The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-19

Your despatch has been received and shall be promptly
attended to. The order issued Is for three companies
artillery from Old Point Comfort, and have already
accepted the services Of Captain RitchIe's company
You VIII soon near further from the Secretary
Of War or from myself. JAMES BUCHANAN.
STATEMENT OF C. w. ARMSTRONG;
ONE OF THE PASSENGERS ON THE BALTIMORE AND.
OHIO EXPRESS TRAIN.
Reaching Harpers Ferry, the Baltimore and Ohio ex
press train, about two O'Clock Monday morning. the
passengers thrown into great excitement from re-
port given by man, clerk in Wager Hotel, by
that the bridge keeper had been shot, and in all proba
bty effort had been made TO destroy the by pre-
ciptating 1t into the river In company with Others
got out Of the ran and found the conductor Cap
tain Phelps talking with the clerk Of the hotel. He in
formed us that just previous to the arrival of the raa
is the usual custom for the bridgemanhe left the house
to see all was in proper condition at the bridge He
had been gone but few moments when report of gun
was heard and the bridgeman not returning the clerk
concluded that he had been murdered He for some time
feared leaving the house himself but finally hearing the
train approach concluded for fear something serious might
happen he would try and give the engineer signal 70
STOP which he did successfully and him the passengers
are without doubt for lives for there no
knowing what the plans of the rioters The conductor
accompanied by the engineer baggage and of
the passengers at once concluded TO the bridge
and see if anything had occurred; they had hardly
reached its entrance when they were stopped by three
men, c0ored man, all med with rifles who ordered
them to stop and not approach step further or they
would be instantly killed. The conductor, Mr. Phelps
demanded the Of their actions, but they made
no reply Finally they told them that they would soor
learn While they thus conversing with the men on
the bridge colored at the Wager Hotel came up
intending TO to to the baggage by the train
as he neared the bridge the conductor with compa
mons turned to leave, when inside the bridge
fired shot, the ball entering the coored mans right side
be fell, exclaiming-"o 0, my God, am shotn They i'm
mediatey ran up to him and found him with his hand
upon the wound They conveyed him to the ticket Office
near by and everything done relieve his suffering
but with little success as physician could be had His
recovery is thought to be impossible About half past two
O'CLOCK Mr. Logan one Of the passengers concluded that
he would try and cross the bridge; he was
urged upon not to do SO, but he determined he.
would try it, and started for the bridge. When about
midway he was seized by four men, negro who de-
manded Of him what he was doing on the bridge. He
said he passenger Ia the train, and wanted cross
Ono Of the white replied, 'Dn you If you attempt
to inch further will blow your brains out" at
the same time placing pistol to his head Mr.. Logan
replied that he would comply with their request and
asked them why they stopped him. They replied tina.
none Of his business and he must ask questions
They then took the other side of the bridge and put
him in charge of one Of the armed men, While standing
custody Of his guard he observed three approach
ing the north side Of the bridge as they got in
side they gave the countersgn, which was .Number-
one" They appeared to be ut recognized by one of
the party, and conversation cnsucd among them
Mr.. Logan, after short time asked his guard why ne
Detained and what the reason of their shootnv
persons without cause; he also stated that if Il was his
money they wanted, they welcome to it, (Nr Iopan
had 900 his person. but very prudeny did not tell
them the amount he had The guard who was a negro
replied that they wanted nothing but their freedom thai
he had been in bondage long enough and was now bound
to be free MIR. Logan at saw what was out and
concluded, for his own safety coincide with them in alb
they said He told them that they might com. on
MN as one oil them that he sincerely felt for them and
hoped they would be successful. lie was however, for
some time Kept ~ close custody but finally the leader Of
the gang, whom they called Captain Anderson, came
up, and ordered him 10 return TO the train and tell
the conductor that his train could pass over, bat
that il was The last one, and they would give him
but twenty minutes to eet oil Mr.. Logan accordingly
left but every moment expected bullet from one Of the
crowd During the absence o Mr. Logan the passengers
we've ~ ne greatest car feeling assured that Mr. Logan
had been Sile, and ,ha attack mrh, Ne o,Ie seoa
49, -. ..a. thsJ hai ~ cone " tie ccDc.aon ia