Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-10-26
The Citizens of virginia who were Killed at
Hnrper's Ferry.

A correspondent of a Baltimore paper gives
the following account of the killing of the
citizens Of Harper's Ferry, by tho insurgents;
Thomas Burley was respected citizen of
the Ferry, an lrishman by birth, but for many
years a resident of that place On Monday
morning, when the insurgents were in posses
sion of the arsenal, he, with few others, was
in favor of attacking them, but enough men
could not be raised to ensure the success of
tho assault lie however loaded his gun, and
every opportunity which offered, he attempted
to shoot down the insurgents. At the time he
was killed, he had left his home few minutes
before with neighbor-Mr. Thomas Kelley
with the intention of trying to shoot one of
the rebels Kelley had fired at a mulatto who
was walking guard in front of the arsenal, aud
some of the shot with which the gun was
loaded took effect on the negro, but did not in
lure him severely They walked down High
street to tke intersection with Shenandoah st.
The mulatto was still on guard, and he must
have been aware of the approach of Burley
and Kelley, fOr the moment the person of MIR.
Burey was exposed around the corner the ne
gro fired, and the ball passed through the body
Of Mr. Burley, near the heart, and he fell and
expired
George W. Turner, Esq was next killed
town, aud thirteen miles from the Ferry. He
heard Of the insurrcton and Immediately or
dered his horse and gun, which were brought
out by favorite servant, and he started for
the scene. lie entered the Ferry through the
town of Bolivar, over Camp bill and down
High streets. lie was riding leisurely along,
while the inhabitants were warning him of the
danger he was approaching, which he listened
to but still rode on. AS he was passing down
High street, and when near the intersection of
Shenandoah street, a bullet from a Sharp's
rifle struck him on the side, passing through
his body, and he fell mortally wounded. He
lived about three-quaTters OF an hour after
being shot. MIR. Turner was one of the most
prominent and influential citizens of Jefferson
county. He was graduate OF West Point,
and, after spending few years in the army
service, he resigned his commission and retired
to his farm, (his father having died and left him
the home estate of the Turner'S Here be
| lived, a most useful citizen, kind master
respected and honored by his fellow citizens,
and loved by his servants. His death will be
lamented by the entire community. He was a
blaye, generous man, and was known far and
near for for his strict honesty and unblemishcd
honor.
! At three O'Clock in the afternoon Fountain
! Beckham, ESQ, was killed. Early in tho morn>
| ing he had gone to his office, where he remained
during the day. lie had warned many of his
friends during the morning TO keep ia doors
| At the hour named he left his office, walked
along the railroad platform in a western diroc-
tion until he reached the water-tank, 1.-THE house
farthest west marked in the diagram) He
stopped for a moment to converse with some
men who were sheltered by this house, and in
an unguarded moment he exposed his person
/ Il. .h. g., th,a 1.
Sharps ride, struck him near the shoulder
blade and passed through his body. He
staggered few steps west, fell and died al.
most instantly. His body was lying so fal
west that it was impossible TO reach it, unless
the person doing so was fully exposed to the
deadly fire ofthe insurgents in the engine houso
/ The body was accordingly ell lwed "a lay for a
considerable length Of time, when a citizen re-
moved il to bis office, where it lay during the
night Mr.. Beckham was more widely person
ally known than any ether man in jefferson
County. lie had been tho agent Of the Balti
more aud Ohio railroad from the time the road
was constructed, and had discharged his dutiel
in the most satisfactory manner lie had beer
a Justice of the Peace for Jefferson county TO
over twenty years and at the time Of his deatl
was Mayor of llarper's Ferry.
The negro Hayward was in the employ o
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
and in the morning when the insurgents hat
possession of the bridge, he was active in hi
efforts to secure passage for the express traiI
of cars which had been stopped Conducto
Phelps, with his baggage-masteT not awart
that there were armed men in the bridge, lam
in hand, Qt was not yet dayhght,) started
through the bridge to sec that the timbers wer
all safe, and the rails of the track had not beef
removed. lie had progressed but short dis