Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-02-10
"reminiscences of Old John Brown.

A. M. JflSWOlu, Detlcf KNOWN IT'S
"The Fat Contributor" who has lately
been travelling in Kansas, in one of his
letters to the Cincinnati Times gives a
graphic picture of Osowattamie, where
old John Brown so bravely and fear
lessly commenced marching on" to
freedom. He says:
| have q little "Reminiscences of John
Brown, which may be. of sufficient in
terest to incorporate here. In 1859 |
was one of the editors of the Cleveland
National Democrat, q Buchanan organ.
The general editor was Col. Charles B.
Flood, the veteran Democratic editor OF
Ohio. One day Ossian F. Dodge, who
lived in Cleveland at that time (editing
musical and literary paper). entered
the Democrat office, accompanied by a
man of peculiar aspect on account Of
the wilderness and righteousness of his
hair and beard.
"Colonel Flood" said Dodge, "per-
NIT me to introduce to you old John
Brown, of Kansas"
"a man." said Flood, rising and ex-
tending his hand, "whom l have abused
more than any other man in America.
John Brown, how are ye?'
Brown was that madman's freak at Har-
per's Ferry. Mr.. Flood went to Vir-
ginia, and was present at his execution.
lie told me afterward that he stood at
the foot of the stairway by which Brown
assembled the scaffold. He was as cool,
said Flood, as though he was walking
forth to dine with friend. He even
recognized Mr.. Flood as he passed him,
and called him by name, although the
interview | have recorded was the only
occasion on which they had met.
The Minnesota Journal Of Commerce
copies the above, and comments upon it
as follows:
We well recollect the visit and the
cordial manner in which Col. Flood, the
tire-eating Democrat, greeted the vener-
able, fearless, and renowned Osowatta-
mie Brown. Brown sold his horses at
auction in the face of repeated threats
that he should be arrested on suspicion
of stealing them. He replied to the
menacing threats of the insulting crowd
in calm, resonant tones of almost must
cal sweetness: Gentlemen, have been
surrounded by greater number of ruff
fians-by men worse stepped in whisky,
tobacco, and filthy profanity-by men OF
worse features and meaner principles
Brown smiled, good-humoredly, at
the situation, and they shook hands
very cordially. They then conversed
for half an hour or SO regarding the
Kansas troubles. | remember Brown
didlnot come up at all to the idea | had
formed of this sturdy Free State cham
pion. He was quite subdued in his
manner. and talked in quiet way,
though | noticed peculiar light in his
eye, and a stern development of the
lines of firmness about his mouth.
He had some horses he had brought
from Kansas with him to sell; and | re.
member some of our Democratic politl-
clans, who made the Democrat office
their headquarters, didn't hesitate to
assert among themselves that cold
Brown stole EN-"
He remained ia Cleveland few days
until he had disposed of his equine
stock, when he left to carry out his de
sign on Harper's Ferry, as it afterward
proved. although l don't remember OF
his mentioning any such purpose in his
conversation with Col. Flood. Come tc
think, the editorial room of a Buchanan
newspaper, in those days, was not just
the place for unfolding such a scheme
as Brown was entertaining and revolving
under that shock of iren-gray hair.
The next | heard of Osowattomit
if that is possible; but I was never
scared, and there is no man living who
can turn me aside from what | know tt
be path of duty. To your question o
where and how obtained the horses,
disdain to reply. They are now mine