The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-24

rather rough, as we had no, expected anything like
this, and were not prepared. Captain Phelps then
Smith. He appealed 10 HIM in The strongest
terms to allow him 70 pass with the train,
saying be had women and children who were frightened
nearly DEATH and would let them pass they would
do nothing 70 trouble him. Brown then said he cou
he would hold his and nothing along the route
that anything was going on here, and he would
20 TO the bridge himself and that he went
through safely. Brown then up the bridge and
the passengers got on fast possible and she train
left went Of the passengers aud begged them
to make an alarm, and have a military company sen.
here as COON as possible.
here TO free the slaves and sad although he had sa
a force he could have thousands be said
the word. said he, i am a military man, and came
here to free the slaves Of your surrounding country
take possession OF this government property and arms
to assist me In in dong So & can have hys .h9rsana M
gave me leave to pass backwards and for
wards ] would keep quiet, and not h
Of course be had large force at hand.
After the train left the bridge was stil guarded, and
Browns men men were marching hing backward var, and io,
but only water to drink. He said he must
have coffee because he felt faugued, and must
prepared breakfast and took il In basket They
oil ate but Brown himself who took good care not TO
touch IT, had intended 70 prepare special breakfast
laughed and oked with him. deeming best not 70 seem
to fear hun. After breakfast Colonel Washington
said might put them the stable at the hotel He then
said: "1here is another horse, pointing TO his own,
him s III
be will call very soon. asked him about pay for
the breakfast and he said he should want dinner
would pay for the whole then One -four servants the
spoke Of wanting TO the gypses, appeared know
engine house. He had gone with TO carry the break
fasvery willingly, though the other servants hung back
and when l ordered him TO take the breakfast
would when he got ready, and l must under
stand he as much boss / was. This amused Old
Brown, who laughed at me, and told him there
niger blood in me- at all events. This boy slave,
belonging to some heirs, but has been doing for himself
and counted free for some time. The fellow left Wed
plenty around who would take crack at him If they
twelve O'Clock learned that the Charestown company had
arrived and then felt we were safe went and looked
out of the window, and saw just then shot
Is Stephens, and saw him fall The shot was
fred from the Calf House by George W. Chambers.
They called to that they had spare guns and asked
10 come l went over, and / passed seized
Stephens rife, which lay by his sde tried also TO get
his revolver but they fred at me, and the bullets came
bridge, and called me to them, but I
thought they were Browns men, and ran
got into the hotel by and demanded the
gun, but just then the Charlestown men drove through
the hotel and the man man got out at the back way
without the gun. Stephens, the wounded man. was then
brought in, and another fellow named Thompson was
prisoner placed in the parlor tied hand and
foot. All this time a sharp firing was kept up.
About three O'Clock Hayward sheppard, the colored
they shot in the morning, died. Mr. Beckham, the
sgent greatly excited at his death, the old
had bad him ten twelve years. and liked him very
much He went up the railroad platform hey on the rail
road station and pulled back but he went again,
the station when they shot him through the heart
He fell, and never moved again. The man who shot him
moment afterwards by q Harper's Ferry man.
| When Beckham was shot our men became almost
frantic They rushed in here, where the prisoner omp
son) was crying "shoot bim" "Kill himl'' and had il
not been for lady who in the Miss Christine
Fouke sister Of the andlord) he would have been killed
| on the srot They cooked their guns and pointed a
| telling them, "For Gods sake, himl don't XII
him in that way, but let the law take its coursc She
said they had him prisoner, bound, and h. could not
get away, and begged that they would OF kill him. The
man said he was willing to die; knew he had to die
took him out on the platform and shot hm. lie had
more than forty balls fred into him. The citizens around
chiefly concerned In this but say who Shot
him. could not have saved him if / had tried
The crowd also tried to get bold Of Stephens who was
wounded and was lying in bed up stairs but Miss Fouse
prevented H. and finally guard was placed over him.
Stephens said before he was shot that he loose he
would shoot any Of us.
After that there was q great deal of excitement aad
firing about the armory Companies of militia began
in, and at length the marines arrived, and the
next morning took all the insurgents that left
COL. JOHN A. WASHINGTON STATEMENT.
Cob John A. Washington (who ia distan,ly rotated TO
George washngton) gives the following of his
connection with the affair
Between and two o'clock Sunday night was in bed
at my house Eve six miles from Harper Ferry; was
awakened by hearing my called in the hall; sup
posed friends arrived, who, being acquainted
with the house. had in through the kitchen without
making any nose up and opened the door into the
hall, and before stood four men, three armed with
Sharp's rifles eveled andcocked, and the fourth-ths
man Sephens-with revolver in his right hand and in
his left q lighted fambeau, made OF pine whttiings;
opened the door one Of the men said, Is your name
Wasbngt0n?' Said ], "thatis my namc.' Perhaps also
Cook who Of the crowd, also identified me, he told
me afterwards he was taken there for that purpose.
then told that prisoner and Of them said,
" Don't be frightened Ireped, Do you any thing
that looks like fright about mes he said II only
You are safe" told them understood tha, sutcenty,
and there was no necessity for further expanaon but
was struck with the number Of men sent
many, there was no danger Of an unarmed man in
his night shirt resisting armed force was told put
whie am dressing you will be good as tell me what
all this ansf inquired what the weather outside
and one Of them advised me to put on overcoat as
was rather chilly Another said they wanted my arms,
and ] opened tho gun closet for them to help them
selves. They then explained their mission, which
T The Or an slaves IN se
After was dressed Stephens said 70 me, Have you
got any money!" Irepled q wish had great Zeal
knew how TO take care care Of and he could not get
It, said he, " Have you watchs'' Ny reply was, q
IT, yourselves
great moralsts and beraore Of slaves appears
that you robbers WELL" Be careful sir = said
he again. told them was dressed and ready TO 60.
They bade wait short time and my carriage would
be at the door. They had ordered my carriage
for me- and pred opon the stable door get out They
had hancssed the horses the wrong side Of each other
aud tried to induce them 10 the mistake, which
they did after driving short distance but STILL being har
messed wrong and rather spirited animals they would not
work well.
My servant whom they had forced along, was driving.
suspected they were only robbers and was expecting
all along that they would turn of at some point,
but they drove directly TO the Armory. Brown
came out and invited me in, saying there
q comfortable nrc and shortly afterwards met
with Mr. Asadt whom they had arrested on the way and
brought along in my buggy wagon While coming along,
the horses being restve, got out and walked up hi
with of the men, who took occasion 10 ask my views
the subject OF slavery in the abstract declined an
argument the subject but he still pressed upon me-
and was obliged TO refuse the second umc
Brown told US to make ourselves comfortable, and
added, by and by I shall require each OF you
gentlemen, TO write to some or your friends 70
send stout negro man in your places.n This
by way Of ransom He told he must see the letter
before was cent and he thought after this was effected