Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-07-30
The Hermit of the Isle.
Tho Only Inha1itant Of the Island o
Gibraltar

Mr.. Editor The enclosed from the
! Pittsburg Commercially will likely be of in
terest to many Of your readers, some of whom
helped to suppress the instruction of ''Od'
John Brown, a fanatic, who endeavored to
abolish slavery in the South, and who met
the just rewards of such an unlawful under>
taking. Respectfully.
r. G. BAYLOR.
Enon Valley, Lawrence Co Pa.
July 23d, 1878.
Putin Bay Correspondence
| The only inhahitant of the island now is
Owen Brown, son of John Brown. of Kan
sas and llnrper's Ferry not riety. the same
whose soul is currently believed to be on a
perennial tramp. Owen Brown was with his
father at l1arper's Ferry. though he took no
part in the battle, he being stationed at a
school house a half mile or a mile distant,
guarding provisions and arms IIo was on
his way with others TO assist those actively.
engaged in the fight when met by the inteli-
gence that his father and his band we're COM
pctcly overwhelmed by the enemy. Owen
Brown, after he became convinced that tho
cause in which he had enlisted was hopeless,
and that he could give no aid comfort to
others of the devoted band, effected his es>
cape, but for months hiding in the
mountain Businesses of Virginia and Mary>
land forced for the most part to live as do
the deer and other wild animals on those
rocky forest clad heights. Those who have
travelled over the B. 4 D. r. r, through
that mountain scenery which is so sublime to
look upon realize how hardy nature it
required to climb those peaks and breast
those streams, fleeing from pursuers, we'll
aware that life would be the penalty ofcap-
ture. Having SO recently spent a week in
those mountains, surrounded by all the lux
urics a hrst-claSS hotel Mt a modern summer
resort has to offer could the better by force
of contrast realize the situation of the hunted
refugee, whose bodily sufferings were intens
flied by knowing the fate likely to befall his
father and those captured with him. And
as Owen Brown stood in the sunset glow of
yesterday on Gibraltar's rocks, telling me his
story, | at once pictured his sufferincs Con
which he did not dwel), as well as the m ar
velous changes in the National body polite
this man has seen. For he, too, took part in
the Kansas troubles, and he is believed to
be the last survivor of the band of his father,
organized for the Harper's Ferry raid. His
active life is enterely over now, though his
bodily vigor appears unimpaired. He and
his dog live alone on Gibraltar, and he rare
ly visits this or the neighboring islands, ex-
lutcIy in accord with his picturesque sur
rouudngs and evcntful history. His tall fig
ure, whose vigorous development tells Of
strength and endurance, of which he has had
SO much need, now shows relaxation of
muscles in every posture and movement, that
tells of the enjoyment of rest after the con-
flick Of life. His tawny, overgrown beard is
whtened and sunburDed, giving richness
of coloring to the face it so nearly covers,
and contrasting well with the blue eyes,
whose kindly expression will never more
brighten with ambitious yearnings, nor CLEAN
with fixed resolve to battle for Quixotic
cause. He dresses in blue jeans trousers.
and checked flannel, loose>ftting shirt, and
wears a tattered straw hat which with his
overgrown hair and beard, always make him,
as he sits on Gibraltar's overhauging rocks
looking out over the water, wildly remind
me of Edwin Adams as Euoch Arden:
"a shlpwrecked sailor waiting for a sail,
No sail from day to dav.''