The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-07-29
COAL CREEK MINERS.
Insult the Law of the Land and Terrorize
Timid Officers.

The Chattanooga Times OF yesterday
publishes a letter under date of July
18th from Coal Creek concerning the
troubles at that place from, which we
take the following:
On July 10th citizens of the Coal Greek
Valley celebrated the first anniversary
at Bricevill5, which attracted many
from the surrounding country. To
avoid any meeting between the troops
and citizens on that day, orders were
issued by Capt. Anderson that no one
except members OF the medical and
quartermasters' departments would be
permitted to leave the fort.
About 80 p. IN. a. >. WOOten, the hos
pital steward, left the fort to secure
medicine at the drug store in Coal
Creek. lie was armed with the reSula-
ton pistol i'll Il holster attached to his
belt. As he was returning he passed
through large crowd OF miners as
sembled near the pOstOifice. They in
suited him by calling him all manner
of names, but he paid no attention to
them and passed on. Just as he had
crossed the trestle over Coal Creek with
his arms full of medical supplies some
one attacked him from behind and
forced him to go to the ground, scatter
ing his supplies in every direction.
Before he could recover himself his
pistol was jerked from the Scabbard
and pointed IN his face with the order:
aGiVe me your belt" He did so, gath
camp. WUOten is a young man about D
feet III height, of slender build, while his
assailants were brawny miners. The
crowd stood around and cheered them.
AS soon as the assault was reported
to Capt. Anderson, he detailed a squad
of men to arrest the aSsailants and re-
cover the pistol. The town and sur
rounding hills were secured, and finally
the chief assailant, named Moldoon,
was tracked to a barber shop near what
is known as the "Y." Sergt. Lee, Corp,
Bell and A. 5. WoOten found him in a
dark closet i'll the rear of the shop. He
was being dressed by three negroes,
who were evidently endeaVOring to dis
guise him. Wooten identified him at
once, and despite his protests Muldoon
was taken in charge and hurried over
the trestle towards camp. Meanwhile
runners had been sent out by the min
ers and soon a large number arrived
armed with rifles, etc, and assembled at
the pOStOffice.
When Sergt. Lee and his party re-
turned to search for the patrol repeated
threats were uttered, but the fearless
demeanor of the detail kept the mob at
bay. The barber shop was searched
and finally the pistol was found under a
pile of rubbish in the stove. The three
men started back through the crowd,
and a tough time they did have, for
they were assailed from all sides by
curses and threats. But the bayOnets
held the mob at bay until Lieut. Patter-
son and one man came to his assistance,
swelling the party to five. Five against
$50 are great odds, and two of the five
were dispatched to the camp to bring
the assistance, leaving Lieut.. Patterson,
Sergt. Lee and Assistant Quartermaster
Sangster to face the music.
Things looked Squally, the crowd
threatning to take the three and hold
them as hostages. Had shot been
fired bloody battle would have result
ed. However, twenty of the boys in blue
came down the hill at double quick,
cheering as they came, and the entire
force withdrew to camp. As soon as
MuldoOn was i'll custody Capt. Ander-
son sent a detail to Squire Wilson's
office at Coal Creek to procure warrant.
After some persuading the honorable
court issued u warrant for MuldoOn,
charging him with highway robbery,
which is a felony. Next, Deputy Sheriff
Edwards was sent for, but he refused to
come under any consideration. He,
however, was induced to deputize one of
the convict guards, who finally served
the warrant on Muldoon, but decided to
leave him in custody at Fort Anderson.
Meantime the miners had gathered
their forces and threatened to attack the
Fort if the man was not released. AS
the man was in charge of civil au
thorities, and not of the military, their
request could not be complied with.
Capt. Anderson procured the assist
ance of a Knoxville criminal lawyer to
4
O'Clock the following morning. MuldOon
had confessed to the men in camp that
he had been instigated i'll the robbery
by his companions, who had agreed to
uphold him in anything he might do.
Thursday night notices were posted
i'll Coal Creek and BricevilIe notifying
the men not to work Friday, but to at
tend meeting at the grove at Coal
Creek and to come armed. About 8
o'clock Friday Edwards,
accompanied by Squire Wilson and
Deputy Cross, arrived at camp and pre-
sented petition of the Executive Com
mittee of Coal Greek demanding that
the prisoner be turned over to the
Sherfff Capt. Anderson notified Sheriff
Edwards that the prisoner was not in his
keeping, but in camp at the request of
Deputy Cross, and that he was at liberty
to remove him at any time.
They took the prisoner in charge and
left the fort, promising that they would
do their duty and see that the prisoner
had fair trial. Meantime the mob had
assembled IN the grove and then
marched in u body to the 'Squire's office.
Mr.. Ledgerwood, the Knoxville lawyer,
was sent to Coal Creek by Capt. Ander-
son to adjourn the trial to Clinton, the
county seat, as the mob was great and
threatened to jeOpardize the lives OF
any witnesses who might testify against
MuldoOn.
Sheriff Rutherford arrived from Clin-
ton on the morning train and made
several addresses 10 the moo IN favor OF
law and order, but without avail.
When the hour set for trial arrived
Squire Wilson refused to act. Another
Squire was call In, and, scared by
threats, he also refused 20 do his duty
Mr.. Ledgerwood asked Sheriff Ruther-
ford TO adjourn court to Clinton. The
loader of the mob told him 70 "ahut up
and take tho next train out OF town u
he wasn't tired of living" Sheriff
Rutherford again addressed the mob,
asklag permissiop 70 take tho prisoner
To Clinton for trial, but amid lond cries
he waa told 70 roloase him. FINALLY,
iSauirs Brown, OF Briceville, one OF the
leaders In last summers escapade, was
called in, and without hearing any
testImouy or any legal fJrmality Of
openIng court, declared the prisoner
not guilty and ordered his release, amid
cheers from the crowd and despite the
orotast of Mr.. Ledgerwood. Sherin
Rutherford promptly released tne
prisoner.