Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-11-01
fFrcm tho Now York Herald.l
The Leader of the Marper's Ferry
IllSHarCCctIOM.

LrIom tHc NoW horh uoTaial
The Leader of the INarper's Ferry
RESURRECTION. ''
Capt. John Brown emigrated to Kan
sas from Central New York, in the Fall Of
1855, and settled IN the tow nship Of Ossa-
wattomie. He was accompanied by seven
sons, tie youngest being old enough to
earn his livelihood. AT the time Of his
death he was about sixty years Of age
He was about medinm hight, slim, mus
cular, and possessing an iron constitution.
He had blue eyes, sharp features and long
gray hair, wearing a full beard.
In December, 1856, during the "Shan.
non war;" Brown first made his appear
ance among the free State men at Law.
renee. His entrance into the place at
once attracted the attention of the people
toward him. He brought a wagon losd
of cavalry sabers, and was accompanied
by twelve men, seven of whom were his
own sons. He first exhibited his quail
ties at the time the free State and pro-
slavery parties, under the lead Of Governor
Robinson on one side, and Governor
Shannon on the other, met to make
treaty Of peace. After Governor Robin
son had stated to the people who were
gathered around the hotel the terms of the
peace, Brown took the stand. uninyited,
aud opposed the terms of the treaty. He
was in avor of ignoring all treaties, and
such leading men as Robinson, Lane and
Lowry, and proceeding at once against
the border ruffian invader. drive them
from the soil or hang them il taken. Gen.
Lowry, who was chairman of the Com
mittee of Safety, and also commander Of
the free State troops, ordered Brown under
arrest. The latter made no physical re-
sistance, but it was soon discovered that
he vas altogether too combustible per-
son to retain as prisoner, and comp,o-
mise was made with him by the free State
men. and he was released. He was in
formed by the leaders of that party that
his remarks were intended to undo what
they were trying 10 accomplish by means
Of the treaty; thst he was stranger in
Lawrence and Kansas, and ought not by
his rash remarks to compromise the peo-
pie of Lawrence until he had known them
longer, and knew them better.
One of his sons. who WAS elected to the
Legislaturein February, 1856, was seized
ard taken from Ossawattomie TO Lecomp-
ton in chains, distance of thirty miles.
His feet and hands were chained together
with a large heavy chain, The size OF tina,
used upon OK Teams. He was compelled
to walk tie Whole distance beneath a
burning sun. The irons wore the flesh
from his ankles; he was attacked with the
brain fever, was neglected, and died in
TWO or three days. He was companion
of Rnbnson, Jenkins. (siuce sEot by
Lane. and some eight or len others. An
other son Of Capt. Brown was shot at Os-
sawattomie by a marauding party from
Missouri. After the death Of his first son,
occasioned by the tortures and fatigue OF
his forced march, Brown swore vengeance
upon the pro slavery party, and it was
frequently observed ny The more prudent
of the free State men 'hat he was evidently
insane on the subject. He was always
considered by them as dangerous man.
was never taken into their councils. and
never consulted by them with reference
either to their policy or movements.
The destruction of the free State Hotel
and presses al Lawrence, in May. 1856,
melted him anew to action, and he organ
lied a small company, composed chiefly
Of those who had been robbed. or whose
relatives had been murdered by the pro-
slavery party, and, at the head of this
band, armed with Sharp's rifles, Bowie
knives, and Colts revolvers, he secured
Southern Kansas, and the name of .'Old
Brown" became terror to all who op-
posed his will in that region. While he
was thus maIauding, five pro-slavery men
were taken from their cabins at Pouawat
tomie Creek, in the night, and shot down.
The pro-slavery party charged this deed
upon Old Brown, while the free State men
asserted that they could prove him in
Lawrence, forty miles distant, when it
and that the horrid deed was
by ''Buford's Georgia Ruf
hans, supposing that the victims we're
free State men.
The news of this massacre reached
Westport, the place Of the rendezvous of
the "border ruffians," the same evening
that the Kansas Commission sent out by
the United States House Of Representa-
lives arrived as that place. The excite
ment was intense, and was induced almost
As much by the appearance of the Com
mission as by the news OF the massacre.
The .''ruffans" swore vengeance upon the
and officers of the Commission,
declaring that their blood should recon-
pense for the slaughter at Pottawsttomic
Creek, and but for the intercession of Mr..
Oliver, the pro-slave.y member of the
Commission, and others, 1t was believed
that The Commission would have been at
lacked. Itwas at this time that the noto-
Iious H. Clay Pate organized band of
men in the streets of Westport, Mo-, with
the avowed purpose of entering the Terri
tory and capturing t'Old Brown" He
raised about thirty men, and went into the
Territory about twilight one evening, and
was surprised at sunrise next morning
BY "Old Brown" who was in command
Of nine men, armed rs stated above. Pate
sent a flag Of truce to Brown, who ad-