Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1892 — GATLING GUNS USED. [ARTICLE]

GATLING GUNS USED.

DESPERATE BATTLE RAGED IN TENNESSEE. Miner* Make Three Attempt* to Take the Fort at Coal Creek—Reported Lynching of Captain Anderson--Twelve Said to Have Been Killed. Captured the Captain. Knoxville, Tenn., special: Gatling guns were turned upon the miners at Coal Creek. How mauy were killed and wounded no one yet knows. The only fact which none can dispute is that the fiercest battle in the history of the Coal Creek troubles began early in the morning and continued during the day. It is stated that Captain Keller Anderson, in command of the Coal Creek troops, has teen captured by (he miners, taken to an unknown place and lynched. For several hours firing was not general. About 2 o’clock the miners made an organized assault on the fort and were successfully repulsed. The second assault was easily repulsed. The third attempt resulted in a regular pitched battle and Gatling guns got in their work. Position of the Fort.

The fort occupies a crest of a hill commading the range of Coal Cre-k valley for five miles east and west. To the north is a spur of the valley in which the stockade of the Knoxville Iron Company is located. It will be impossible for the miners to leach the stockade as long as the fort holds out. To the southward from the fort stretches Walden ridge, which is very steep on the northern side and easy of ascent from the south. The top for several miles is a series of great ledges of sandstone, making a natural and almost invincible fortress. The distance from Fort Anderson across the valley to the top of Walden ridge is about 1,400 yards. On the top of the ridge the miners had planted two field pieces furnished them by sympathizers in Kentucky. The north side of the ridge and creek skirting the foot of Fort Anderson hill is a dense growth of hemlock and laurel. The assailants of the fort had all the .advantages of hiding, aud if one of their number should be either killed or wounded he could be hastily removed to a place of safety without any one being the wiser. No one is allowed to approach within a half mile of the fort unless he is known to be in sympathy with the miners, therefore it is impossible to get the names or even the number of killed or wounded.

Three Miners Captured. Between the first and second assault on the fort three miners wore captured. They sent up a flag of truce to Captain Anderson to ask for release. He was expecting such a message, and met the men on equal grounds. He was seized by several, of them and rushed down the hill, and finally taken to one of the hotels in the village, where he was guarded by Robert Lindsay, a deputy United States Marshal, and a number of friends. They held him as a hostage, and would not agree to give him up until the troops and convicts are withdrawn from Ihe valley.' It is from here he is said to have been taken and lynched. A Knoxville man, who arrived on the night train, states that three miners went to Camp Anderson under a flag of truce. Thinking they had come, as tney had on several occasions before, to hold a conference with him, Captain Anderson walked outside his lines and down to where the miners stood. He wa? immediately seized, and, using him as a shield, they took him down the hill. The men in the fort were afraid to fire when they at last realized what was being done for fear of killing their commander. He was taken through excited mobs of miners, who were yelling “hang him,” etc. They succeeded in safely conducting him to a room in the hotel. Once there one miner placed a gun at his head, demanding him to surrender his garrison. Looking straightforward at the man he asked permission to say a few words. It was granted. To the leader he said: “Tell my daughter I died like a soldier,” and, turning to the man who had placed the gun to his head, he said, “Now, you, shoot.” Finally Sheriff Rutherford and deputies took charge of him. From tfyat time on his fate is only a matter of rumor. The miners say that Capt. Anderson was drunk and came outside of the fortification in a drunken manner and the boys picked him up without trouble. He has so far made no statement. His force of 130 men is still holding the fort. The men have been on short rations for three days. Every avenue of supply has been cut off. Relief on tue Way. A special train arrived from Chattanooga at 8 o’clock, carrying Brigadier General Carnes and the First Regiment of the National Guards, 600 strong, and over 100 volunteers, citizens of Chattanooga. The train was switched around the city and started for Coal Creek. It is reported that while he was making a forced march from Clinton 2,000 miners attacked him. It was 9 o’clock at night and he could not see a yard before him. Suddenly a flash startled the troops. On all sides shots were being fired at them without mercy. They had been ambushed. Taken by surprise the boys did not know what to do, and panic reigned for some minutes; then Carnes succeeded in gett ng his men together and fired upon the m ners, who were in full retreat. Several of them were hurt, Four of Carnes’ men were killed and several hurt. Owing to the many conflicting rumors it is impossible to get the exact facts. The wires are all down between Clinton and Coal Creek, and no direct communication is possible except by courier.