Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-12-09
The Execution Of John Brown.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE PRISON
AND GALLONS SCENE.

~ &F
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE PRISON
AND GALLONS SCENE.
Old Brown's Vill - lie serites his own
Epnaph-Last Interview NTH his Wife
and Fellow-l'rissner de-, dc.
{ From the Special Dispatches of the Gin Gazette |
HIS LAST INTERVIEW WITH HIS WIFE. d,
On Thursday afternoon, an escort of
cavalry accompanied Mrs. Brown from
Harper's Ferry, under command of Capt.
Moore, of the Richmond Montgomery Guards.
The carriage which conveyed her was stopped
at the outskirts of town.
Capt. Brown was informed of his wife's
arrival, and requested that she might be
allowed to enter his room as soon as possible.
In few minutes, the jailor conducted her
into his presence. The meeting was affecting,
and at first neither party spoke.
Brown embraced her, pressed her to his
bosom, and exclaimed, "My wife! !" No tears
were shed, but deep drawn sigh told too
well of the intensity of the feeling which each
was undergoing as as
After few moments thus spent, the
Captain drew chair, and Mrs. Brown sat
down. He then spoke to her of his condition,
told her he was contented, and, if it was not
for parting with her and others whom he
loved, he would have no regret in dying. Mrs.
Brown entered fully into the feelings of her
husband, and both We're resigned to the fate
which awaited him. ..-
Capt. Brown referred to the disposition OF
his property and the welfare of his children,
and, after spending an hour in conversation.
supper was brought in by the kind jailor, and
the husband and wife sat down together to
partake Of their last meal. The Captain raised
his hands, and asked God to bless the meal,
and then, with cheerfulness which has nc
parallel, they commenced their repast. From
the time Mrs. Brown arrived, old Captain B. s
spiritsrose, and he exhibited light heartedness
which surprised those who were around him
Mrs. Brown remained with her husband until
half-past six o'clock, when she was informed
that the interview must end. The Captain
desired that his wife might remain with him
during the night, but the orders from head
quarters We're to the contrary, and accordingly
they separated. While the parting scene was
one which showed much intensity of feeling
there was no exhibition of passion, and after
an embrace and kiss, and kind admonition
from Brown, they parted forever
Mrs. Brown was conducted to her carriage
and under similar escort with Capt. Moore
who was kind and gentlemanly in his deport
ment, the carriage started for the Ferry. The
substance of Browns interview with his wife
was relative to settlement of his monetary
affairs, and the disposition of his body. Pre-
vieus to her arrival, be had desired that his
body should be burned, and the ashes Thereof
urned, and in that condition removed He
also expressed desire that the bodies of his
two sons who were killed at Harper's Ferry
should be disinterred, and, after undergoing 9
similar process, be placed in the same Urn
with his own, and taken North. $50.
This would have been impossible, as the
physicians of Winchester had secured theil
bodies and dissected them.
Brown spent some two or three hours, las
night, writing and reading, and then retired
to rest He slept ssundly, and rose about six
o'clock, cheerful and apparently unconcernec
about the fate which awaited him. Abou
half-past seven o'clock, after partaking of his
breakfast, jailor Capt. Avis, who had beer
very kind to Brown, and who had endeareG
himself thereby, informed him that no coulc
visit Cook, Coppic, and the other prisoners
if he desired. Accordingly, he was conducted
to the room of Cook first.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN BROWN AND HIS FELLOW
PRISONERS.
On entering, kindly recognition tool
place, when Capt. Brown said, addressing
Cook: II am sorry you have not confined
yourself to truth in your statement called
your confession. never sent you to Harper's
Ferry as spy, and your statement to thai
effect is false"
Cook-"You certainly did,"
Capt. Brown Gin a commanding tone)-
did not, sir; you have, by your course, helc
yourself up as an object of contempt, and
deservedly 500
At this remark, Cooks head fell, and he
made no reply. Brown was next conducted
to Stevens room. The meeting between then
was cordial. Brown remarked that he was
about to die. Stevens said, 81 feel assured
that you will go to a better world than this
Capt. Brown said, "Conduct yourself like q
man; | know you will do so, without my
advising" They again shook hands and
parted. He then repaired to the room OIL
Coppic, where conversation almost similar
took place. Thence he went to the rooms Of
the negroes, whom he said he expected to die
like men, and as became their condition and
position. The negroes gave him the assurance
that they would die fearlessly, as they were
fully assured that their action was lust and
proper. Brown then returned to bis room,
and continued writing for some time.
THB EXECUTION.
AS the hour approached for his execution,
the Medical Faculty in attendance, the Sheriff
of the county, and the officers of the Jail,
visited his room and conversed with him.
Brown was cheerful, and talked as though the
hour which was appointed for his death was
Indifferent, and far in the future Nothing
of any material interest occurred in these
interviews.
At nine o'clock, agreeably to the general
order, the military companies commenced
assuming their positions. One company was
stationed in front of the jail another directly
opposite the Market House, and yet another
in front of the Court House, which was only
few yards to the north of the prison. Two
pieces of brass cannon were placed near the
jail wall, on the road leading to the scafold
The place of execution was not more than
half mile from the Jail. 1t was erected on
an eminence, in the center Of twenty acre
field. The grounds were laid off, and small
white flags were stuck in the ground, beyond
which no citizen was allowed to pass.
At the gate military company were sta
toned, who refused to admit any person,
unless accompanied by military escort. The
of the press, after much
trouble, were escorted into the field, and
assigned position within one hundred yards
Of the scaffold.
At this time, the military had assumed
their positions on the field, and in the woods,
to the north of the field of execution. The
cavalry were seen securing in every direction,
while mounted men were stationed all along
the fences of the field of execution, and could
be seen riding to the south and east, appar-
emily anxiously looking for the anticipated
rescue.