St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-08-13
, "In half hour Captain Stewart re-

turned and informed Brown that Col
onel Lee would not modify Or change
his demand. Stewart lifted his hat
poite]y and babe Brown good-morn ng
tn the grace of bathroom beau.
Through the crack of the door from
where | stood could see q squad OF
United States marines standing dressed
in line on the lawn about twenty yards
from the enyjne-hou They were
commanded by Lieutenant Green. In
moment we heard the sound OF their
feet as they marched toward the
engine house. Browns men COM
menced firing about the same time the
marines opened fire. Some OF the ma
rines carried ge-hammers with
which to. knock down the doors. The
doors being strong the blows rebound
ed, making no impression. The ma
rines then retired, one OF them being
killed. Another was shot in the month,
but he tied it with a handkerchief and
kept his place. in ranks. The marines
then retired a: few moments. AT this
juncture one Of Browns men shouted
aloud: L surrender"
"Brown exclaimed, Only one man
surrenders.'
The marines marched up again, and
opened right and left to admit a com
pany of about twenty citizens, who
carried a long ladder as a batterihg
ram. The first bow made the gate
give, the second knocked it, i'll, the
fastenings giving away. The marines
rushed in with. the bayonet headed by
Lieutenant Green, who was the first
man across the threshold. Brown stood
erect like a pillar, not a muscle moving.
Green made =lunge at Brown, knock
ing him forward on his face upon the
floor of brick. Leaning over the hose
cart, Green chopped Brown twice on
the head. The thick otter-skin cap
saved Browns. life, but he was lett
senseless. Ggeen thought he had
killed him, ant. | also thought the first
lunge had gone through Browns body.
But it only strack him on the hip bone,
knocking him down. We prisoners
threw up oug' hands and told the
marines we were prisoners. Take
them outn shouted Green. We rushed
out, in front: }. E. Stewart, stand
ing at the door and recognizing me,
said: He is right let him go Some
of Brown meh. after the fall of their
leader, continued to struggle moment
or two. Several were bayoneted and
the rest were taken prisoners Brown
was carried out and laid upon the lawn
alongside the killed and wounded. TIE
| fight terminated about nine O clock.
Brown soon recovered consciousness
and was taken snto my office, where he
was questioned by Governor Wise pub
liclv. General Lee and most of the
armory officers were present.
"The Governor said to Brown: i
want to question you
Brown replied Very well; any
thing about myself | will tell you, but
about Others l will not
"Wise said: You are not bound to-.
Brown replied: L am aware OF it. }
He then said to Governor Wise: The
freedom of the slaves will all be brought
about inside of ten years
"Wise said: : l don't want to hear
such talk
"sMr. Brown,' said the Governor,
did you, or dig you not, take an in
ventory of the negroes of Jefferson
Countv?'
Brown replied: L did not, but it
was taken
"A good deal of conversation fol-
lowed which has escaped my memory.
Several persons attempted to ask Brown
questions, but Governor Wise waved
his hand and said, Let me do the talk
ing
After the interview was over the
Governor told Brown: i have a much
better opinion of you than | expected |
would have. only regret that man
SO brave. open and free should be en-
gagged in such thing as this
ITO this Brown replied: There S
| where we differ Gov. Wise retired,
Brown being left in the hands of the
Sheriff, who also took the rest of the
prisoners and carried them to Charleston
and placed them in jail. The adjacent
| country was then secured by bodies of
citizens hunting for concealed arms,
which it was rumored Browns men had
hid close by, in order to arm the
negroes. A party, with Col. Washing
toms wagon, proceeded to the house
that had been occupied by Brown, on
Maryland Heights, about four miles
distant. Brown and his men had all
lived at this house, pretending to be
miners The party made search and
found 200 Sharp's rifles, 200 revolvers
and 1000 long pixies. l have now in
my possession a rifle and pike. also
had one OF the pistols, but during the
late war the Michigan soldiers broke in
to my gun-shop at Harrodsburg and
| stole it.
"The trial and execution of John
Brown and his men are matters OF
history, and it is not worth while for
me to speak on that score. What L
have related came under my own
observation. l felt sorry for Browns
fate, regarding him as a crazy man on
the subject of slavery. '-Leri'1gton
/ (Ku) Cor. Louisville CoaSrierJour'aaL