The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-10-18
NEGRO INSURRECTION
AT HARPER'S FERRY.
THE ARMoRY SEIZED AND TRAINS
STOPPED.
CARS FIRED INTO-ONE MAN KILLED.
MILITARY ARRANGEMENT
ORDERS FROM THE PRESIDENT.
Five to Seven Hundred IHurectiOnists in Arms.
SEIZURE OF WHITES AND THE LIBERATION OF THEIR
SLAVES.
RAILROAD OBSTRUCTED.

At an early hour yesterday morning our city was
| thrown into a state of excitement by the publica-
tion of a despatch from Frederick, stating that
negro insurrecton had broken out in the town of
Harper's Ferry, that the insurgents had taken pos
session of the place, seized upon the armory and
were proceeding to imprison the citizens and libe-
rate the slaves of the adjacent country. The des-
patch was in the following words:
| FREDERICK, Oct l7.-Information has been re-
ceived here this morning of formidable negro in
surrection at Harper's Ferry. An armed band of
Aboitionsts have full possession of Harper's Ferry
and the United States Arsenal. The express train
east fired into twice and one of the hands, ne
gro, killed whilst trying to get the train
| through the town.
They have arrested two who with a
load of wheat and took their wagon and loaded it
with rifles, and sent them into Maryland. They
are led by about two hundred and fifty whites with
gang OF negroes fighting for their freedom. They
gave Conductor Phelps notice that they would not
allow any more trains to pass.
The telegraph wires cut east and west of
Harper's Ferry. This intelligence was brought by
the train from the West. Great excitement here.
The intelligence at first seemed so improbable
that little credit given it, but the reception of
other dispatches Of the same purport and the non
arrival of the train from the West due at A. M.
gave color of truthulness to the statement and the
newspaper offices were beseged by an anxious and
increasing crowd About noon the following con-
frmatory despatch was received from the Office of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad:
The company's dispatches of the same pur-
port the above, but they think the statement ex-
aggerated. The company's officers are busy with
their counsel preparing papers, &C., to protect the
road. They apprehend their trains may be peremp-
torily used for military purposes, and travel OBJ
structed. They are awaiting the arrival of Phelps
train, (the conductor who telegraphed them from
Frederck,) to learn particulars, &e before send
ing out the express. 1t is due in half an hour.
The company have telegraphed President Bu-
chanan and Governor Wise. DR.. Morris post
master, is here with a telegraph from the Presi-
dent, directing him to make inquiries. The COM
pany wish the General Government and State OF
Virginia to take care each of its own affairs, with
out requiring the company to do it.
ARRIVAL THE TRAIN.
Shortly after II NJ the Express train arrived,
and we obtained from Conductor Phelps the fol
lowing statement:
| STATEMENT OF CONDUCTOR PHELPS AND HIS OFFICERS
The following particulars of the affair have beer
obtained from the officers of the train, viz Mr.
Andrew j. Phelps, conductor; Mr.. Jacob Crom
well, baggage-master, and Mr.. VIM Wooley, en-
gineer. They state that their train (the regular
passenger train from the West) reached poin
near the bridge at Harper's Ferry at twenty minute
of one o'clock this morning, when it was stopped
They then informed by the night bridge
tender that when he proceeded to relieve his col
league he discovered that the light the bridge
, had been extinguished and that his colleague wa
, missing. This party stated further that he sup
, posed his colleague had been murdered or wayaid
He not LETT long in a state of suspense, thre
men suddenly came upon him with violent outcries
, which caused him to fee, whereupOn the partie
, discharged firearms at him, which fortunately dit
not take effect. 1t further appeared that c0Orat
q man, well known as a baggage assistant, upo
reaching the Ferry was also shot at, several ball
\ penetrating his back, and inficting wounds of
mortal character.
At first conductor Phelps was at loss how t
act and concluded to send over person to tn
n vicinity of the Ferry to ascertain the of tn
proceedings, when the leader of the party-a ma
f of rather prep6ssessing appearance, and suppose
n to be nearly sixty years of age-appeared, an
: stated that he preferred holding communicate
with the conductor. Mr.. Phelps went over alone
and told by the same man that he and his part
had determined not to allow another train to pa:
: over the road, but that they would give him five
n ten minutes to get his train through.
e In the meantime, other persons from the trai
> ventured across the bridge above the Ferry, an
# soon coming into contact with the rioters, (wh
r were reputed as about two hundred in number, ha
q of whom seemed to be black,) one of the party,
e passenger, was captured The train was delaye
IS by the proceedings until hafpas six O'Clock, whe
steam was raised and they reached the Camden ST
If ton at noon to-day.
/ Upon the train leaving, Mr.. Phelps was particr
larly requested by the leader of the gang to stat
to the Superintendent of the Road, that under L
circumstances would another train be permitted t
,s pass Harper's Ferry. During the night lara
sr two horse wagon, laden with wheat, came in fro
,e rioters Immediately seized the driver took posse
d. sion of the wheat and loading the vehicle wit
Is weapons from the Armory, sent it back up tt
country.
t. The engineer states that he took particular n
q tice of the crowd, which he thinks numbered
es least three hundred persons; that amongst the
v: were several strapping negroes who occasional
IN shouted out that they onged for liberty as thu
en- had been in bondage long enough. The ringlea
ch er, who is said to be named Anderson, made
w appearance at Harper's Ferry five six days ag
o. and since that time has been driving around Il
t. place in elegant barrouche drawn by two horse
nj These officers report that the United States
h, mory and the neighboring country have been tax
or possession of by the rioters, all of whom W.
n. armed with short rifles and other United Stat
no. arms. When the workmen of the armory repair
mt there for the purpose of resuming work they we
is seized by the parties, forcby dragged within I
nd gates and imprisoned.
un number of the party proceeded to the propr
tn tors of the hotel the armory and In an autht
he itatve tone ordered breakfast for fifty or sixty p
ed sons, adding that they were determined to Ike
nd possession of the place, and live in the b
lat manner.