New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-02
JOHN BROWNS INVASION.
A VISIT TO JOHN BROWN.
RY A LADY.

| A., ~ NJ Cb;lS who I heard was there. The
! name of a Friend" who lives IN Chariestown, was
| Given me and ON our arrival my and went TO
ask him where Mrs. Child was stopping. He proved
| most unfiepdy Friend" Mrs. Child" he said,
sis not in the town should advise her TO stay az
home and attend to her domestic Affairs. People had
better stay in their own country And, be added,
"if she came 10 nv house. / would not receive her,
al rather think John Wooman would have done 1t"
| replied. II don't care what John Woolman would
know David Howells wouldn t." was his answer.
| All other persons TO whom we spoke were civil.
| On our way we spent night at Harper's Ferry.
In the parlor we heard young lady describing to
| gentleman the horrors Of the night Of terror.
wished" she said, II could shoot them al" She
told tie story of poor Thompson, brought wounded
into the hotel followed by the Infatuated people pro-
eced for time by Mr.. Foukes sister at last dragged
out and killed on the bridge. She said: I" 1t was
dreadful TO drag him out So but they did night TO kill
him. rouid." The gentleman said, "0h, no you
wouldn't" / asked, "Who killed him :" He said,
Zone Of our citizens. Madam. He never would have
done IT, but was made furious becanse oar Mayor
shot down in the street." l expressed my horror Of
| the deed. 1t must be comfort to his young
widow TO know that brave woman, at great risk to
herself tried to save him. They threatened her. but
she would not leave him. asked the gentleman If he
believed Brown insane. He said, "No; his plans
perfect TO leave any doubt of the eeaness of
his mind" The landlord said the same And certain
ly the place was wisely chosen. Part Of the Blue
Ridge rises directly from the town the north 1t
ID said that in these mountains there wonderful
caves and it, as he intended he bad succeeded in for
tifyng himself there, slaves could have escaped to
him. and it would have been difficult TO dislodge him.
Care for the lives Of his prisoners whom he feared TO
take that cold night into the mountains, and the mis-
tai IN stopping the train, caused he explains, and
heard others say at Harpers Ferry, all the she'd
ding Of blood. Let those who condemn him most be
satisfied that his frst-born sons by both his first and
second wife were slain and also his young Oliver
Of whom the mother says, " He was most like his
father caring most for learning of all children"
Let him, then, be forgiven for the unprecedented
horrors of that night at Hsrper's Ferry
In Charestown the Sheriff refufed my application TO
see Mr. Brown. " Public opinion he said, a. is very
much excited in consequence of your coming here.
Capt. b. does not wish 10 any one, and adding,
A" My responsibilities very great. If anything
should occur in consequence of my granting you, or
any one else, an interview, should be censured by
" the whole community. must, therefore, deny your
"request."
sent Mr.. Brown some linen, &C., which had
brought, and should have left Charlestown the next
morning. bu. the Jaler and Mr.. Sennot both assured
me that Mr.. Brown wished 10 see me. We therefore
determined to wait. The hotelkeeper was very kind
and we waited over two days. But the Sheriff
NAMED memorable, though he knew Mr.. Browns
wishes. At last Mr. G. Sennott got an order from the
Judge of the Court, for my admission.
With gifts from the woods and the garden, we went
in through the door OF iron bars, which turned with
grating sound on it's heavy hinges. On the two beds
were Brown and Stephens. Both were glad TO see
Stephens ia peasant-looking young man, though
very pale from his wounds One who knew him well
has said of him, " never knew any man try hard
10 be good No picture have gives an idea Of
Mr.. Browns noble bearing, of his fine expression and
the peculiar light of his eyes. reminded at once
by his appearance of Moeys description Of William of
Orange; no better one can be given of Brown:
In person he was above the middle hight, perfectly
well made and sinewy, but rather spare than stout His
ewes, hair beard, and complexion were brown. His
head small, symmetrlcally shaped, combining the
aerness and compacness characteristic ofihe soldier
with the capacous brow tuTrowed prematurely with the
horizontal lines of thought denong the sta and
the sage. His physical appearance was, therefore, in
harmony with his organization, which was of antique
model OF his moral qualities the most prominent was
his pety. lie more than anything else religious
man. From his trust in God, he ever derived support
lying upon Almighty wisdom and goodness he looked
danger in The face with constant smile, md endured
ineessant abors and trials with serenity which seemed
more than human.
q" His frmness was allied to his piety His constancy
in bearing the whole weight of struggles unequal
men have ever undertaken, was the theme of admra-
ton even TO his enemies
Between Mr.. Brown and his ailer there has grown
up most friendly feeling. Capt. Avis, who is too
brave be afraid to be kind has done all be colld for
the prisoners and been cursed accordingly Still their
condition was very cheerless and Mr. Brown was in
the came clothes in which he WIS taken. cloth
under his head was much stained with blood from "a
still open wound. II was hard for me 10 forget the
presence OF the aler had that morning seen bis ad
vertisement of so negroes for sale but soon Lost
all thought of him in listening to Mr. Brown, who
spoke at once OF bis plans and Of his failure. Twenty
years he has labored and waited and suffered and AT
las, he believed tina; the time OF ful6ment had come
But he failed and instead OF being free TIE mount
aims strong break every yoke and let the oppressed
60 free he shon of his strength with prison walls
about him. But" he said, al DO not now reproaeh
myself; did what could" l said, The Lord often
leads us in strange ways" yes" be answered;
and / think cannot now better serve the cause l
love much than to die for il and in my death may
do than in my life" a pleasant smile came over
his lace when exclaimed, Then you viii be our
martyr" continued, :" want TO ask one question
for others not for myself-Haye you been aerated by
any feeling OF revenge p He raised bis head and
gave me e surprised look then, laying back he an
swered slowly, but firmly, rot conscious of hav-
ing had a feeling Of the kind. No, not in all the wrong
done TO me and my family in Kansas have had
feeling ofrevenge.' "rhatwOud no, sustain you now,