Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-10-20
MOND WHIG.
From hs baltimore 1Reriean Of Tuesday.
The Outbreak at Harper's Ferry.
STATEMENT OF CONDUCTOR PHELPS AND HIS

OFFICERS
The following particulars Of the affair have been oh
taned from the officers Of the train viz: Mr. Andrew j.
Phelps, conductor, Mr.. Jacob Cromwell bageage.mas.
| ter, and Mr. VIM. wooley engineer. They state that
their train he regular passenger from the wes
reached point the bridge Harpers Ferry 20
minutes oil one O'Clock this morning, when it was stop
| ped.
Conductor Phelps received the following statement
from Mr.. Phillips, Of the watchmen the bridge:
started TO take my post on the bridge Natchman,
about IL O'clock had heard from the man (uamed
Wiliamson) who watching the bridge up TO that
time. We usually hear from him every haifhour.--
when arrived the other side of the bridge |
suddenly challenged and anded TO stand or die -
Four or i've white raised their mnskets aud point
ed them at me- One OF them tried to get my lantern.
turned and ran, and they fired upon escaped with
| out injury.
The other watchman shortly male his appearance and
stated to Conductor Phelps he had been seized about
l-2 o'clock aud locked up in the Ruard-house at the
other end OF the bridge, aud that he had just make his
| escape.
| Conductor Phelps, and the baggagc-mastcr Cromwell
then entered the bridge and had hardly got halfway
through when they commanded stand aud r,ree
white men leveled rifles at them They then retreated
back, aud were fired upon, but injured.
eolored man named Hayward Sheppard who is en-
ployed by the Railroad Company to attend TO the bag
gage at Iarpers Ferry, took OF his shoes and made the
attempt TO get through the bridge what was going
ON at the arnores but he discovered about The time
that Phelps and Cromwell fred upon and they also
hired upon the negro One OF the balls took effect in his
back going through his body and coming out of the nip
| pie Of his left breast.
AT first conductor Phelps was at loss how to act and
concluded to send over person to the vicinity of the
Ferry 10 ascertain the Of the proceedings when
the leader of the plriya of rather preposscsng
appearance and supposed be nearly sixty wears of age
Appeared, aud stated that he preferred holding con-
munication with the conductor. Mr.. Phelps went over
alone aud told by the that he and his par
y had determined to allow another train to pass
over the road hut that tey would give him five 10 Ten
minutes TO get his train through
In the meantime. other persons from the train ventr
ed across the bridge above the Perry and coming
into contact with the rioters who reputcd about
| two hundred in number, half Of whom seemed to be
black one of the party, passenger. was capured-
The train was delayed by the proceedings until halfpas
six O'Clock, when raised and they reached the
| Camden station at noon to-day.
Upon the train leaving, Mr.. Phelps was particular
~ requested by the leader of the gang state 10 the
Superintendent OF the Road that under no cirrumsan
Ferry.
| The engineer that he took particular notice of
the crowd which he thinks numbered at least three hum
dred persons that amongst them were several strappin
negroes who occasionally shouted out that they longcd
ioi liberty, as they had been in bondage long enough
The rngleader who is said To be named Anderson made
his appearance at Harpers Ferry five six days ago
and since that time has been driving around the place 10
| an elegant barrouche drawn by two horses.
The officers report that the United States Arnory and
the neighboring country have been taken possession of
by the rioiors, all of whom well armed with short
rifles and other United States When the work
men OF the armoy repaired there for the purpose of
suming work they seized by the parties forcbly
| dragged within the gates and imprisoned.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT
| ARRIVAL OF THE FEOM HARPER's PARRY
| From gentleman we'll known in this cty who came
passenger in the Western Train reaching Baltimore
abon; noon yesterday, VIC have the following account
The express train in which informant was ma sem
ger reached HarPers Ferry about o'clock this
ing.
The bridge the Potomac was filed with the in
surgents, all OF whom armed. The conductor
deemed II most prudent to remain, he feared some
terrible accident in attempting the bridge sup
posing its arches or timbers might have been cut
A ul,n al al
on load OF wheat was arrested by the insurgents and
pressed into their service.
