The age-herald., 1899-04-11
THREATENED TROUBLE AT SMITHS Two Mining Elements Are At
 Outs. DEPUTY SHERIFFS ON GUARD Some of the Miners Desire to Resume Work, and Others Try to Pre-
 vent tThem-Row Thought
 to Be Settled.
DEPUTY SHERIFFS ON GUARD

Fearing a clash between the two factions of striking negro miners at Smiths mines, Sheriff OBrien accompanied by fifty depu- ties left for the supposed scene of trouble yesterday morning.
 message was received from the officials of the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company that trouble was feared, and the posse of deputy sherifs left on a special train at g o'clock.
 As soon as the place was reached the posse was divided into two sections and stationed at different points. There gre now fifteen deputies at Readers Gap in charge of Deputy Sheriff Bob Waldrop, and fifteen at Bedding in charge of Deputy Sheriff Jas. Ball.
 Finding everything quiet, Sheriff o'Brien returned to the city, but left the deputies at their respective stations as safe guard against any possible trouble.
 It seems that some of the negro strikers have gotten tired of the struggle and now want to return to work. On the other hand. there is an element in favor of main- taining the strike and are not willing to return quietly to work and don't propose to allow those who are peacably inclined to do so.
 Captain O'Brien said last night that he did not anticipate any trouble but thought it best to keep the deputies there as safeguard. Under this protection some of the negroes have returned to work, and everything is moving smoothly along.
 Stopped Check System
 About a week ago the management de- cided to discontinue the practice of giv- ing checks to the miners. The latter kicked at this decision and quit work, say ing they would hold out until the com pany rescinded their action
 Last Thursday MT. Worthington, in charge of the upper mine, as the one near Browns station is known, was waited on by committee of the strikers, and an agreement to recommence work on the following morning was made
 They failed to appear and a committee again called upon MT. Worthington. For the second time an agreement was ar rived at, the miners saying they would be at the mines Monday morning ready for work.
 In the meantime the trouble between the miners came up and no one went to work until the deputies arrived.
 Ntlnerb MaSs meetinS
 A large crowd of the strikers held mass meeting at Readers yesterday morning and adopted the following resolutions:
 '"To the Public:
 "A Eotice put up on the commissary of the Smith Lower Mines at Readers informs us that we must go to work on April Il or vacate the houses we oc- cupy. We, the miners, will cheerfully vacate the houses if the company will simply pay us our wages for the past month. The miners do not propose to work under Tom Warrington.
 JOSH HART,
 "Committee for Miners"
 The Officers on Guard
 An Age-Herald reporter went out to the mines near Browns station yesterday af- ternoon and found everything serene. The only sign of trouble was a stack of Win chesters in one corner of the company's office and half dozen deputy sheriffs sit ting around talking and smoking.
 "No," laughed Deputy Sheriff Jim Ball, who was in charge, "the only fight around here was one I witnessed a few minutes ago between two little 'coons.' I think the trouble is about over From present indi- cations there will not be any trouble to- night; at least we're not expecting any There are about $50 miners employed in both mines, and at present only a few are at work. The same conditions exist at both mines. and the miners at both placas almost invariably act in concert.
 There hasn't been the slightest indication of drunkenness or disorder, though both sides seem equally determined, and are looking and hoping for speedy termination of the difficulty.
 The company's city offices are located in room 10, Potter building.