The Sierra citizen., 1859-12-31
Execution Of John Brown.

Execution Of John Brown.
HARPER's FERRY, Dec. 2d.At II o'clock the prisoner
was brought out of the JAIL accompanied by Sheriff
Campbell and assistants and Captain Aves the Jailor
Sheriff Campbell bid the prisoner farewell in his CELL and
the latter returning thanks for the Shers kindness and
speaking of Captain Pate as a brave man. was then
taken to the cell of Copeland and D. Green He told
them to stand up like and betray their friends
he then handed them quarter each saying he had no
more use for money, and bid them adieu He then visit
ed Cook and Coppie who chained together and
marked to Cook, "You have made false statements.
Cook asked, "What do you ?" Brown answered,
"Why, BY stating that sent you to Harper's Ferry'
Cook replied "Did you not tell me in Pttsburg to
to Harpers Ferry and if Forbes had made any dis
closures :" Brown replied, "No, sir you know pro-
tested against your coming Cook replied ssCaptain
Brown, we remember differently "-at the same time
dropping his head Brown then turned to Coppie and
said, You also made false statements but am glad to
hear you have contradicted them Stand up like
He also handed him quarter He shook both by the
hand, and they parted The prisoner then taken
Stevens CELL and they kindly interchanged greetings
Stevens said Good bye Captain, know you are going
to better land" Bown replied, "Iknow am" Brown
told him to bear up and not betray his friends, giving
him quarter.
The prisoner then told the Sheriff that he was ready
His arms were pinoned, aud with black slouch hat,
with the same clothes he during the trial. he pro-
ceeded to the door apparently calm and cheerful. He
did not visit HaZeet he still persisted in denying
any knowledge Of him. On his way to the scaold Sad
dler an undertaken, who in the wagon with him.
marked, "Captain Brown, you are game man, He
answered, eyes, was trained up. It of the
lessons of my mother, but it hard to part from friends
though newly made" He then remarked, "This is
beautiful cesnry never had the pleasure Of seeing
it before"
Through the determined perseverance of Dr. Rawlings
Of Frank Leslies the order excluding the press was
partially rescindsd and they assigned position
near the Major Generals staff. As he out the six
companies of infantry and one troop of horse with
front of the JAIL whilst open wagon, with pine box
in which was fine oak coffin, waiting for him.
Brown looked around and spoke to several persons he
recognized and walking down the steps, took seat
the coffin box along with the Jailor, AYES He looked
on the fine military display with interest, but made
remarks The wagon moved of, fanked by two files of
rifemen in close order On reaching the field the mill
tary had already full possession. Pickets estab
shed and the citizens kept back at the point of the bay
one from taking any position but that assigned them
Brown was accompanied by ministers, he desiring
religious services either in the Jail the scaffod.
On reaching the field where the gallows erected,
the prisoner said "Why are none but military allowed
in the nclosure? am sorry citizens have been kept
out On reaching the gallows he observed Hunter and
tlemen, good bye" his voice not faterng The prison
er walked up the steps firmly, and the first on
the gallows. Aves and Sheriff Campbell stood by his
side, and after shaking hands and bidding aectonate
adieu he thanked them for their kindness When the
cap put his face and the rope put around his
neck, Aves asked him to step forward the trap He
replied "YOu must lead me; cannot see." The rope
adjusted and the military order given: Not ready
yet" The soldiers marched, counter marched and took
position as if an enemy in sight, and thus
cuped for nearly ten minutes, the prisoner standing all
the time. Aves inquired if he not tired. Brown
said "No, not tired but don't keep me waiting longer
than is necessary He swung off at 11:15. slight
graspng of the hands and witching of the muscles
seen, and then all quiet. The body was several
times examined and the pulse did not for thirty
five minutes.
The body was then cut down, placed in coffin and
conveyed under military escort, to the depot where it
put in to be carried to the Ferry by special
train at o'clock. All the arrangements were carried
out with precision and military strictness that was
most annoying The general belief that the excite
ment relative to rescue was all hoax.
Shortly after the execution. and whilst the body
being takea.to TIRE depot, rsAs ezsi.eusnstrs, crea2
by the arrival Of horseman, announcing that Wheat
land, the late residence of George W. Turner who
shot at Harpers Ferry, fire. and that the fire
extending to the farm and buildings of F. W. Turner.
The latter who in town. said that he had left there
at 10 O'Clock that morning. He said that several of his
horses had died very suddenly, and also of his
Sheep He intended to have their stomachs analyzed
he believed them to have been poisoned The stock of
Castleman and Myers, in the neghborhood, had
also died very mysterously The excitement caused by
this very great COL Davis had the Fauquer Caval
ry in readiness to 60 out and inquire into the truth of
the report about the fire.
The body o: Brown arrived by the special train and
will be taken on by Mrs Brown and friends, by express
to Albany is desired to avoid all public demonstra
ton and it is determined that the body shall be Wis
ibe anywhere the route to North Elba where it will
be deposited in the family burying ground Mrs. Brown
speaks in the highest terms of the great kindness shown
her by the citizens and authorities of the State There
considerable excitement at Syracuse, Boston, Phla.
delphia, Worcester, Providence and Manchester.
Bells were tolled and meetings held in New York, ,Bos-
ton, Worcester Providence, Manchester, Syracuse and
Philadelphia, and hundred guns fired in honor of the
event in Albany. The New York papers are filed with
accounts of the execution.