The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-09-25

Brown looked at him keenly for an In
slant from under his SHAGGY, gray eve
brOwS, and then said coOlly, addressing
Stuart by the title which his uniform In
dictated:
Well. they do call me that sometimes,
lieutenant"
Il thought remembered meeting you
in Kansas Stuart said. This - q bad
business yon are engaged In, captain. The
United States troops have arrived, and /
am sent to demand your surrender"
Upon what terms?' asked Brown, With
out any exhibition Of emotion, and speak.
ing in matter Of fact tone. "a II he were
: engaged In the transaction OF an ordinary
! piece OF business tone which General
Stuart informed me he preserved during
their entire interview.
The terms are." Stuart replied, that
| you shall surrender to the officer COM
handing the troops, and he will pro-
tect You and your men from the crowd
and guarantee you fair trial by the civil
authorities"
Brown shook his head, and the bull. dog
whose muzzle protruded beneath-close
to STARTS knee-uttered fierce growl, as
II no betp'r pleased than his master.
L cant surrender on such terme,'
Brown replied. You must allow me to
leave this engine house with my comrades
and the prisoners and march across to the
Maryland side. There I will release the
prisoners, and as soon as this Is done you
and your troops may fire on US and pur.
sue u.s.
i have no authority to agree to such an
arrangement" Stuart said. my orders
are to demand your surrender on the terms
I have sfafod -
We'll, lieutenant Brown returned. as
quietly as before, Il see we can't agree.
You have the numbers on me, but YOU
know We soldiers are not afraid Of death.
l would as lief die by bullet as on the
gallows.,
is that your final answer. captain"
Stuart said.
Yes, replied Brown.
And this closed the interview which Ihave
given In nearly, If not quite, the exact
words Of General Stuart. The expressions
used by Brown have been, think, record.
ed with precise accuracy. Some OF these
impressed me as particularly characters.
nc OF the man; among others, the words,
we soldiers, !" and Il would as lief die by
bullet as on the gallows." The fermer
seemed to indicate that he associated Stu.
art and himself together. In his own mind,
as military men, who were not apt to be
frightened by the prospect of approaching
death, and the latter phrase showed that
he realized what his fate would be II he
surrendered unconditionally-bet
bullet and the gallows there was little, II
any choice.
Stuart having returned to Colonel Lee
and reported Browns reply to the sum.
mons, orders were given to prepare for an
attack on the engine house, which was
made a little after sunrise. A long ladder
was obtained and used as q battering ram
by the marines. A line manned 1t on each
side, and 1t was driven against the door In
the midst Of hot fire from Brown and
his men through the loop-holes. This fire
was fatal to one or two of the marines, but
the door was driven In and Lieutenant Is.
rael Green. who led the attack, cut Brown
on the head with his sword, and he fell.
Many erroneous statements afterwards
Appealed as to the particular manner in
which Brown was disabled. but this Is q
correct account, derived from Lieutenant
Greene. He Informed me, I think, that
the weapon used was q small dress sword,
and that the whole affair took place in a
moment. viii add that any statement
made by person as high toned and un-
assuming as Major Greene Is entitled to
implicit faith. The other members OF the
party were soon cut down and captured
and the prisoners released from their long
confiement, to the great jDy Of their
friends, who crowded around them to con.
graduate them. Brown and his cOmpan-
Ions were placed under guard, and with
this ended the first act Of the remarkable
drama.