The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-20
ssoId John Browns Body Lies
MouIderin'in his Grave, but
his Bones Goes Marchin'
Along! 2"

moujderin'in his Grave, but
his Bones Goes Marchin'
Aiong!"
The following tale bears evidence oi
f~alsity. as there was no Medical College
in Winchester. True. the skeleton might
have been found in some physicians of
fee; but we rather suspect the fellow
who now claims 1t is playing off some
battlefield relic" for the sake of the
sensation:
Indianapolis Journal
John Blown, Jr., left this place or
Sunday for Martinsville, Ind, to linden
tjfy and claim the remains Of his brother,
who was killed with his father at Har-
per's Ferry in October, 1859. The re
mains were obtained by DR.. johnson. oil
Nartinsville, in the spring of 1852 IL
the hospital at Winchester, Va imme-
diately after the evacuation Of the place
by the Confederates. AT that time be
vas Surgeon of the Twenty seventh Reg.
iment of Indiana Volunteers, which was
in advance of the Union troops entering
the town, and he was the first surgeon to
enter the hospital, which had been used
up to that time as a medical college. In
the museum of the college was an admir-
ably prepared body, and he obtained
permission from General Banks. in com
manG Of the brigade, to ship it home.
When found, the body was in a standing
posture, leaning against the wall of the
building, with both arms extending up
ward from the elbows. -Four Of the fin
ger joints on one hand and all the taos
on u foo had been cut of by relic
hunters. The body was pointed out to
him as that of one of John Browns
sons. killed in the fight at Harper's Fer
ry, and the missing JOINTS, it was said,
had been carried off as mementoes. The
anatomical preparation Of the body was
perfect, and it was for this reason au
exceedingly valuable piece of property.
DIR. johnson claims that the man who
prepared it substantiated the story tina,
it was Browns body, in a statement TO
him, an accoupt of how they obtained
possession of it at Harper's Ferry.
The body has received careless treat
ment during the last few years. 1t has
been carted about from place to place,
and has been doing duty in all the ana
tomical exhibitions about town. Knowl-
edge of its ill usage was sedulOusly kept
from Mr.. Brown. When he intimated
that he would like to see the body, he
was considerably kept in waiting until
it could be removed to the residence by
way of a back street, and there placed in
better condition for the examination.
After viewing the body for a moment
MI. Brown remarked, turning to those
present: ''Gentlemen, if it is either of
my brothers | am pow inclined to hin
that it is Oliver" He was evidently con-
fused, and the remark indicated that his
first view had been something of a disap-
pointment. He had felt quite confident
that ne would be able to indentify the
remains by the shape Of the skull, the
proportions of the frame Of the body be-
ing equal.
The two brothers killed at Harper's
Ferry were Oliver, the youngest, % years
of age, and Watson, "a years. Both were
about six feet in height, and of large
muscular development. The skeleton was
fully six feet in height, and the bones
were clothed ia the remnants of the mus
cular system, having the appearance OF
fbres of wood. The left half Of the skull
had been sawed out for the removal of
the brain, and had been lost in the hand
ling of the body. The toes and fingers
we're missing. A large bullet hole in the
muscles of the back, beside the spinal
colHmn, is visible in a front view, but
the course of the ball was not directly
through. This comedies with the woun-
ding Of Watson Brown, who was shot in
the region of the lower part of the stom-
ach. The wound is below tins organ.
but was evidently received while in a
STOPPING posture, and the exit of the ball
bears out this conclusion.
In continuing the inspection of the re-
mains Mr.. Brown removed them from
the box, holding them in his W hands
and making the most minute
tion. He finally said: Il am satisfied.
gentlemen, that this is one of nv broth
ers, and l am inclined to think that it is
Watson The remains were then placed
in the box and left. The features Of the
face, especially of the nose and cheek
bones, bear a stril ing similarity to those
IN the photograph of Watson. Upon
leaving the house Mr.. Brown assured the
reporter that he was satisfied with the
result of bis examination, and was quite
confident that the remains were those of
his brother Watson but he added MY
OBJECT is not only to satisfy myself and
the family Of this matter, but also the
public, and to this end | shall investigate
everything in connection with it,"