The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-02-06
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Where John Brown Got His Rifles.

F. B. Sanborn, in the Atlantic Month
ly for February, gives the following:
Ii happened to ME to be in Iowa and
Nebraska a month or two before Captain
Brown made his retreat from Kansas in
1855; but though often hearing Of him Il
did not meet him. It was not till the
following January, eighteen years ago,
that / made his acquaintance. Twas sit
ting in the office Of the State Kansas
Committee in Boston, of which l acted
as Secretary, when, one winter morning,
there appeared the most noteworthy per-
son as | then thought, and now know
with whom Kansas affairs had made me
acquainted. A tall old man, slightly
|5bent and walking with measured,
heavy step. entered the room, and hand
ed me letter of introduction, which no.
titled me that my visitor was Captain
Brown OF Kansas.
or course, as / talked with him /
watched him closely; and his dress and
manner became as deeply impressed on
my memory as did the salient points Of
his character. He had laid aside in Chi
cago the torn and faded summer garm-
ents which he wore throughout his CAM
pairns, and j saw him at one of those
rare periods in his life when his garb
was new, lie wore a complete suit of
brown broadeloth or kerseymere, cut in
the fashion of u dozen years before, and
giving him the air Of respectable dea-
con in rural parish. But instead OF
collar he had OH high stock OF patent
leather, such as soldiers used to wear, a
gray military oyercoat with a cape. SIM
liar to that worn in the Confederate e
army, and fur cap. His beard was
shayen close; his hair was tinged with
gray, though far less SO than at the time
OF his death. -
His form was angular and lean, his
face thin, his mouth large and firmly
shut, his eyes not large but piercing,
and grayish-blue in color. j was not
Hong in perceiving that this hero, at
least. was genuine and to be trusted.
His errand was to obtain the means for
raising and arming company OF mount
ed men in Kansas. with whom to keep
| the peace there, and if necessary, to
make reprisals in Missouri. Heintimated
lnothing OF his purpose to act against slav-
cry elsewhere, but he wished it distinct
lly understood that whatever money was
contributed should be left to his dis
icretion in spending; he would not be re-
sponsible TO any committee or party for
What he should do with it.
Within few days the proposition of
Captain Brown was laid before the State
Kansas Committee, Of which Mr.. George
III. Stearns was chairman, and DR.. s. G..
Howe, DIR. William r. Lawrence, Judge
Russell, DR.. Samuel Cabot, and others
were members. In the main 1t was ap-
proved, and Captain Brown was promis-
ed the custody of certain rifles belong
ing to the committee, which We're then
stored in western Iowa. He was also
allowed considerable sum Of money to
transportthese arms TO the place wpere
| he should need them. So we'll satisfies d
were the committee with what he had
done and proposed TO do, that these
votes were passed, If ] remember right
| ly, with noopposition, early In the month
OF January, 1857.
But o difficulty at once sprung up, OF
which, indeed, Captain Brown had warn-
| ed us. The organization known as the
l"National Kansas Committee" which