The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-26
RESULT OF THE INvEsTIG ATOMS OF sENA
TOR MASON.

1t is right, and due truth that the material facts
attending the late nccndiary attack the town of Har
pcrs ferry should be correctly understood.
There was no nsurrecon, in any form whatsoever on
the part of any Of the inhabitants residents that town
its vicinity. There ste doubt that such nsurrecon
fully expected by the leader Of the armed mscrcants
who came from the adjoining State clandcstiucly, and
under Of night, into the expectation in
which they woefuly disappointed. as fully ad
mitted by themselves The fact Is undoubted that not
man. black white, joined them alter they came into
Virginia, gave them aid assistance IN any form.
1t true that after their capture their leader trown)
stated that he had reason 10 expect such assistance and
had been disappointed. But this is fully Giscrediled by
the following facs-Erst, that be had undsputed pos
session Of the town from about midnight Sunday until
after midday on Monday when the people OF the adoin
ing country learning the state of things got together in
armed bands and made descent upon the Second
that during this period they and held in custody
besides the slaves Of Mr. Washington and Mr. ast,dt'
taken in the neghborhood, five six other slaves
belonging TO residents at Harpers Ferry aud found
streets 1t stated that they put spears lanccs in the
hands Of two three of these negroes and compelled
them to stand in the character of sennes the Of
the CINE house, occupied by the ncendiarcs but at
first assault made by the citizens the slaves threw away
their pixies and escaped to their homes for refuge Third
They had in confinement, IN addition, some thirty or
forty other persons, who were found unarmed in the
streets in the carly hours Of the morning, but ad
herent or sympathlzer turned up amongst them In
addition TO all this after careful inquiry and nvestga-
Gop the spot Icould not learn that any man of any
color Gave one hereafter be noced) was even sus
pccted of being any way accessory ryy to the plot
The exception was Of man named Cook, who came to
Harpers Ferry year two since in the character of
schooimaster married there and who, after the event. it
sooiated with him in Kansas Cook impaired the plans
OF Brown TO none in Virginia. so far as is known; he
did, il is certain none acted on them He accompanied
the party to Mr.. Washingtons which seized him and his
negroes and brought them of in the night but of
the latter evincod purpose to follow his fortunes On
the contrary those that he carried of the night into
Maryland escaped from him there and returned.
think am warranted, on the foregoing facts in the
belief that engagements promises OF aid from of
any race, were given to Brown inviting his descent On
the part Of the negroes s certain that the only emotion
evnced by them was OF alarm and terror and their only
re n mas home
OF the conspiracy outside Of this State, enough has
transpred, or been obtained from papers taken with
Browns effects TO show that he acted from impressions
made upon him by abolition tracts, newspapers and
in the circles he frequented in the slavehod
ing States. Those impressions that 1t required only
TO put arms within immediate reach to bring about i'm
mediate insurrecton in the saveholdng Siates-a doc
trne openly incucated as is known, by the abolition
leaders Thus impressed, he embarked this desperate
enterprise with but nineteen but he had and
weapons secrcted in the mountains and hiny populated
country on the Maryland side Of the river and within
four or five miles Of the Virginia line at Harpers Ferry
with abundant ammunition, 70 have placed effective
weapon in the hands Of each Of at least fifteen hundred
or two thousand men. The exact number Of these
arms never be asceytained, as they were carried
of in great numbers when first discovered brought
who came from distance, and before posses.
sion of them taken by the regular military authori-
ties Amongst them were one thousand pixies lances
composed Of steel blade sharpened at tho point and at
both edges six eight inches long, and taperng
from an inch inch and half to the point, strongly
and securely fixed uniform wooden handles five or
six feet In cngtha most effective arm for hands un-
skilled in military wcapons-leavng doubt for whom
they We're destined.
The whole military equipments possessed by Brown
and seized after his capture could not have cost less than
ten thousand dollars, consisting amongst other things, Of
some two hundred Sharps rifles, with like number Of
sixshooter pistols, contained in the manufacturers
boxes and rot yet used, a proportionatc supply Of
fixed ammunition for the rifles, with caps, &c, in the or
ginal boxes, hospital stores pickaxes and shoves
stained with use and large box containing ten kegs Of
powder.
grave inquiry remains, which will be diligently and
trust successfully prosecuted 10 ascertain whence the
funds derived for this military expedition Of out
laws against n State of the Union, and who they were
aiding with money to furnish to such leader for
such purpose.
1t remains only to add that so far as can nc discovered
not one OF the nineteen escaped. could not correctly
ascertain the number klled-some ten or eleven IL il
known were khcd-somc shot In attempting TO es
across the river and their bodies not rccovercd I've
only were captured alive, amongst them their leader
Brown: two Of the five negroes; one muatto no.
ports that he came from Ohio to join this expedition the
other, black, says that he from Harrisburg Pa
with the like purpose both age that they were deceived
by Brown ns 70 the objects Of the expedition
Not slave escaped attempted TO escape during the
tumu OF the few carried OF by Cook across the rvcr
all escaped from him and came safely back but one who
appears was drowned whilst crossing the river home
ward bound. J. II. MASON.
SELMA, near Winchester. Va, Oct 81, 1850.
CARD FROM JOSHUA r. CsIDD!NGS.