Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-10-27
[From the New York Herald.I
Sketch of Cap. John Brown, the Lead
er of the Harper's Ferry Insurrection.

Captain John Brown emigrated to Kansas
from Central New York in the fall of 1855,
and settled in the township of Ossawattomie.
He was accompanied by seven sons, the young
est being old enough to earn bis livelihood :
The birthplace Of Brown is not positively
known to the writer but report has it that he
was born in Kentucky. OF medium height,
slim muscular, and possessing all iron constita.
ton, blue eyes, sharp features, and long gray
hair wearing full beard
In December, 1855 during the Shannon
war;" Brown 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 a
wagon load of cavalry sabreS, and was accom-
panied by twelve men, seven Of whom were his
own sons. He first exhibited his qualities at
the time the free-State aud pro slavery parties
under the lead of Governor Robinson on one
side, and Gov Shannon on the other, met to
make treaty of peace After Gov Robinson
had stated to the people who were gathered
around the hotel the terms of the peace, Brown
took the stand, unlimited, and opposed the
terms of the treaty. He was in favor of ignor-
ing all treaties and such leading men as Rob
inson, Lane, and Lowry, and proceeding at
once against the border-rufhan Invaders. drive
them from the soil, or hang them if taken
General 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 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
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 a stranger 10 Lawrence aud Kan
sas, and ought not by his rash remarks to com
promise the people of Lawrence until he had
known them longer and knew them better
One of his sonS who was elected to the Leg
islature in February, 1855, and was seized and
taken from OSsawattomie to Lecompt on in
chains, distance of thirty miles. His feet
and hands we're chained togethe: 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, (sincc shot by
Lane and some eight or ten others Another
son OF Captain Brown was shot at Ossawat.
tonne by marauding party from Missouri
After the death of his first son, occasioned by
the tortureS and fatigue of his forced mach,
Brown Swore vengeance upon the pro-slayery
party, and it was frequently observed by the
more prudent of the free-State men that he
was evidently insane on the subject He was
always considered by them 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 at Lawrence, in May 1856, melted
him anew to action, and he organized small
company composed chiefly OF men who had
been robbed, or whose relatives had been mur-
dered by the pro.slavery party, aud at the head
Of this band, armed with Sharp'S rifles, bowie
knives, and Colts reVoyerS, he secured South
ern Kansas, and the name of Old Brown .
became terror to all who opposed his will in
that region. While he was thus maraudiag.
five pro slavery men were taken from their
cabins at Pottawattome creek, in the night.
time, and shot dead The pro slavery party
charged this deed upon old Brown, while the
treeState party asserted that they cOnId prove
him in Lawrence, forty miles distant, when it
happened and that the horrd deed was per-
pctrated by" Buford'S Georgia Ruffans," sup
posing that the victims were free, State men
The news of this massacre reached West
port, Missouri, the place Of rendezvous of the
" border rnffians," the same evening that the
Kansas Commission sent out by the United
States House of Representatives arrived at
That place The excitment was intense and
vas Induced almost as much. by the appearance