The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-10-28

Il 1MENCEMENT OF THE lNSUkREC l.oN VI |
sTURE OF COOK FOR PENNSYLVANIA.
talrlMoRE, Oct 1S.-The following inter
rles narrative of the recent events at Harner's
-ick is CLEANED from the repor. of the editor
mo- .4merlcan, who accompanied the troops
ien-his city and returned this evening.
! principal originator of the short but
tain existence of this insurreCtion, was, un-
igl-,dly, Capt John Brown, whose connec-
se-xith the scenes of violence in the border
-e IF Kansas. then made his name famil-
any h6fosious TO the whole country. Brown
no his first appearance in the vicinity OF Har-
Ferry more than a year ago, accompanied
der two sons, the whole party assuming the
OF Smith. He enquired about land IN the
ng Ily. and made investigations about the
iiiy of finding ores, and for some time
Is ID at Sandy Point, mile east OF The Ferry.
en- kn absence of some months he reappeared !
IT. ivlcinity, and the elder Brown rented or
'Ie la farm on the Maryland side, about four |
ed nfrom the Ferry. They bought large
ID mr. OF picks and spades, and this confirmed
ee ttief that they intended to mine for ores.
Twere seen frequently 10 and about Har-
IN PERRY, but no suspicion seems to nave e2-
& istle. sBil Smith" was Capt. Brown, or
J, the intended embarkIng in any movement
Il soberate or extraordinary. Yet the devel-
d opt of the plot leaves no doubt that his VS.
d itshe Ferry, and his lease OF the farm, were
S aIlis OF bis prep ayation for the lnsurrectIon'
WI be supposed would be successful IN eX-
} .pratlng slavery in Maryland and Western
Viria.
tgn's chief aid was John E. Cook, com
parrelp Young man, who has resided ID ana
neahe Ferry for some years. lie was ntSA
emRed in tending a lock on the Canal, alter
war taught school on the Maryland sice oi
I the rer, and after a brief residence IN Kansas
whe. il is supposed he became acquainted win
! Brow, reformed to the Ferry and married there.
H es regarded as a man of some Intelligence,
know. TO be aut-savery, but not 50 violent IN
the epresson of his opinions as tn excite any
suspl0ns. These two men, with Browns Two
sous,were the only white men connected win
the bsurrection that had been seen previously
abou The Ferry. All were brought by Brown
froms distance, aud nearly all had been win
aim IN Kansas.
The 6rst active movement in the insurrectlon
~, +s~.,i haif-nast 10 O'Clock on SUNDAY
>g0ss towards tue Marylan@side, was seiZed by
a number of men who said that he was then
prisoner and must come with them. He rec.
ognlzed Brown and Cook among the men, and
knowing them, he treated the matter as a Joke
but enjoying silence, they conducted him to
the armory, which he found already in their
possession. He was retained till after daylight
and then discharged. The watchman who was
10 relieve Williamson at midnight, found the
bridge lights all out and was Immediately seized.
Surprising it an attempt at robbery he broke a.
way and his pursuers stumbling over, he eSca-
capped.
The next appearance Of the insurrectionsts
was at the house OF Col. Lewis Washington.
1 large farmer and slave-owner, living about
four miles from the Ferry. A party, headed
BY Cook, proceeded there, aroused Col. W.
lnd told him he was their prisoner. They al
30 seized all the slaves near the house, and took
he carriage and horse, and large wagon with
.wo horses. When Col. Washington saw Cook
ne Immediately recognized him as a man who
lad called upon him some months previous, to
whom he had exhibited some valuable arms in
lis possession, including an antique sword pre-
'ented by Frederick the Great TO Cen George
Washington, and pair Of pistols presented by
zen. Lafayette to Washington, both being
lelrlooms IN the family. Before leaving, Cook
Col. Washington TO trial OF skill
Il shooting, and exhibited considerable certain
Y as a marksman. When he made his visit on
sunday night he alluded to his previous visits.
md the courtesy with which ne had been trea-
ed, and regretted the necessity which made il
lis duty to arrest Col. w. He, however, took
dvanage Of the knowledge he obtained bv his
ormer visit, 10 carry of all the valuable collec-
ION of arms, which Col w. Gid not re-obtain
il! after the final defeat of the insurrec!ion.
from Col. Washingtcn's the party proceeded
With hm as a prisoner, in his own Carriage,
nd twelve Of bis negroes in the wagon, TO the
ouse Of Mr.. Alstadt, another large farmer, on
be same road. Mr.. Alstadt and his son. i
ad of lb gears ofage, were taken prisoners, and |
II the negroes within reach being forced to /
Din reinforcement, they returned 10 the armory /
t the Ferry. All these movements seem 10 /
ave BEN made without exciting the slightest
larm IL the town, nor did the detention oil
apt. Phelps train at the upper end of the
own attract attention. 1t was not until the
own thoroughly walked up and found the bridge
armed men, aud a guard stationed
all tn avenues, that the people found they
'ere prisoners. A panic appears to have i'm
lediateg ensued, and the number of the insur-
pctoniis at once increased from fifty (which
'as prohbly their greatest force, including the
aves wo were forced TO JON them, to from
90 to 90.
1t wa then believed that the large wagon
'as use to convey a way the Paymasters safe
ontain:g $1,000 Government funds, and
lso, tha ii was filled with MIME rifles, taken
ut to soPly other ban ds in the mountains,
Who wee to come down upon Harper's Ferry
n overwhelming force. These suppositions
9th prted untrue, as neither money nor arms
we're dlurbed. TIE news spread around. and
he eole came into the Ferry, the first dem
'nstr;tios OF resistance were made to the in