Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-08-14
TROUBLE AT TRACY.
TENNESSEE MINERS REDUCE THE
CONVICT STocKAoE TO ASHES
The Prisoners Put on Cars and Sent Away.
Some OF Them Escape-0ns
Killed One Wounded.
Iny telegraph 70 boo pI,patch.l


NASHVILLE, TENS., August iS.-At
O'clock this morning the stockade at Tracy
was burned and 800 convicts were placed
on cars ready TO be started for Nashville.
Four hours before o committee of the
miners awoke Mr.. f. o. Nathurst. superin-
tendent Of the mines for the Tennessee
Coal. Iron, and Railroad Company. and
asked him that the miners be allowed as
many hours work in each week as the
convlcts.
Mr. Nathurst replied that no would sub.
NIT the proposition to tho company and
do what he could.
The committee then left. and Mr.. Ma.
thurst, knowing that secret, oath-bound
organization had been formed some weeks
ago for purposes unknown, at once began
to suspect trouble. He went to Deputy
Warden Burton, and together they began
TO circulate among the miners. who were
gathering in groups, and try TO influence
them 10 keep quiet. Their efforts were OF
no avail. Slowly the ominous air OF sup
pressed excitement became tinged with
open threats of destruction Of the stock
ade or q battle.
THE OUTBREAK.
At $50 o'clock an organized body of $50
men. 100 of them armed and fifty apparent
ly unarmed, advanced on the stockade. To
capture II was quick work. Without I'M
due confusion every piece Of property be-
longing to the Tennessee Coal. Iron. and
Railway Company was carefully removed
to a safe distance and the convicts in the
stockade we're led out under guard. Then
the torch was applied, and at o'clock the
buildings wers q mass of flames. Tho
miners at once proceeded to the mines,
took possession of the convicts. marched
them 10 the railroad station, and loaded
them in box-cars. Next the telegraph
wires were cut and guard was placed
over every engine in the yards TO prevent It
from carrying the news down the noun
tain.
BOTTOM OF THE DIFFICULTY.
There has been much dissatisfaction
among the free miners atfJracy because OF
the lease system, which allowed the bulk
of the work to be done in the mines by con-
victs. Yet the miners at Tracy have been
among the most conservative IN the state,
and the company has had very little trou-
bic with them. They have been deter
mined TO support no party or candidate IN
the coming elections that was not pledged
TO the prompt abolition of the system.
Governor Buchanan stated that the con-
victs would be brought to the main prison
here and kept until new stockade could
be built. Then they would be returned,
as had been done at Coal Creek.
THE coMPANY's VIEW.
Mr.. Jamos Bowron, secretary Of the COM
pany, on being asked for further informa-
ton, SAID: The trouble has come from
about $50 of the miners at Tracy, or about
one third Of the body Ii is the result of
u secret oath-bound organization which
was formed some weeks ago. That was
where the definite action began. The In
cident was a reduction of hours necessl-
tated 10y the lax market. We contem-
plated shutting down our furnaces two
weeks ago, but thought il better to run
even on half time than not to run at oil.
THE ATTACK UNEXPECTED.
THE attack on the stockade was abso-
lutely unexpected / received q letter
from Mr.. Nathurst this morning in which
he reviews the whole situation, and con-
cludes with the assurance that everything
will remain orderly. l drew q breath OF
relief when l read it. and the telegram was
q shock"
A special from Cowan, Tenn, says;
"This morning after the conyicts had en-
tored the mines nc Tracy City about 400
armed men walked into the stoebade, and
after clearing it Of everything Of value,
set II on fire and burned IT to the ground.
They then marched 20 the mines and or
dered the convlcts brought out and took
charge of them aud the guards, loaded
them in box-cars, and ordered Conductor
Finch aud Engineer Bolton TO leave lmme-
diatoly. Being covered by guns they were
obliged to obey. The train arrived here at
/ p. NJ"
BREAK FOR LIBERTY.
Captain Burton. with twenty-five guards,
had $50 or $50 convIcts in charge and I'M
der control. Between Sewanee and Mt.
Eagle the convicts cut the train in two,
and ten or fifteen made break FOX liberty.
Several shots were fired. Matt. Wilson
(white) was killed and Tom Smith (co-
lored) wounded. SIX or eight made good
their escape. The wires are cut between
here and Tracy City, and nothing further
can be learned of the insurgents.
THE CoNvICTs REIaPRIsoNED.
CHATTANOOGA, TESN., August l3.-A spe-
cial to the Times from Nashville says that
the released prisoners from Tracy City
were taken 10 Nashville in special train
of closed cars and placed in the peniten-
tiary. Governor Buchanan says that hear
ing that trouble was brewing at Tracy
City he sent Superintendent Wade there
on tuesday night, aud that this morning
he received from him letter stating that
the miners were false.
FEAR OF ANOTHER OUTBREAK.
An attack at Coal Creek is not appre-
hended by Governor Buchanan, but he is
of an outbreak at lnman. 1t
IS not thought at Nashville that troops
will he ordered out. as the worst has hap
peEed at Tracy. The officers of the Ten
nessee Coal and Iron Company take the
matter coolly, except that they condemn
the State for being disgraced.