The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-08-17
OATH BOUND MINERS
The Solemn Pledge of Tennessee
Law Breakers.
A sKIRMIsH AT OLIVER SPRINGS.

Miners Attack the Stookade at That
Place and Arc Repulsed by the
Guards - Difficulty in Securing
Militiamen TO Go to the Scene of
the Uprising.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Aug. 1.-THE
most intense excitement has seized upon
the people of this city. Colonel Wool
ford, astride weak kneed horse,
secured the city all day yesterday for
men. Small details have been doing
duty trying to conscript men for the
service, but almost without avail. The
total number Of men who left last night
did not reach fifty. Their equipment is
almost mockerY of modern warfare.
NO line of action has yet been laid out,
and it is supposed that this attempt will
be but dangerous repetition OF Coal
Creeks disgrace last year. The militia
men evince no eagerness to enter the
vice Of their country. and small par
I -s hauled unwilling soldiers from I'M
der beds and other points of vantage,
where they had taken refuge from the
conscription officers.
Oliver Springs, where the latest out
break has occurred, is little mining
town in Anderson county. 1t is on the
Waldens Ridge road. The denizens
consist of block house and forty men.
AT breakfast the miners came TO the
stockade. They demanded the sur
render OF the place. Come, take us,
and be id" was the answer sent by
Superintendent Farris. Fire was at
once opened. Seven hundred miners on
one side glanced down the barrels of
their weapons and streaks of flame
leaped from the muzzles as the leaden
messengers sped toward the block house.
The guards manfully answered and the
sharp cracks of the rifles struck terror
to the hearts of the assailants. A flag
OF truce was raised. Captain Farris re-
spected it, and called to the leader to
come and talk with him. Both sides
rested on their arms, while the wounded
We're removed. 1t is impossible to say
how many of the miners were wounded
or killed. Two guards were slightly
hurt. Quiet then reigned for some time
and hurried messages were sent to the
governor. In the meanwhile a new
company, recently formed at Hartman,
went to the scene. Twenty-eight men
from Knoxville also went to the ground
with Adjutant General Norman, who
had heavy ordinance supply arranged.
The miners are held by strong oath,
which is as follows:
You do each of you solemnly swear in the
presence of Almighty God and these witnesses
that in joining this company you do volunta-
rily and of your own free will and accord
You do each covenant to obey all orders COM
mittcd to you and to keep profoundly secret
all our objects and aims, not even giving the
name of anyone member of this company to
any individual or any inquistorial power
whatever. You do further solemnly swear to
obey your officers, and not refuse to act In any
capacity where the interests of this company
demands your services. And you further bind
and obligate yourselves by all you hold sacred
on enrth or in the future world not to desert
or betray this organization into the hands of
its enemies, either by signs, words or acts, or
In written symbols or oAricature, and fur
ther, you promise to keep forever secret
this obligation, suffering yourselves to be
racked or hung to the gibbet and your right
arm severed rather than reveal anything de-
trimental to this labor company, formed for
tho express purpose Of mutually protecting
every menber from injustice, riskinN even
your lives in their defense.
You socmnly promise to rise at the hour of
midnight and go through rain and cold II need
be to succor member in peril and do all man
can do for their relief Prison bars should
not detor or hinder you from being true to the
order Of which you are now u member. Pledg-
ing yourselves 10 stick to it ono year unless
sooner discharged. Even then you agree to
Keep secret forever the names of this band. In
the event you betray this company you SOL
emnly call Heaven to witness your eternal
disgrace. Pledge your neck for the fulflllment
of this solemn and voluntary oath, and may
God and Heaven record the same against us
all"
This blood-cemented tie did not seem
to satisfy the conspirators, and they
stood in array around fire, every man
clasping his neighDor's hand, while the
following covenant was read by the
leader and chanted by the rank and
file. Impressive and gruesome was the
mountain scene and the tones of the
deep voices repeated the covenant oath:
In this covenant, VIC this day agree to act
Jointly together. We swear to be true to each
other, to stand by one another, if need be, to
the DEATH to keep what we do secret from
all the world, and II any one betray it the
others swear to follow him wherever he may
fee, seek wherever he may shelter himself.
and tako vengeance upon him by taking his
life. II any of us fail in this oath, may we be
aeeursed over after.