Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-21

The Citizens of Knoxville Sus-
pend Business
TOPAY TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN
Who Sacrihced Their Lives III an Effort
10 Suppress Outrage and
VIolcncc.

KNOXVILLE, Aug. 20.-In the big hall
az the court house commencing al
noon today and lasting two hours, a
meeting of citizens was held which
shows clearly the feeling OF the people
IN this city and the surrounding
country regarding the acts of lawless-
meas in the mining regions. Many
business houses were closed promptly
at twelve O'clock. In the window of
each house that closed a placard was
hung containing the following annouce-
ment: CLOSED in respect TO our brave
dead soldiers" The mass meeting WAS
called to order by Major d. A. Carpen-
ter the hero of the Walden's Ridge
fight. He moved that the Rev. ID. d..
Sutherland. pastor of the second pres
byterlan church be called TO the chair
and also to open the meeting with
prayer. 1t is announced that
the meeting was to be held In
respect to the memory of Bruce
Givens and j. f. Walthall, the victims
of the fight on Walden's Ridge. Col.
Ledger Wood suggested .hat on be-
half of the people Of Knoxville they
appoint a committee of five on resolu-
tions to draw up suitable memorials of
the high appreciation in winch the de-
ceased were held. The committee was
appointed. S. G. Heiskell said that
Givens left a family in destitute Cir
cumstsnces. He thought Givens the
10
battle. He saw HIM ten feet Off fight
ing uncovered. He thought the peo
pie owed debt of gratitude and
moved that Major Carpenter be re-
quesled to act as an agent to receive
Givens' family. resolution of
thanks was unanimOuslg carried
applying 10 all who went out IN de
any names. Major Carpenter said
that he was in the civil war three years
and had seen some harm service, but
he never saw harder service than WAS
experienced by the Knoxville soldiers
on Walden's Ridge. Some were mere
boys, but they were as gallant IN their
behavior as veterans could be.
Tribute of Admiration.
Col. Ledger Wood said: What great
er love can a man show for his friends
and country than to lay down his life
IN such cause. One of these men
was a native of Knox county, and he
filled places of trust. The other mad
come from Virginia to cast his fortunes
with this state. When the sheriff sum-
moned the people of this county to the
succor of law and order these two
men. though knowing the danger,
went. They lost their lives, and their
spirits went to God who gave them.
When the order came to take the top
of the mountains these young men
sprang forward with the courage of
tigers, and these young men of Knox
county were such as older men should
rear their sons to be-"
Col. w. A. Henderson, the next
speaker, said: "It was well that they
VINO went wore both the blue and the
gray. Bruce Giyens was q brave union
soldier, aud the father of young Wal
thall died covered with the gray. High
honor to those who went out TO the
battle, higher honor to those who came
back wounded and the highest honors
to those who sleep in DEATH
While the meeting was IN progress
the bodies of the dead lay IN state in
the private parlors of an undertaking
establishment two blocks below the
court house. Walthalls body was at
tired IN the uniform of the X. of p.
Both lay In magnificent caskets COW
cred with flowers. At 2:30 the body of
Walthall was taken TO the railway sta
ticn to be shipped to his relatives in
Virginia. The hearse was preceded by
the local uniformed rank X. of p. The
fund started at noon for the beoefit of
Givens' family had reached $500 by
D. III. Contributions are being sent
from Nashville and Chattanooga by
wire to swell the amount.