Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-10-27
The Harper,s Ferry Insnrrec.
lion.

patches from the seat IS disturbance, that
The troubles had nothing 10 do with the
non-payment of wages due men who had
worked under government contractor.-
Now put that alongside the fact that out
of force of three or four hundred work
ing men, no attempt was made 10 put
down the insurrection, which for long
time was confined to only a score of men,
and We see the startling fact-siartling it
should be to the slavehoIders--thatt these
working men gave at least the aid of in
difference to the insurgents.
Shareholders had better mark the fact
that the "mud sills" of society are not dis
posed to risk their lives in the defence of
the ''peculiar Institution" Had the labor
ers at Harper's Ferry been SO disposed, they
could have quelled that insuuection in one
hour, but there is an s'irresistable conflict"
going on even in the Slave States, be-
tween forced and free labor, and the mas
tiers must not expect that the free laborers
of the South to assist in riveling sill
firmer the shackles which bind labor and
which degrade it.
By arrival of Baltimore papers, print
ed since the excitement has subsided,
we get matters into better shape as to or
der of events. There were only twenty
two insurgents, all told, and the story of
five or six hundred is all bosh; it is more
than probable that 500 or 600 of the
working classes in and around Harper's
Ferry were Indifferent and would not risk
their lives in fighting Brown and his men.
There is no confirmation in the story that
Cook has got with him gang of runaway
slaves and we do not believe single slave
has escaped. If twenty-five men can put
such terror into community, what would
regiment dol The order of events ian
thus:
On Sunday night at IL o'clock, the
twenty-two-fve being free negroes-seiz-
ed the watchman at the railroad bridge
and confined him. Sixteen then took pos
session of the arsenal and armory; six
passed through the town, went five miles
and took Mr.. Washington aud his slaves
prisoners and brought them to the Ferry.
AT daylight the country was aroused and
horsemen dispatched everywhere. A num-
Der of citizens were seized by the insur-
gents and imprisoned in the armory; the
train was stopped; an insurgent guard was
at the arsenal; now and then a man was
shot by the guard or from the arsenal; the
people shut and barricaded their houses
seven insurgents attempted 10 take posses
sion Of the rifle works on the Shenandoah
side but some three hundred armed men
had gathered around with rifles and six or
seven of the insurgents were killed. from
the heights. Along in the day of Monday
the insurgents moved from the armory 10
Fire Engine House. Military were con-
stantly arriving from the country around,
and the insurgent guard at the bridge were
driven to the armory grounds. The en-
giue house is in the arrnory grounds, near
the arsenal.
One of the rebels, named Tagg, was Ia
ken prisoner and confined in the hotel
At o'clock Monday, F. Beckman, Esq,
Mayor of the town, and Ticket Agent of
the Ohio d Baltimore Railroad, stepped out
ON the platform of the railroad and was
shot. He fell and died instantly. He
tlaid on the platform for over an hour, no
person daring to 60 near him, as the posi-
tion was commanded from the engine
house. As soon as Mr.. Beckman was shot
proposition was made to kill Tagg,
which prevailed, and he was brought out
on the bridge and shot, and then thrown
into the river, and volley of bullets sent
into his body as it lay on the rocks where
it lodged.
A charge was then made by the railroad
men on the fire engine house, led by Mr.
Alburtis, Editor of the Martinsburg Re
publican and Mr.. Murphy, Prosecuting At
torney of that county.
Two of the attacking party were killed
and five wounded, but although some of
the prisoners were rescued, the attack was
not successful, the brave fellows who led it
not being properly sustained. Monday
closed in that manner. During the even
ing and night several of the citizens and
Colonel Shriver visited the engine house
under flags of truce, aud conferred with
Brown, for the purpose of inducing him to
capitulate, but he would listen to no terms
except that lie and his men should be allow
ed free and protected pass to the noun
tains. This the citizens refused to grant,
and Brown assured them that he would
die fighting. At II o'clock Col. Shriver
visited Brown and offered him protection
from the wrath of the people and safe
conduct to Jail, but he scornfully refused it,
saying he knew his fale, and preferred to
meet it with his rifle in his hands TO dying
for the amusement of the crowd.
The U. S. Marines arrived from Wash
ington before day break Tuesday morning,
took possession of the Armory grounds, and
the Maryland troops took possession of the
streets of the town; at seven A. NJ. the
streets were cleared of all except the mill
tary. After the futile attempt TO get
Brown to surrender, the Marines under
Maj. Russell, attacked and took the En-
gine House, (not the Armory as previous
accounts have had it.)
The engine house contained two fire en-
gines and hose carriage, which ineommo-
ded the marines greatly on entering. The
citizens who were prisoners separated from
the insurgents and were recognized by the
Marines and none were injured. After the
Marines entered they were compelled to
fire at the rebels. A son Ct Browns was
Eillod- n boll ,ocs;no, throrrb b;s hoJ,