The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-12-16
Last Interview Between Mr.. and
, l.-.-. 49, Mrs. Brown. 10 : -

=
iul account OF the concluding intervie,
|. between Mr.. and Mrs. Brown. An e,
cort of cavalry accompanied Mrs. Brow
from Harper's Ferry under command @
Capt Moore, of the Richmond Mont
gomery Guards. The carriage which con
veyed her was stopped at the outskirts o
town.
On arriving at the Jail, which was close
/ ly guarded, tue Carriage stopped. an,
Capt. Moore, who rode with Mrs. Brown
jumped from the vehicle, and tenderins
her his arm, escorted her into the iail.
Capt. Brown was informed of his wife,
arrival, and requested that she might be
allowed to enter his room as soon AS pos
sible. In few minutes the TAILOR con
Quoted her into his presence. The meet
ing was affecting, and at first neither par.
| ty spoke.
After feo Ssements Alma spant, tho
Captain drew a chair, and Mr.. Brown
sat down. He then spoke to her of his
condition, told her he was contented, and
if it was not for parting with her and 9th
ers whom he loved, he would have no re-
gret in dying. Mrs. Brown entered fully
into the feelings of her husband, and
both were resigned to the fate which
awaited him.
Capt. Brown referred to the disposition
of his property and the welfare of his
children, and after spending an hour in
conversation, supper was brought i'm by
the kind jailor, and the husband and
wife sat down together to partake of their
last meal. The Captain raised his hands,
and asked God to bless the meal, and
then with a checrfulness which has no
nor oil thn,v
From the time Mrs. b. arrived old Capt.
BIS spirits rose and he exhibited light
heartedness, which surprised those who
were around him. Mrs. Brown remained
with her husband until half-past six
o'clock, when she was informed that the
interview must end. The Captain de-
sired that his wife Nigh remain with him
during the night, but the orders from
headquarters were to the contrary. and
accordingly they separated. While the
parting scene was one which showed
much intensity of feeling. there was no
exhibition of passion, and after an EN-.
brace. and kiss, and kind admoniton
from Brown, they parted for ever.
Mrs. Brown was conducted to her car
riage, and under u similar escort, with
Capt. Moore, who was kind and gentle
manly in his department, the carriage
started for the Ferry.
The substance of Browns interview
with his wife was relative to settlement
his monetary affairs and the disposition
Of his body. Previous to her arrival he
had desired that his body should be burn
ed, and the ashes thereof urned, and in
that conditionremoved. He also express
ed n desire that the bodies of his two sons
who were killed at Harper's Ferry, should
be disinterred, and after undergoing
similar process, be placed in the same
urn with his own, and taken North.
Brown spent some two or three hours,
last night, writing and reading, and then
retired to rest. He slept soundly. and
rose about six o'clock, cheerful, and ap-
parently unconcelned about the fate
which awaited him. About half past sew
en- o'clock, alter partalling OF his break
fast, .jailor Capt. Avis, who had been very
kind to Brown, and who had endeared
himself thereby, informed him that he
could visit Cooke Coppie and the other
prisoners if he desired. Accordingly, he
was conducted to the room of Cooke first.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN BROWN AND HIS FEL-
Low PRISONERS.
On entering, a kindly recognition took
place, when Capt. Brown said addressing
Cooke: 81 am sorry you have not contn-
ed yourself to truth in your statement
called your confession. j never sent you
to Harper's Ferry as spy, and your
statement to that effect is false"
Cooke" You certainly did,"
Capt. Brown lin commanding tone)-
" | did not. sir, you have, by your course,
held yourself up as an object of contempt,
and deservedly So" H s-
At this remark, Cookies mead fell and
he made no reply. Brown was next con-
Quoted to Stephens room. The meeting
between them was cordial. Brown re-
marked that he was about to die Stevens
said, "leel assured that you will 90 to a
better world than this" Captain Brown
said Conduct yourself like man. !
know you will do so without my advis-
ing" They again shook hands and par
ted. He then repaired to the room OF
Cope, where conversation almost sim
liar took place. Thence he went to
the rooms OF the negroes, whom he said
he expected to die like men, and as be-
came their position and condition. The
negroes gave him assurance that they
would die fearlessly, as they were fully
assured that their action was just and
proper. Brown then returned to his room
and continued writing some time. ..
THE EXECUTION.
The departure of the commanding Of
ficer from the town was the signal for the
bringing out of the prisoner. A furniture
wagon was driven in front of the Jail, and
the military formed around it. Brown
was then escorted from his room.
lie was dressed in black suit, much
worn, the same he had on when he made
the attack on the Ferry He wore a
slouch hat, shoes, and red colored stock
ings. His arms had been pinioned, and
he marched out with firm step and up-
right head He was assisted into the
wagon, and took seat ON his coffin.
The train then proceeded to the scene
of execution. The military escort was
large and imposing. There was no music,
and nothing was to be heard save the
slow-measured tread of the military, and
the rumbling of the wheels of the wagon
which was conveying Brown TO his death.
Following the military were about two
hundred citizens. The gate was entered,
and the command brought to halt. In
a few minutes il again started, and pro-
ceeded to the gallows. The wagon was
stopped few yards from the steps which
led TO the platform, Brown was assisted
out, and Immediately started for the
scaffold. On one side was the Sheriff, on
the other one Of his deputies.
Brown assembled the steps with cheer
ful look, firm, mistaken step, and an
unblanched eye. Not an exhibition of
fear was given. There was no evidence
of consciousness of the terribly tragic
scene which was about to take place, and
in which he was to be the actor. As soon
as he reached the platform the military
which accompanied him filed to the right
and left, and took the positions which