The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-10-26
Capt. Browns Instruction at Har-
per's Ferry.

exchanges, Drlel statement OF the orISh
and progress Of the great instruction that
recently transpired at Harper's Ferry, loca-
ted in Jefferson county, Virginia, at the
junction Of the Shenandoah with the Po-
tomac River, where the united stream
passes through the Blue Ridge. The
bridge which here crosses the Potomac
and connects Virginia and Maryland,
measures $50 feet between the abutments.
The population of the town is less than
1000, and with the suburbs reaches 81
900. AT this point there is national
armory, where $50 men are constantly
employed and 10000 small arms annual
" manufactured. There are usually
many thousand stand of arms kept in the
armory. So much for the place.
The principal originator of this bloody
instruction was Capt. John Brown, whose
connection with the scenes of violence in
|
Kansas then made his name Familiarity
notorious throughout the country. Brown
made his first appearance in Harper's Fer
ry more than year ago, accompanied by
his two sons-all three Of them assuming
the name of Smith. He inquired about
land in the vicinity, and made investiga-
tons as to the probability of finding ores
there, and for some time boarded at San
dy Point, mile east of the Ferry. AT
ter an absence of some months the elder
Brown re-appeared in the vicinity, and
rented or leased farm on the Maryland
side, about four miles from the Ferry.
They bought a large number Of picks and
spades, and in this confirmed the belief
that they intended TO mine Cor ores. They
were frequently seen in and about Har-
per's Ferry, but no suspicion seems to
have existed that "Bll Smith" was
Capt. Brown, or that he intended embark
ing in any movement so desperate or ex-
traordinary. Yet the development of the
plot leaves no doubt that his visit to the
Ferry and his lease of the farm were all
parts of his preparations for an insurrec-
ton which he supposed would be success
full in DISCRIMINATING slavery in Maryland
and Western Virginia.
Browns chief aid was John E. Cook
u comparatively young man, who has resi-
He was first employed in tending loci
on the canal, and afterwards taught schoo
on the Maryland side of the river, and
after brief residence in Kansas, where
it is supposed, he became acquainted will
Brown, returned to the Ferry and mar
ried there. He was regarded as a mar
of some Intelligence, and known to BE-
anti-slavery, but was not SO violent in The
expression Of his opinions rs to excite any
suspicious.
These two men, with Browns two sons
were the only white men connected will
the instruction that had been seen about
the Ferry. All were brought by Brown
from distance, and nearly all had beer
with him in Kansas.
The first active movement in the insur
rection was made at about l04 o'clock OF
Sunday night. William Williamson, The
Waterman at Harper's Ferry Bridge
whilst walking across toward the Mary
land side, was seized by number Of mer
who said he was their prisoner and mus
come with them. He recognized Brown
and Cook among the men, and rccogniz
ing them, treated the matter as n joke
but, enforcing silence, they conducted hin
to the armory, which he found already il
their possession. He was detained til
after daylight, and discharged. Th'
Waterman who was to relieve Williamson
at midnight found the bridge lights al
out, and was Immediately seized. Sup
8 posing il an attempt at robbery, he brok'
away, and his pursuers stumbling Owe
, him he escaped. The next appearance o
, the insurrectionists was at the house O
Col. Lewis Washington, large farmc
and slave-owner, living about four mile.
|, from the Ferry. A party, headed BY
Cook, proceeded thither, and rousing Col
Washington, told him he was their pris
oner. They also seized all the slaves
! near the house, took carriage horse anC
! a large wagon with two horses. Whel
|, Col. Washington saw Cook he immedi
ately recognized him MS the man who haC
called upon him some months previous
and to whom he had exhibited some val
e liable arms in his possession, including al
' antique sword, presented by Fredericl
9 the Great to George Washington, and
pair of pistols presented by Lafayette I,
$ Washington, both being heir-looms in tn,
: family. Before leaving, Cook wanted
@ Col. Washington to engage in trial o
{ skill at shooting, and exhibited considera
@ BILE skill as marksman. When he made
the visit on Sunday night, he alluded /,
his previous visit and the courtesy will
which he had been treated, and regretted
!. the necessity which made it his duty I,
arrest Col. Washington. He, however
took advantage of the knowledge he haC
obtained of his former visit, TO carry Of
$ all the valuable collection of arms, whicl