The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-14
MINERS FIRE A STOCKADE
TIE OoNvICTs THEN SENT AWAY
ON a TRAIN.

r-acv. Tenn, the scene of the Attack.
:. "a Another Chapter in the Story
NJ the Fight Against the Convict
1.asse system - Coal City Also Ex-
cited.
NASHVILLE, TENN, Aug. 13.-At
o'clock this morning the stockade at Tracy
,,.s burned and 800 conviots were placed on
,srs ready to be started for Nashville. Four
bours before committee Of miners awoke
T o Nathurst, superintendent OF the mines
Tor the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
Comnapv, and asked him that the miners
ba allowed as many hours work In each
raek as the oonvicts. Mr.. Nathurst replied
that he would submit the matter TO
the company and do what he could.
The committee then left and Mr.. Nathurst
knowing that a secret oath-bound organiza-
t,on had been formed some weeks ago for
nnrposes unknown, at once began to suspect
trouble. He went TO Deputy Warden Bur
ton and together they began TO circulate
among the miners who were gathering in
qroups and try to influence them to keep
quiet.
BURNING OF THE sToCKADE.
the ominous dir of suppressed Excitement
became tinged with open threats and threats
of destruction TO the stockade or battle.
At $50 o'clock an organized body of $50
men. 100 of them armed and fifty apparently
unarmed, advanced on the stookade. To
capture it was quick work. Without undue
confusion every piece Of property belonging
10 the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
Company was carefully removed to
safe distance and the oonvicts
who we're in the stockade were led o1s under
guard Then the torch was applied and at
O'Clock the buildings were mass OF
flames. The miners at once proceeded to the
mines, took possession of the convicts,
marched them to the railroad station and
loaded them In box cars. Next the tele-
graph wires were cut and a guard was
placed over every engine in the yard to
prevent it from carrying the news down
the mountain.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
There has been much dissatisfaction
among the free miners at Tracy 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 nave been
among the most conservative In the state
and the company has had very little trouble
with them. They have been determined to
support no party or candidate IN the COM
ing elections that was not pledged to prompt
abolition Of the system. Gov. Buchanan
stated that the convicts would be brought
10 the main prison here and kept until
new stockade could be built. Then they
would Do returned, as had been done at Coal
Creek.
TALK WITH THE sECRETARY.
James Bowron, secretary Of the company,
on being asked for further information,
said: Trouble has come from about $50
Of the miners at Tracy, or about one-third
Of the body. 1t is the result OF secret
oaLh-bound organization which wax formed
some weeks ago. That was where dednit 9
action began. The incident was caused
by reduction of hours neces-
STATED by the lax markets. We
contemplated shutting down our furnaces
two weeks ago, but thought 1t better to run
even on half time than not to run al all.
The attack on the stockade was absolutely
unexpected, | received a letter from Mr..
Nathurst this morning in which he reviews
the whole situation and concludes with an
assurance that everything will remain or
4 derlY. l drew a breath Of relief whea 1
read it, and the telegram was a shock"
STORY OF THE ATTACK.
q A special from Cowan, Tenn, says:
''Ihis morning after the convicts entered
the mines at Tracy City, about 400 armed
men walked into the ssockade, and after
a clearing 10 Of everything OF value, set
1t on fire and burned it to the ground.
They then marched to the mines and or
Il dered the conviots brought out and took
oharge OF them and the guards, loaded them
In box cars and ordered Conductor Finch
and Engineer Bolton to leave Immediately.
Beng covered by guns they were obliged to
obey The train arrived here at p. m"
Capt. Burton, with twenty-five guards,
nave the $50 or 800 oonvicrs in charge and
under control. Between Sewanee aud Mont
esgie the convicUs cut the train in two, aud
Ten or fifteen made a break for liberty
II several shots were fred. Mat Wilson
IWhltel was killed, and Tom Smith tcolored)
wounded. Six or eight made good their es.
cape The wires are cut between here and
Tracy City, and nothing further cnn be
leaFned OF the insurgents.
THE GOVERNOR TAKEN UNAWAREs,
CHATTANOOGA, TENN, Aug, 13.-A
special to the Times from Nash Vile saws
Cua1 @ Ihe released prisoners from Tracy City
% we're taken to Nashville in a special train
o. closed cars and placed in the penitentiary.
s; oY; buchanan says that hearing that
Souole was brewing at Tracy City he sent
olpl' wade there Tuesday night and this
.LLotuihg received from him letter saying
'ua' tne rumors were false.
an attack at Coal Creek is not appre-
d neuued by Gov. Buchanan, but he is ap-
pelenslVe OF an outbreak at Inman. 1t is
~ n.S tuought at Nashville that troops will be
99ttIered out, as the worst has happened at
aIS'y. The officers of the Tennessee Coal
,aer anu Mining Company take the matter
~ except that they condemn the state
'or being dlsgraced.