Ii stated that large number Of muskets and con.
siderable ammunition found in Lis wagon which
they armed themselves with IL is thought this was
blind to procure arms and fully understood by the out.
| laws part Of their plan.
| The Captain of the outlaw band, or a person who
seemed TO be prime mover, middr-aged man with
gray hair beard and moustache. His name was signed
to paper, or note, as Andreas, something similar
| thereto.
He assumed be the chief of the insurrectioniss and
was heard to say, in addressing the conductor that
| you knew me and understood nv motives as well as
and others understand them, you would not blame
much"
This person also announced in a bold determined
manner, that II he was interfered with resisted his
party would instantly set fire to the town and destroy
with everything therein lie likewise threatened to burn
down the railroad bridge and OF all communication.
The citizens in terrible state of conservation
most OF them being shut up in their houses and not
light to be seen in the streets or anywhere around
The beigerents seemed to evince no actual anpathy
NfONernmeut tbpy
could find captured by them and pressed into their
service being forced under threats take up arms
In another speech the marauder chief was heard TO ex
claim: I" If you knew my heart aud history, you would
not blame me"
About five or half past five o'clock this morning the
deputaon OF armed insurgents approached the conduc
tor and gave him i've minutes TO start his train aud
the bridge He accepted the Offer and started crossing
the bridge in safety, though with great fears through a
dense throDg of armed marauders who had taken pos
session of IT,
i,,.,
being pressed into the service Of the outlaw band The
ringleaders were desperate and determined.
No passenger belonging to the railroad train was in
lured nor ala there appear TO be any disposition op thc
Parto the outlaws TO modest them beyond OBTAINING the
cars. There were but few ladies on board
| srATTHFNT CROMWELL.
The train reached Harper Ferry about twelve O'Clock
midnight Knew nothing Of the disturbance or the plot
going in the town until the train was stopped on th,
bridge 10y band OF armed mon At the request OF Con
ductor Phelps went ahead with lantern aud was i'm
medAtcly confronted by two who, with rifles az my
head, told me TO stand. At this moment one Of the
Watcbmcn on the bridge, colorcd man named Hayward
sheppard was confronted in the way, and being
told 20 stand, became frightened and ran and was sho
through the back.
Thinking that moment was my best chance then
started and lodged behind the bridge, but fired after
before could gain shelter The other watchman at h,
bridge subsequently taken by the insurgents and
confined under guard in the office at the bridge When
this condition OF things made plain TO Conductor
Phelps he ordered William Wollcry, the engineer "a
back the train, and forward himself aud had con
ference with the rioters lie introduced to the re-
puted captain Of the insurgenis old man who wa.
called Anderson
Conductor Phelps told them hc in charge Of IN,
train, and carried the United States mail aud desired tC
go through. This was granted, aud he given FIVE
minutes ~ pass. Phelps then conducted To nj.
train, with before and behind with rifle pointed
at his head He was told not, pain Of DEATH ool
either way. The train immediately lon aud that Is M
know.
From hs Baifisaors S,H
MOVEMENTS AND PREPARATIONS BALTtvoRE--pIsPArcI
TROOPS, 6c.
Gen. g. g. Egeron, at halfpast eleven o'clock visited
Maj Gen Stcuart, NJ his residence and informed him nj
the condition of things Al arpers Ferry whcu the latter
directed him % call ont portion of the military Of th,
city 90 go 10 the protection Of the property 81 TIE State
Of Maryland Accordingly orders werc Issued 10 thc
commandments of the Independent Grays, Shields, Guards
and Wells and McComas Rifles to hold themselves n rca
dincs' The battalion Of City Guards volunteered theit
services. Foe several hours there was great excite
ment among the military and the companies rapidly filled
up, and there uh0 desired volunteer their
aid TO suppress the insufecon u then announced
that the train 10 convey the troops Wod leave 1r Har
per'a Fcrry nc hafpaFt three o'clock and m alorf ne