ami determined men,
quietly surrendered. The coIiyicts. guards and
soldiers were loaded on u train OF fat cars and
the engineer. at the point of Winchester rifle,
was compelled 10 pull the train ont in the dircc-
ton of Knoxville.
The stackndc wns then burned TO the ground
ARR Dat tl-,Nr, ,acs1
from the railway officials 20 take convicts 20
Knoxville. The train. which was the only one
In or ont for twenty-four hours. arrived in
Knoxville about o'clock and was soon sur
rounded by an immense throng of curious
people.
Aspecial train left the station Mt D. NJ. tax
ing the conVic:s to the main prison at Nash
Vile. -Four cOnyicts escaped between divers
and Knoxville. Communication with Coal Greek
was restored In the afternoon. The line was no
sooner reopenetl than the miners took peaceabie
possession of the Office at Coal Creek and to
prevent the dispatch of regular business they
filed tn ousands OF words of stuff. They paid
Tor all messages at regular rates and the COM
pany could not.refuse them.
SCENES IN CHATTANOOGA.
All day Yesterday groups of exci;ed people stood
in the streets reading bulletins from tho seat of
war. A penetrating rain had been steadily fall
ing all over the district. but the people did not
seem &c mind it. All eyes turned toward
the mining district. where 5000 victorious
miners are sweeping law and property before
them without stopping 10 count the cost
Oliver Springs has fallen before the rifles OF the
mob and Coal Greek is tine last link now iri the
remaining chain. 1t was the cynosure of all
eyes. 1t is here that bloodshcd will come IL II
comes Mt all. The garrison is on n hill aud a
standing army of $50 men has been kept
here for nearly ycur. 1t has block houses
and every requisite for defense. Five hundred
men were taken to- the place from Knoxville,
The little handful from Chattanooga will go
there at once with Calling gun and howit-
ger. They command a fun Swcepo tho valley
below and should the Ttockadc be attacked they
are safe. One point overlooked in select
ing the site. Behind it rises three platcaus
each higher than the other. and all command
ing n sweep of the garrison. From these the
miners can clear the fort in n few hours.
POLITICS IN 1T.
A political scheme is III a large measure re-
sponsibie for the oulrages of the past few days.
Gov. Buchanan. it ia charged. refuses to call
out the entire state militia to queii the riot
solely TO boost his independent canvass for re
election. He appeals to the rioters for votes
and declines to call out the troops against them.
What few are in the field are without orders ar
leadership and have no fixed purpose They
are simply spectators of the miners wild work
They are badly frightened ard wired Chat
were posted calling for volunteers and fifty men
responded to the call. The street scenes where
the recruits were being sough: beggar descrip-
ton. An armed squad chased recreant heroes
all day. On all corners knots Of men discussed
the situation and declared tina. troops ought to
be sent UP at once. but few Of them seemed
willing to go. Citizens were called to bring
shot guns and other arms TO the armory for the
purpose Of arming the recruits 1t was feared
that the miners would kill the little knot Of
v.<,y-a tl.ntr 81
ports would come into the city. At $50 p. m. n
company Of thirty volunteers picked from the
best families in town went to join the Chat
tanOCga boys at Hartman.
SURRENDERED WITHOUT A SHOT.
Without single shot the pres
ence of miner within sight of divers
Springs the cowardly warden surrendered to
q cowardly enemy at O'Clock in the morning.
Maj. Chandler and thirty Knoxville rifles
arrived at the place last night and made prepn-
rations to resist attack. At 8 O'Clock, yes
terday morning the stocknde physician came
into the quarters and stated that l 800 miners
were awaiting an answer as to surrender before
attacking the place. He told o graphic tale of
the arms and desperation Of the men and
Warden Farris became terrified at the recital.
The troops desired to fight, but the warden
urged surrender, and in n few moments Oliver
Springs had been added to the list Of captured
conyicts castles. The convicts and guards were
marched out by the committee and went nearly
a mile before a miner was seen. They then en-
countered about 700 miners, who kindly assisted
them into quarters and they we're pulled off to
the direction Of Coal Creek. Reports conflict
rs to the treatment of the troops. One wire
says that they were packed into the cars with
the convicts and were sent with them, which is
most probable. When the stockade had been
given to the committee and the troops marched
away, the body Of the assailing party went to
the stockade and oiled it WELL Then the torch