St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-08-13

1--WE Oh lnem nau Deen captured ny
Browns parties the extraordinary affair
got winded abroad, creating intense
I excitement. The balance of the work
men remained at home or congregated
| at distance in excited knots.
"About sunrise a boy by the name
| Of Kittsmillar, son OF the Armory Chief
Clerk, arrived just as I was sitting
down to breakfast with my family. l
did not have the least suspic on Of any
| trouble, and the news communicated to
me was great shock. On entering he
exclaimed, Major, pa wants you to
come down Immediately; mob has
taken the armory.' 1 put on my hat.
and, accompanied by the boy, walked
quickly toward the armory. Going
down, met the Chief Clerk and Mr..
Ball, Master Machinist | inquired:
Gentlemen, what is the matter?'
MIR. Kittsmillar replied: "A mob
has taken the armory, and l think they
are Abolitionists
Il told them it must be lot of Irish
who had been at work on the dam, and.
getting on a spree, had concluded to
capture the works.
"Mr. Kittsmillar told me | was mis-
taken.
Walking down High street we saw
two men in the arsenal yards having
guns in their hands. One was a white
man. the other mulatto. Ball asked
me what we should do. Not suspecting
any harm, replied: Let's 90 and see
what they want. We then went into
the arsenal yard, approached the two
armed men, and inquired what they
wanted. The negro touched kittsmil-
lar ON the shoulder and exclaimed:
You are my prisoner The latter
cursed the fellow, and ordered him to
keep his hands off. The negro cooked
his gun, a Sharp's rifle, leyeled it, and
! said: Make another motion and | will
blow you through The two men then
ordered us into the armory yard. AS
toned as guard at the gate: who is
your commander The sentry pointed
to an old man with gray locks, STOPPING
down looking at something on the
ground. That is the man. said he.
Brown, who was quite near, heard the
remark and Strengthened up, exclaim-
ing:
''You have heard of John Brown, of
Kansas?'
Ball replied: L have
al am that man. said Brown. L
have come to free the negroes
fully if l can, forcibly if must
livery well,' replied Ball.
Brown said: Gentlemen, you can
walk around the yard and enjoy your
selves. If either of you have good
able bodied negro will exchange you
for him.
1--WE replied: I'VE are not allowed
to have any negroes here We then
ceased conversation with Brown.
my wife, being a woman OF consid
cradle nerve, followed me down to The
armory. She went up to Brown, ac-
companied by my daughter Lizzie, and
asked him if she could send my break
fast.
Certainly said Brown, If you
want to, but | am going to furnish
breakfast for all the prisoners
II took 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
piercing hazel eye. and his whole
countenance was expressive of great
determination. He was rather thin,
and slender of build, with quite long
legs. He stopped forward from the
hips while walking. He wore 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
/ OF hr
and Lieutenant Green struck him over
the head with a sword.
'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 fatty refused.
| told Brown l had no right to sign
away Uncle Sans property. The prop
osition also contemplated the assent of
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 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, | am
shot
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 a lively fusilade
| from the houses of citizens was COM
menced upon Browns men, which was
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