Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-19
The In.urrsctiou at Harper's Ferry,

We were startled on Monday, ny the re-
ceipt of the following Geographic dispatch:
FREDERICK, October 17.-Iniormation has
been received here Of formidable insurrec.
ton at Harper's Ferry. An armed band OF
Abolitionists have full possession OF ilarpers
Ferry and the United States Arsenal. onc
Of the railroad hands, negro was killed
whilst trying to get the train through tho
town.
They have arrested two men who came III
with load Of wheat, and took their wagon
and loaded it with rifles. and sent them INTO
Maryland. They are led by about 80
whites, with gang of negroes. fighting Tor
their freedom. They gave Conductor Phelps
motto. that they would not allow any more
trains to pass.
The telegraph wires are cut east and west
of Harper's Ferry. This intelligence was
brought by the train from the West. Great
excitement here. The leader told Conduc-
tor Phelps, of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road rain, that 'they we're determined to
have liberty, or die in the attempt"
Their object in stopping further trains was
to save bloodshed by preventing the arrival
of troops. One of the passengers was lni-
prisoned By them for half an hour.
"BALr. AND ONO K. RoAD OFFICE,
III o'clock A. NJ.
The company's dispatches are Of the same
purport as the above, hut they think the
statement exaggerated. The company's Of
ficers are busy with their counsel prcpar-
ing papers, &c, to protect the road. They
apprehend their trains may be peremptorlly
used for military purposes, and travel OBJ
structed.
The company have ,elegraphed President
Buchanan and Governor Wise. DR.. Nor
ris, postmaster, is here with telegraph
f,om the President directing him to make IN
quiries."
The Wheeling express train in charge OF
Conductor Phelps, reached the Camden sta
ton at II NJ. yesterday. The train was de-
tanned by rioters at lIarper's Ferry until !
o'clock in the morning. From Mr.. Jacob
Cromwell, the baggage master of the train,
we gather the following particulars:
1.-THE train reached IIarpers Ferry about
l2 o'clock midnight Knew nothing of the
disturbance or the plot going on in the town
until the train was stopped on the bridge BY
band of armed men. At the request of
Conductor Phelps. went ahead with Ian
tern, and was Immediately confronted by
two men who, with rifles at my head, told
me to stand 1t this moment one of the
watchmen on the bridge, colored man
named Hayward Sheppard, was confronted
in the same way, and being told to stand,
became frightened and ran, and was shot
through the back.
Thinking that moment was my best chance,
| then started and lodged behind the bridge,
but was fired after before | could gain shell
ter. The other watchman at the bridge was
subsequently taken by the insurgents, and
,onfned under Il guard in the office ut the
bridge. When this condition of things was
made plain to Conductor Phelps, he ordered
William Wollery, the engineer, to back the
train, and went forward himself and had Il
conference with the rioters. lie was intro
duced to the rcputcd captain Of the insur-
gents, IN old man who was called Anderson.
Conductor Phelps told them he was in
charge of the train, and carried the United
States mail and desired to 20 through
This was granted aud he was givon five
minutes to pass. Phelps was then conduct
ed to his train, with man before aud be-
hind, with a rifle pointed at his head. lie
was told not, On pain of death, to look either
way. The train Immediately left, and that
is all know"
From gentleman well known in Balti-
more who came passenger in the Western
Express Train, which reached liarper's Fer
ry about one o'clock a. NJ Yesterday, and
was permitted to leave at five o'clock, reach
ING Baltimore about noon yesterday, we
have the following account. Our informant
was an eye witness to tho violent scene there
enacting, 80 far as he was able to make OBJ
servatons in the time above indicated:
The express train in which our informant
was passenger, reached IIarper's Ferry about
one o'clock this morning On arriving, the
clerk of the Wager House informed Cap
tain Phelps, conductor of the train, that Sc
rious trouble was existing in the town, and
there were great apprehen .ions of danger.
He stated that large body of MEN had
mysteriously come into town during the
! evening and night from the surrounding coun-
try, and were about TO take possession of the
place-that they bad already shot one man
dead aud mortally wounded another, both of
whom were connected with the railroad COM
pany as watchman and baggage agent, or
patrol Waterman.
Another person was ascertained to have
DtCu otNSiciJ nbuh -Cu,
it was thought he had been thrown into the
river. The insurrectionists when they APP
preached the conductor Of the train were
armed with muskets and notified him u the
most perelnptory manner that if lie astculpt-
cd To proceed farther it would be at the risk Jt
has life.
The bridge across the Potomac, was filled
with the insurgents, all of whom were arm
cd. The conductor deemed it most prudent
to remain, as ne feared some terrible ne
ciden5, in attempting to cross the bridge,
surprising its arches or ,in,bcrs might have
! been cut.
Every light in thetown bad been previous
" extiuguished by tho lawless mob. The
train therefore remained stationary aud the
passengers, terribly afFrighteo, remained in
the cars all night.
The hotels were closed and no entrance
! could be had into them.
\ countrymau who had come into the
town with u wagon load of wheat, was ar
rested by the insurgents, and pressed into
their service.
1t was stated that large number of mus
kets and considerable ammunition were
found in his wagon, which they armed them
selves with. 1t is thought this was blind
TO procure arms, and fully understood by the
outlaws as part Of their plan.
All the streets were in possession Of the
,.,,.k o,2 a,ar, rn,I lana o,I ovan,,a Lad