Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-08-05

w. ,b1 Olu inau WIN Hrhl lVCkS, 5topplnH
down looking at something on the
ground. That is. tho man. said he.
Brown, who was quite near, heard the
remark and Strengthened up, exclaim-
ing; .
a 'You have heard of John Brown, OF
KansasP'
" Ball replied: = 1 have.' T "A u y
81 am that man, said Brown, Il
have come to free the negroes--pc
fully IL can, forcibly il | must NJ
livery well, replied Ball.
Brown said: Gentlemen, you can
walk around the yard and enjoy your
selves. If either of you have a good
able bodied negro will exchange you
for him. i~.r ns.r IA =
"We repled I'VE are not allowed
to have any negroes here We then
ceased conversation with Brown. i9
"My wife, being q woman of consid-
erable nerve, followed me down to the
armory. She went up to Brown, ac-
companied by my daughter Lizzie, and
asked him il she could send my break
fast. ...y n0.l I'D.
Certainly said Brown, "if you
want to, but l am going to furnish
breakfast for all the prisoners N
~ took u good look at Brown He
was an old looking man, fifty-nine years
of age, and stood about five feet nine
or ten inches. He had no teeth, and
his hair was rather long. He had a
piercing hazel eye. and his whole
countenance was expressive of great
and slender of build, with quite long
legs. He stopped forward from the
hips while walking. He wore n heavy
beard; dressed in a light-colored frock
coat. An otter-skin cap adorned his
head, and the thick cap was the means
of saving his life, afterwards, when the
engine house was stormed by troops
and Lieutenant Green struck him over
the head with a'sword. 3
"Chief Clerk Kittsmillar, Ball and
myself then walked into an Office near
by. John Brown came in, accompanied
by some of his followers. He made a
proposition that we allow him to keep
the armory, in return for which he
would free every prisoner taken. The
proposition was agreed to by Kittsmil-
lar, who reduced it to writing. Ball
had nothing to say, and flatly refused.
l told Brown l had no right to sign
away Uncle Sam's property. The prop
osition also contemplated the assent of
a number of prominent citizens. One
of Browns sons-he had two there
went out, accompanied by Kittsmillar,
to obtain signatures. While gone on
this errand citizen, whose name |
have forgotten, shot young Brown in
the breast with buckshot. Kittsmillar
ran away and left young Brown, who
walked back to the yard and died with
in a few hours. When John Brown
met his son he asked where was Kits
millar. Young Brown replied that he
did not come back, and said, Il am
shot,. 9atl. 81 G.
Brown replied: MY son, stand it
as we'll as you can; hope you may get
well; if you die, you die honorably.
"About this time n lively fusilade
from the houses of citizens was COM
menced upon Browns men, which was
replied to by the Sharp's rides of the
latter. The first man killed was Mr..
Burley, q livery stable-keeper. The
firing got so heavy Brown found that
he could not maintain himself in such
an exposed position as the armory yard.
Several of his men had already been
killed. He went among the prisoners
and selected eight of them as hostages,
Colonel Lewis Washington, Mr.. Alstadt,
Mr.. Ball, the Purser and myself being
of the number. We were ordered into
the engine-house, being accompanied
by Brown and his men, who had all re.
treated from the outskirts of the town.
The men seemed but little excited, and
appeared to be under fine discipline.
They seemed to have wonderful conf
dence in Brown.
"After our retreat to the engine
house the prisoners all got out OF the
yard. MY son Charles, then boy OF
where lot of guns were stored in the
upper end of the armory. The citizens
took the guns and used them during the
fight. Having but little ammunition,
however. they did little good. 1t was
about ten O. clock in the morning when
we went into the engine-house. A
number of citizens gathered in front Of
the engine-house, and promiscuously
around, and kept up a regular fusilade
at our stronghold. Brown gave the or
der to his men not to fire at any one
unless he had gun; in that case tc
shoot him at once Most of the balls
that came through the door from the
outside seemed to be fired from SOUR
rel rifles. The door. which was of one
and a quarter inch plank, was soor
riddled, hundreds of balls having passed
through it.
Brown, addressing us prisoners
said: Gentlemen, get in the safes
place you can; | don't wish to hur
you, as you are the only breast works
have. Without you | would not las
two minutes. / know my fate, my lift
would not be worth a straw 'ase'
"During the firing through the doc
Browns other son was shot and fell
He groaned heavily. His father tolC
him to stand it bravely and make as lit
tie noise as possible He said: 3
have long since, myself. learned not tt
know what fear is
"This was evidently true, as he did no
exhibit the least fear during the Who'll,
engagement.
F" About this time Colonel Baylor.
prominent gentleman of the county
approached tho engine-house with
flag of truce. He was permitted tt
to come up to the door, which wa
opened slightly. Colonel Baylor asket
Brown If anything could be done to fire.,
the prisoners.
Drown replied Let me take MI
men and prisoners as far as the secont
lock on the Baltimore & Ohio Canal
There will release the prisoners, ant
then me and Uncle Sam for it,
Colonel Baylor said: Il cannot d,
| it; have no authority
Brown replied: Very WE'LL
"Colonol Baylor then retired and TIN
door was closed. BY this time it wa
nearly night. During the fusilade
hugged corner of the engine-hous
very affectionately, as did the rest o
the prisoners. | amused myself-if
could be called amusement -watchin,
the balls strike the wall after passin,
through the door
"After dusk Captain Simms, citi
zen of Frederick, approached the doc
with another llag of truce. He was &C