White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-11-17


before me, / saw q wild looking man, o
magnificent proportions, with half dog
en- pistols of various sizes stuck in hi
belt, and large Arkansas bowie-knif
prominent among them. His head wal
uncovered his hair was uncombed hi
face had not been shaved for many months
past. We were similarly dresssd--witt
rsd-topped boots. Kom over the panta.
loons ; coarse blue shirt-and pistol
belt. This was the usual fashion Of the
times.
"HullO !" he cried. "you're in our
camp" Er
He had nothing in his right hand-he
carried WATERFALL in his left 4: but, be.
fore he could speak l had drawn and
cooked my eight inch Colt.
| only answered, in emphatic tone,
"Halt or I'll fire."
He stopped and said that he knew me;
that he had seen me in Lawrence, and
that was ''true :" that he was Frederick
Brown, the son Of old John Brown and
that was now within the limits Of their
camp. After parley of few minutes,
was satisfied that / was amoug my
friends, put up my pistol, and shook
hands with Frederick.
He talked wildly, as he walked before
me, turning round every minute, as be
spoke Of the then recent affair of Potts-
wsttomie. His family, he said, had been
accused Of it he denied it indignantly,
but with the air of a maniac. His sx-
eitement was so great that he repeatedly
crossed the creek until. getting anxious
to reach the camp, l refused to listen to
him until he took me to his father. He
then quietly filled his pail with water /;
and, after many strange turnings, led me
into camp. AS we approached it, we
were twice challenged by sentries, who
suddenly appeared before trees and as sud-
denly disappeared behind them.
BROWNS CAMP. ~.
shall not soon forget the scene that
here opened to my view. Near the edge
of the creek dozen horses were tied
all ready saddled for a ride for life, or
hunt after the Southern invaders. A
dozen rifles and sabres were stacked
against trees. In the open space amid
the shady and lofty woods, there was
great fire with pot on it; woman was
picking berries from the bushes three or
four men were lying on red blankets on
the grass and two fine looking youths
were standing leaning on their ans, on
d. he Of
Brown, and the other was the "Charley"
who was subsequently, murdered at Osa-
watomie.
Old Brown himself stood near the fire,
with his shirt sleeves rolled up, and q
large piece Of pork in his hand. He was
engaged in cooking q whole pig. He was
poorly clad his toes protruded from his
boots. The old man received me with
great cordiality, and the little band soon
gathered about me- But it was for mo-
ment only, for the captain ordered them
to renew their work. He respectfully
but firmly forbade conversation on the
Pottawa atomic affair and said that. if /
desired any information from the compa-
ny in relation to their conduct or inten-
tions, he-as their captain-would au-
swer for them whatever it was proper to
communicate.
remained in their camp about an hour,
and went away with far higher respect
for the Great Struggle. and the men en-
gagged in it, than ever / had felt before.
BRowN's FIRST FIGHT.
A few days after this visit, Mr.. Henry
Clay Pate-a highwayman, horse thief
and burglar in Kansas a postmaster,
Democratic politician. and correspondent
of the st. Louis Republican in Missouri
his appearance near Palmyra, at
a creek called Black Jack, for the pur
pose, boastingly svowed. of bringing Old
Brown prisoner to Westport. He had
thirty men. Brown after a few dozen
volleys, took them captive with eleven
men.
Brown afterwards delivered up these
prisoners to Col. Sumner, cousin OF
the ilIustrous Senator from Massachusetts,.
An incident of this event is deserving OF
passing record, as an illustration OF the
fearless character of old Brown. Learn
ing that Col. Sumner, with his compa-
ny, was in the neighborhood, the Captain
to pay him visit, and offer
ed to give up the prisoners, to stand tri'
al, if the Government wished it, for the
crime of sscking free state store and
repeated robberies on the highway. II
The Colonel told him that the United
States Marshal was in his camp, with
writ for Browns arrest, and that it would
be his duty to detain him as a prisoner.
Brown answered that If the United States
attempted to serve the writ. he
would shoot him dead on the spot. The
Colonel replied that if the Marshal pro-
duced the writ, he would serve it at every
hazard.
But the Marshal, although surrounded
by hundred armed soldiers, cowed be-
fore the fearless guerrilla chief-fumbled,
among his papers, and pre-
tended that he had lost the writ
Brown left the camp unframed
JAMES REDPATH.