The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-17

the cOnspirators stand In circle around a
fire. every man clasplng his neighbors
hand, and the following covenant 10 read
file:
In this covenant we this day agree to act
Jointly together. We swear 10 be true to each
death; TO keep what we 90 secret from all the
world. and II any one betray 1t the others swear
TO follow him wherever he may fee, seek wher-
ever ne may shelter himself, and take vengeance
upon him by taking his life II any of US fail In
this oath may We be accursed ever after.
Details of the Fight e
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Aug. 16-The expect
ed attack on the convicts' stockade at OH
wear Springs was made this morning. IL
resulted in a fight, and the miners were
whipped for the first time in the history of
the mine troubles in Tennessee
Olivear Springs is little min
ing village across the mountain from
Coal Creek and BrIcevIlle. The distance
over the mountain is only six miles, while
by rail around it Is twenty-five miles. and
Coal Creek depot is on the main line of
the Knoxville & Ohio railroad. thirty ne
miles north of Knoxville. The Coal Creek
mines and the Briceville mines
are up q spur track which ex lends
back Six miles, there being nine openings
all along the SPUR. At Clinton. twenty
one miles north of Knoxville. there is q
railroad which goes to Hartman, where it
connects with the Queen IL Crescent line
for Cincinnati. 1t is thir ty-tive miles from
Clinton to Hartman. The Oliver SPRINGS
depot 10 just half way between Hartman
and Clinton.
All day yesterday the miners at Oliver
Springs and Coal Greek were engaged in
discussing the mine trouble. They did no
work and every man was armed. The men
were in communication with each other by
planned planned the s0s attack on o oI,~er sprnss s
where there were no militiamen and
only forty guards. II successful
there. they hoped to 80 terrorlze
the garrison at Coal creek that 1t would
miners of the district combined This
morning, at o'clock, Captain Ferris, In
command of the guards at divers, discov-
| cred that the stOcKade was surrounded by
| miners The men had taken positions on
| two woody eminences which surrounded
| the stockade. The leader of the miners
shouted to the guards to surrender and
| give up their rifles.
To this Captain Ferris replied: Come
and get u.s."
The leader shouted: "All right,
| you, we'll take you" ass
| The battle then began. From almost
every direction the balls rained In upon
the guards. They were we'll protected by
the stOckade. They had the convicts also
well sheltered from the rifle balls. While
part of the guards kept the convicts
| from stampeding the others fired shot after
| shot into the woods, where the miners held
their position. Hundreds of shot had been
! fired, but the guards remained firm. Iii
naily the miners seemed to think that o
storming OF the stockade would be success
full, and q number of the more bold
dashed out of the woods into an
open space not more than one hun
dred yards from the fort. They
went no further, for q number of
those engaged In the attack fell. A flag
guards ceased firing The leader of the
miners said they wished TO carry off the
wounded. He was assured that he could
come to the stockade and not be hurt, pre-
| vided the miners did not fire. The guards
were fearful of treachery. When this man
| came in easy range ne was covered by
rifles. The miners were then allowed
| to carry off those who had been wounded
or killed. Before they left they declared
they would get more aid. and come back
| and wipe out" the guards. Itisnot known
how many, If any. of the miners are wound
! ed. There Is q rumor here that three
were killed and number wounded.
but there are no means of verifying
the reports as all telegraph wires are cut.
| Reports differ rs to the NUM- Der of men in
the attacking party. Afailroad brakeman,
seven hundred. The miners. however, will
not give out any information of any kind
| to any one.
This afternoon, at $3.50 o'clock, q special
train lett mere for Oliver Springs to relieve
the besieged guards. There were only
twenty EIGHT men on board. but they were
in charge of Major Chandler of the Third
Regiment. and, though a beardless boy,
he has had considerable experience
and 10 cool and plucky. He viii
fight to kill, beyond doubt il
necessary. The train was run through
very rapidly and they reached Oliver
| Springs safely. Beyond this nothing is
known, as at O'clock, or within a few
| Springs, the telegraph wires were cut al
Clinton. which is this side of the disturb
ance Whom the miners made the attach
at Oliver Springs they were connected. and
got to working again this afternoon. but
only for short while, when they were cut
as stated, at Clinton. ,1a.Islt
There has been no communication with
Coal Creek since 1880 this morning. Tn,
wires were cut at that place at tha
hour. A trainman, who came in at 6;3C
O'clock on q local freigh from Jellico. says
the miners ut Jellco were wildly excited
to-day, and under arms. They propose
to capture ON engine or train there
and come south thirty miles to Coal Greek
picking up the miners as they come and to
night kill every soldier in the garrison a.
that place. There were 135 men there this
morning part of these men. early thl
morning started to go to Oliver Springs Il
the aid of the guards there. Under tn,
orders OF the Adjutant-general.t the railroad
company furnished a train TO take them tt
Olivear Springs. While the troops wer,
boarding the tram at the depot a mob OF
more than ono hundred miners tore up the
track so that the train could not proceed.
The troops then left and started back to
their garrison, left shortly before. Whether
they reached IL or not no one knows as yet
A local passenger train which passed
Coal Greek shortly after dark was boarded
By eighty-two miners. all heavily armed
They put pistols TO the heads of the con
ductor and fireman and made then
run the train to Clinton. Then the
coaches were detached and left stand
Ing, with the passengers In terrorize(
condition. The engineer was then forced
to couple to some coal cars and take To,
miners TO Oliver Springs They refused II
pay fare or to do anything else except a
their own sweet will. Chief Train is
patcher Zeigler, under the orders of hi