The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-10-29
From the Baltimore American.
THE HARPER's FERRY TRAGEDY.
Detailed Narrative.

vicinity OF Harper's ferry more than q year
ago; accompanied by his two sons, the
whole party assuming the name of Smith.
He inquired about the land in the vicinity,
and made Investigations about the proba-
bility Of finding ores, and for some time
boarded at Sandy Point, a mile east of the
Ferry. After an absence of some months
he reappeared in the vicinity and rented or
leased farm on the Maryland side, four
miles from the ferry. They bought large
number of picks and spades, and this con-
irmed the belief that they intended to mine
for ores. They were seen frequently in
and about Harper's Ferry, but no suspicion
seems to have existed that Bill Smith was
Capt. Brown, or that he intended embarking
in any movement so desperate or extraor-
binary; yet the developments of the plot
leave no doubt that his visits to the Ferry,
and his lease of the farm; were all parts Of
his preparation for the instruction, which
he supposed would be successful in exter-
minating slavery in Maryland and Western
Virginia. Browns chiefs aid was John E..
Cook, a comparatively young man, who has
resided in and near the Ferry for some
years. lie was first employed in tending
lock on the canal, afterward taught
school on the Maryland side of the river,
and after brief residence in Kansas, where
it is supposed he became acquainted with
Brown, returned to the Ferry and married
| there.
! lie was regarded as man of some intclli-
gcnce, known to be anti slav very, but not so
violent in the expression of his opinions as
to excite any suspicious. These two men,
with Browns two sons, were the only white
men connected with the insurrection that
had been previously about the Ferry. All
were brought by Brown from a distance,
and nearly all had been with him in Kansas.
The first active movement in the insurrec-
ton was made about half-past ten Sunday
night. w. NJ. Williamson, the watchnan
on the I1arper's Ferry bridge, whilst walk
ing across towards the Maryland side, was
seized by number of men who SAID that
he was their prisoner and must come with
them. lie recognized Brown and Cook
among the men, and knowing them, he
treated the matter as joke, but enforcing
silence they conducted him to the Amory,
which he found already in their possession.
lie was retained TIL after daylight and
then discharged. The Waterman who WIS
to relieve Williamson at midnight found
the bridge lights all out, and was immedi-
ately seized. Surprising it an attempt at
robbery. be broke away, and his pursuers
stumbling over he escaped. The next ap-
pearance of the insurrectionlsts was at the
house of Col. Lewis Washington. a large
farmer and slave owner. living about four
, miles from the Ferry. \ party headed by
Cook proceeded there, aroused Col. Wash
lngton, and told him he was their prisoner.
They also seized al the slaves near the
house and took away carriages and horses.
and large wagon with two horses. When
Colonel Washington saw Cook, he immedi-
ateiv recognized HIM as n man who had
called upon him some months previous. to
whom he had exhibited some valuable arms
in his possession. Including an antique
sword, presented by Frederick the Great to
George Washington, and a par Of pistols
presented hv Lafayette to Washington both
being hcirlOoms in the family. Before
leaving, Cook wanted Colonel Washington
to make a trial Of skill at shooting, ana ex-
h,bited considerable certainty rs a marks
man.
When he made n visit on Sunday light,
he alluded to his previous visit and the
courtesy with which he had been treated,
and regretted the necessity which made it
lie, however, took advantage of the knowl-
edge he obtained by this former visit to
carry off all the valuable collection of arms,
which Colonel Washington did not reob-
tain till after the final defeat OF the insur-
rectlon.
From Colcnel Washington's the party
proceeded with him as prisoner in his own
carriage. and twelve of his negroes in the
wagon to the house Of Mr.. Allstatt, another
nrge farmer on the same road. Mr.. All
stadt and his son, lad sixteen years of
age, were taken prisoner . and all the ne
grocs within reach being forced to join the
movement.
They returned to the armory at the Fer
~. All their movements seem to have
been made without exciting the slightest
alarm in the town: nor did the detention Of
Capt. Phelps train at the upper end Of
town. attract attention. 1t was not until
the town was thoroughly walked up. and
found the bridge guarded by armed men,
and a guard stationed ut all the avenues.
that the people found they were prisoners.
\ panic appears to have Immediately en-
sued, and the number of the instructions
lists at once increased from fifty, which was
probably their largest number. including
tina slaves who were forced to join, to from
five to six hundred. In meantime, n num-
Der of wurkmen. knowing nothing of what
had occurred. entered the armory, and were
successfully taken prisoners, until they had
at one time, not less than sixty men confined
in the armnry. Among those thus entrap-
yed were Armiatcad, Benz. Mills. Master Of
of the Armorv. and }. l.. Dngerfeld. Pay
masters clerk. These three gentlemen
were imprisoned in the engine house, which
afterwards became the cheif fortress Of the
insurgr nts, and were not released until after
the final assault.
The workmen were imprisoned in large
building farther down the yard. and were
rescued by brilliant Zounve dash made by
the railroad company's men, who came down
from Mnctnsburg.
This wns the condition Of affnirs Mt day.
light. about which time Capt. Cook with
two white men and accompanied by thirty
slaves. and taking with them Col. WASH
ington's large wagon, went over the bridge
and struck up the mountain on the road to-
wards Pennsylvania.
Soon after daylight on Monday morning
Il general warfare commenced, chiefly led
on by n man named Chambers, whose house
COUiiHdEueu ih' NIhioiS Niiu. lhe SVIoIpu
man named Hayward, railroad porter, was
shot early in the morning for refusing to
oin in the movement.
The next man shot, was Joseph Barley. n
citizen Of Perry. He was shot standing in
his own door. The insurrectionists 10y this
time. finding disposition to resist them
had withrawn nearly all within the Armory
grounds, leaving only guard on the bridge.
About this time also. Samuel 7. Young.
Esq, was shot dead. lie was coming into
town on horseback, carrying Il gun, when
he was shot from the Armory, receiving a
wound Of which he died daring the day.
lie was graduate of West Point, and
greatly respected in the neighborhood for
his high character and noble qualities.
The Shcpardstown troops next arrived,
marching down the Shenandoah side, and
Joining the Charleston forces Mt the bridge.
4 dcsnltory exchange of shots followed, one
Of which struck Mr.. Fountain Beckman.
Mayor of the town, and agent Of the rail-
road company, entering his breast and pass
ing entirely through his body. The ball
vas 81 lorre pIonpated slug and madn q