The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-10-27
M)istellaneons Mems.

SKETCH OF CAPT. john Brown, THE LEADER
OF THE HARpER's FERRY INsURREcTIoN.-Ca
tain John Brown emgrated to Kansas from Cen
trail New York in the fall of 1855 and settled
in the township of Ossawattomie He was ac-
companied by seven sons, the youngest being old
enough to earn his livelihood. The birthplace
of Brown is not positively known to the writer,
hut report has it that he was born in Kentucky.
At the time of his death he was about sixty
wears of age. He was about medium height,
slim, muscular, and possessing an iron constitu-
ton. He had blue eyes, sharp features, and
long gray hair, wearing full beard.
Tn December, 1855, during the Shannon
w"r." Rrown first made his appearance among
the free State men at Lawrence. His entrance
into the place at once attracted the attention
of the people towards him. He brought wagon
load of cavalry sabres, and was accompanied by
twelve men, seven of whom were his own sons.
He first exhibited his qualities at the time the
free State and pro-slavery parties, under the
lead of Governor Robinson on one side, and Gov,
Shannon on the other, met to make a treaty of
peaee After Gov Robinson had stated to the
people who were gathered around the hotel the
terms of the peace Brown took the stand, unin-
vited, and opposed the terms ofthe treaty. He
was in favor of ignoring all treaties, and such
leading men as Robinson, Lane, and Lowry
and proceeding at once against the border
rufian in vaders, drive them from the soil, or
hang them if taken. General Lowry, who was
chairman of the Committee of Safety, and also
commander of the free-State troops, ordered
Brown under arrest. The latter made no ply
steal resistance, but it was soon discovered that
he was altogether too combustible person to
retain as a prisoner, and compromise was
made with him by the free State men, and he
was released, He was Informed by the leaders
of that party that his remarks were intended to
undo what they were trying to accomplish by
means of the treaty that he was stranger in
Lawrence and Kansas, and ought not, by his
rash remarks, to compromise the people of Law
renee until he had known them longer and knew
them better
One of his sons, who was elected to the Leg
islature in February, 1856, was seized and
taken from Ossawattomie to Lecompton in
chains, a distance of thirty miles, His feet
and hands were chained together with large
heavy chain, the size of that used upon OK
teams. He was compelled to walk the whole
distance beneath 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 the companion
of Governor Robinson, jenkins, (since shot by
Lane. and some eight or ten Others Another
son of Captain Brown was shot at Ossawattomie
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-sluvery party,
and it was frequently observed by the more pru-.
dent of the free State men that he was evidently
insane on the subject. He was always consid-
cred by them dangerous man, was never taken
into their councils, and never consulted by them
with reference either to their policy or move
ments.
The destruction Of the free State Hotel and
presses at Lawrence, in May, 1856, melted him
anew to action, and he organized a small CON-
pany composed chiefly of men who bad been
robbed, or whose relatives had been murdered
by the proslavery party, and at the head of
this band armed with Sharp's rifles. bowie
Knives and Colts revolvers, he secured South
ern Kansas and the name of " Old Brown y be-
came terror to all who opposed his will in
that region. While he was TINS marauding.
hive pro-siavery men were taken from their cab