The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-12-30
The Escape and Pursuit OF John
Browns Aooomplicos.

4 correspondent Of the Philadelphia Press
who writes ifom Chhmbersburgh, Pa. and,
Who evidently speaks from an intimate knowl-
edge Of the subject gives an interesting ae-
count ofthe escape Of Merriam, OweR1rown,
Coppic and lidd, aher the disastrous tcrmi-
nation Of the affair at llarper's Ferry, from
which We make the following extract
The facts ia relation to the escape Of Mer.
riam,BrogD, Coppie aud 1idd are we'll known
10 the pabc here Merriam il ayoung Bos-
'ouisn, Of scarcely twenty ly.thrce years Of age.
lie passed through part Of the Kansas war.
and Was fcarlcss and untiring IN his efforts
ngai,yFr the MiWourians who were az war
wah4he Free State men. subsequently he
went " Hiatt, and spent o winter there, lie
does nSt seem to have been Immediately con-
ucc,ou Ailh John Brown in his lIarpcrs Fer,
~ insutrrctiGn until about the first OF Octo.
hcr. lie came TO this place about that time
on his way to llarpcr's Ferry, and called on
one of our attorneys aud had his will drawn,
properly executed, and mailed to the oxceu.
tor in Boston; lie represented himself as a
tourist on his way South, aud fearing aooi-
dents, wished his will prepared, lie is a
Young man Of fine address, and evidently
more than ordinary culture lie was not in
The fight at liarper's Ferry, but was station
ed at an outpost for some purpose-perhup'
10 receive and lead expected rcinforcements.
/ Ia. company with 1idd Coppc and Brownie
came TO Chambcrs5urgh the night Cook was
put IN ja! and the whole four remained in
this immediate vicinity for several days.
They were seen frequently by different per.
sons, and suspected but nothing was known
Of them with any degree Of postiyeness, eS-
-rrT-tuB by n fJw who we're professionally or
otherwise confdcntially advised Of their
names and purpose. They slept in a barn
near town two nights, and we're seen there
aud they called ai several houses in town af-
ter dark to gc, food II is geussAll5 upJer-
stood that they desired and contemplated the
4 rescue of Cook from prison but theyNero
prevailed upon not to attempt T. They had
each four revolvcrs, IN addition to their bow
Ie.kniycs and rifles II is believed that but
one phite person communicated with them
directly during thor stay here, and that per-
son was womani though it e more than
probable that they were advised indirectly by
several of our citizens. Although it was
well known that they we're here, no one at
tempted io hunt or arrest them. No reward
had been offered for them. In fact, the Nir-
giniuus believed that Tidd ANDERSON and
Brown were dead, and they did not know
that there had been two Copies in the insur-
rretion Gov Wise was informed that four
| fugtives we're in this neighborhoodi and he
at once offered a reward Of $500 head for
them. But il did not Tempt any one to try
the arrest ofthem indeed it was we'll known
/ that they coGd not be taken alive. They
might have been overwhelmed by numbers,
and taken dead or crippled but, with each
one prepared to fire twcnty-four balls, With
fearful preeisiou, in "a many AeeoRda, the at
temp; would have been most costly one.
| Aflcr Cook had been rcmauded to Virgin
ia. Mrrriou, Disguised himself. aud went to
Boston direct by railroad, passing through
philadelphia and New York. In Phladol-
phia hc stopped at the Merehant'' Hotel and,
/ believe, registered his name correctly. lie
was known 20 bot very few pcrsons oot Of
Boston. and " hen be- passed through Phila-
idelphia the general belief was that he had
died Of wounds AceiseJ At Harper'a Ferry,
end been budrd by his companions in the
mouuttins Obituary notices ~ him hnd
breo Published iu scy,rrl Of the New York
and Boston pabeu lie reached Boaiou.and