The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-10-29
THE HARPER'S FERRY TRAGEDY
Detailed Narrative. Fs.'~!'

Detailed Narrative. Fs'e'
| From the Baltinore American
Brown made his frat appearance in the yiciu
ity Of Harper's terry more than year ago &C
conpanied BY his two sons, the whole party as.
su,nng the name Of Smith.
lie inquired about land in the vicinity. and
made lnvesiie atoms about the probability Ol
nudlng ores, and for some time boarded at San
dy Point, mile east ofthe Ferry. After sD
absence OF some months he re>abpeared in the
vicinity and rented or leased farm on the ma.
ryh'nd side. four miles from the ferry. They
bought large number Of picks and spades, and
tins confirmed the belief that they intended to
mine for ores. They were seen frequently in
aud about Hsrper's Ferry but no suspicion
seems to have existed that Bill Smith was Cant.
Brown, or that he intended embarkinp in anv
movement so desperate or extraordinary :: vet
the developments OF the plot leave no doubt
that his visits 10 the Ferry, and his leass Of the
farm, we're all parts Of bis preparation tor the
insurrection, which he supposed would be sue
cessiui in exterlninatiDg slavery in Maryland
and Western Virginia. Browu's chief Aid was
| John r. Cook, comparatively young mAn, who
has resided in and near. the Ferry for some
years lie was first employed in tending lock
on the canal. aitersard taught school on the
Maryland side OF the river, and after brief res
idencc in Kansas, where i: is supposed. he he
came acquainted with Brown, returned to the
Ferry aud married there. .=-,9'4 -,
lie was regarded as a man Of come iptelli-
gence, known to be anti-slAvery, but not so VIC.
lent IN the expression of bis opinions a. to ex
cite any suspcions These two men. with
Browns two sons, were the only white men con
nected with the insurrectiOn that had been pre-.
vloasly about the Ferry. .All we're brought by
Brown from distance, and nearly all had been
with him in Kansas. The first active move
ment IN the insurrectiOn was made about half
pass ten Sunday night. w. IL. williamson the
wacbman on the HarPers Ferry bridge. whilst
walking across towards the Maryland side was
seized by number OF men who said that he
was their prisoner aud must come with them.--
He recognized Brown aud Cook among the
men. aud knowing them, he treated the matter
ss joke, but enforcing silence they conducted
him to the Armory, which be found already in
their possession. He WAS retained till after
day light and then discharged. The vatchman
who was to relieve Williamson at midnig ht
found the bridge lights all out, aud was i,nme-
diaiely seized. Suppos ng. it an .altempt at
robbery, be broke away, and his pursuers ssun>
bling over he escaped. The next appearance
OF the lnsurrecioaists was ut the house Of Col. 4
Lewis Washington, large farmer and slave
owner, living Aoout four miles from the Terry.
A party headed by Cook proceeded there.
reused Col. Washington, and told him be was
their prisoner. -.
They also seized all the slaves .uear the house
lnd took away carriages and horses, ard large |
wagon with two horses. When Colonel WASH |
ngton saw Cook, he Immediately recognised |
nim rs a man who bad called upon him some |
months previous, to whom he had exhibited |
some valuable arms in his possession, including I
IN antique sword, presented by Frederic the |
ireAt TO George Washington, and pair OF pis-
,ois presented by Lafayette to Washington, both
BENG heirlooms in the family. Before leaving.
Cook wanted Colonel Washington to make . |
rIsl OF skill at shooting, aud exhibited consider.
,ble certainty a marksman
When he made his visit ofASunday night. he /
alluded TO bis previous visit and the courtesy i
With which ne had been treated and regretted
he necessity which made it his duty tcsssrest
COLONEL Washington. He, however, took ad-
'antase oi the knowledge be obtained by his
oriner visit 70 carry of all the valuable coIlec
ION Of arms. which Colonel Waehipetou did |.
lot reobtain till after the iual defeat Of the in.
direction.
From Colonel WAshingtop's the party pro-
eeded With bin as prisoner in his own car
iage, an1 twelve of his negroes in the% wagon,
Q The house OF Mr.. Allstadt, another large
arner ON the fame road. Mr.. Allstadt and bis
on, lad sixteen years ofsge, we're taken pris>
mere, and all tae negroes within reach being
orced to join the movement.
ihey rrturnei to the armory at the Ferry,-
MI these movements seem to have been made
Fitnout exciting the slightest alarm ia the
own; nor did the detention Of Capt. Pbelps'
ram AZ the upper end Of town, attract Attens
ION. II was not until the town was thoroughly
faxed up, and found the bridges guarded BY I
rmed men, ard guard statione at ali the
venues, that the people found they were pris-
ners. as 80
panic appears to have Immediately epsued,
nd the number Of the insurrectonsts 1t once
Increased from 6ity, which was probably their
rcatest force, including the slaves who were
o. ced 10 join, to from I've 70 six huudred. In
he meantime, y number Of wOrkm knowing
othing OF what had occurred, entered The I,
rmory, and we're successfully taken prisoners.
NTH they had at one time not less than sixty
ien connned in the arinory. An,opg those
nus entrapped were Arm;s,ed, Benz. Mills,
lAster OF the Armory, aud J. L. Danger6eld.
sym'sters clerk. These three gentlemen
ere imprisoned in the engine house. which af-
srwards became the chief fortress oi the insur-
eHts, and were not released until after the final
ssault.
Inc workmcn were imprisoned In q large
u'idinE farthr down the yard, and were res.
ued oy brilliant Z0uave dash made By the
anfoau companys mes, who came dosn from
This sas The condition Of aaa,r, Il da,lixbta
bout which time Capt. Cook with two vhite
ZEN and accompanied by thirty slaves, and TAX
q With them Col. WashiDgtons large wagon.
ent over the bridge and struck up shs mosas
lin on the road tovards Rennsylvauis.
Soon after daylight IN Monday mosnlnR Z
enerai warfare commenced. chiefly led op 81 Il
= II /.