The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-21
The Latter Repulsed After Sharp Encounter,
in Which One of Their Number Was
Killed and Five Wounded.
One of the Defenders Shot Dead and
the Deputy Warden Injured.
Troops Sent from Nashville to the Scene Of
the Confict-The Young Free Miners Re.
sponsible for the Outbreak.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.


measures. The boom of cannon at 800 this
morning aroused the citizens in the
vicinity of the State Capitol. and sum-
moned five companies of the State
guard that had been sleeping on
arms in anticipation that their services
might be needed. General File had
just received information that an attack
had been made on the stookade around the
branch prison at Tracy City. Battery A
and companies c. d, + and were ordered
to at once prepare TO leave for the scene. A
special train was in readiness. but the
troops were slow in getting their traps to-
gether. and il was after O'Clock whom the
train pulled out Breakfast was had at
Cowan. and at 11:40 the spe cial started uD
the mountains, twenty -one miles to Tracy
City. No trouble was had. and at 1910 the
train pulled into the little mining town.
All was then quiet. and the troops 1T once
went into camp around the st0ckade. The
last telegram received tonight says no i'm
mediate trouble 10 feared.
Last nights fight. itseems. was hot one.
and lasted over an hour. 1t began at IL
o'clock, but no news of it reached here be-
cause the telegraph office was closed. The
prison officials had been warned, and the
thirty -ei ght guards slept with their clothes
Oh. Pockets were placed around the stock
ade and they gave warning at III O'Clock
that the miners were approaching. The
guards were hurriedly awakened and
placed In position. Since last summers
trouble the stockade had been fortified and
portfolios cut In the blOckhOuses When
the miners reached the stockade the lead
ers demanded to know upon what terms
dered. Deputy Warden Shriver replied
that they would not be surrendered at all.
Then after short barley firing was begun,
one OF the leaders was captured and taken
into the stockade. but later released on q
promise to dispense his friends. He failed
to do so. however, and the firing continued
until 1915. The night was dark and rain
was falling, and this doubtless prevented
the stookade being destroyed by dynamite.
The miners finally withdrew after mid
night. During the fight Deputy Warden
Shriver was shot in the face and slightly
wounded. 5. A. Walden. a guard. was shot
in the abdomen and will die. One miner
was killed and i've wounded, two OF whom
may die.
Young MINERS RESPONSIBLE.
Another dispatch says that after the de-
struction of the stockado last summer and
the liberation of the conyicts the miners
mt Tracy were in high spirits. For q time
they labored under the impression that
they had forever driven the conviots from
the mountains of Grundy county, and
that they would no longer be forced to con-
tend with the obnoxious and cheap class of
labor. However it was but short time
until the convicts were again at the mines
In increased numbers The stOckade had
been rebuilt and strengthened, and an adj
ditlonAl guard force had been employed.
There were some bitter comments because
of the return of the coDvicts. out the Ten
nessBe Coal, Iron and Railroad Company
officials acted so cleverly towards the al
legged leaders of the miners and the men
who had been in insurrectiOn that, after
WHILE amicable relations were apparently
resumed. and things went along in har-
monious manner. But the spirit of re-
venge still fingered in the breasts
headstrong element They talked over
their alleged wrongs while at work in the
mines. discussed them in small groups and
at last began to hold secret meetings in the
wooded Businesses. At these meetings the
older heads were conspicuous by their alb
sence. They had come TO the conclusion
that it was useless to further object to the
labor Of their hated competltors- Many of
them had been given work again after the
troubles OF last SIMMER, the lessees agree
ing to let by-gones be by-gones. The few
leaders in the previous tragedy advised
peace and o sticking to all agreements.
The rOugher. however. determined to go
ahead, openly Boosting that they could
muster enough men to accomplish their OBJ.
ject. One Sunday. about month ago.
meeting was held by these maloOntents and
at it's conclusion couple OF dynamite
cartridges were exploded as sin R0l that
the attack would soon be made. Some two
weeks ago another meeting. at which there
were about thirty miners. was held and
the plan of attack agreed upon. which was
attempted to be carried out last night
A few minutes before IL O'Clock last
night Deputy Warden Shriver. Sheriff
Sanders and ex-Sheriff Dejarnett heard
loud knock at the stockade gate. Instantly
the ponderOus gate swung back on its
hinges and there. In the gloom. stood three
men heavily armed.
Upon what terms will you release the
convictsf asked the taller of the men. q
strapping young fellow of about twenty
five.
They will not be released at ALL" re.
Piled the deputy.
"Well, we will have them" said the
leader. at the same time say ms that he and
his companions represented seven hundred
miners, and that they had the dynamite
and the arms to do 1t with. Then he held
up In his hand a dynamite cartridge. such
as is used in blasting away slate IN the
mines. and was on the eve of making q
threatening movement when tho deputy
warden and the sheriff seized him. and,
dragging him inside the gate. closed it.
y
before the guards could get their hands on
them. the other two walked rapidly away,
brandishing their arms as they went.
Sheriff Sanders ordered the guards to fire
upon them. but for some reason this was
not done.
The captured miner had hardly been got
ten inside the little room near the gate be-
fore the guards heard the natter of the
leaden hail from q score of weapons By
preconcerted signal the shots camc from
every side OF the stocsade. and the guards
were for a moment carried off their feet.
The miners had closed in on the stock ado
and were actually poking the muzzles of
their guns through the port holes. In
instant the guards were at their posts.
and then the salute from the outside was
answered by voiley from the inside.
The miners, however. bad the advantage
AS the lights on the inside enabled them to
see every movement of the beleaguered
guards. The latter, however, took to the
upper portfolios. aud then the battle ragged
furiously for few minutes Fully i've
hundred shots were fired, and every man on
the inside expected every moment 20 be his
last. Deputy Shriver had climbed into the
second story of the stockGde. where he
could look down Oh the besiegers. he had
hardly gotten into the room before q miner
saw him In the lamp light and drew bead
on him. Shriver, however. saw the man.
and both fired almost simultaneously.
Shriver was shot twice IN the right side of
the face. while his adversary fell dead IN
his tracks, n bullet blowing n hole
through him from breast To hip. In tho
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