The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1882-09-14
JOHN BROWN.
Story Of Colored Woman Whose Child
He Kissed on His Wsy 10 The scsRoid.

| Story frame motel on tue uOttu SlOe OF
Congress alley, between eight and
ninth streets, lives q man with an I'M
usually Interesting history. 1t Ii con-
nected In singular way with great
tragedy. The name Of this man is
James Williams. He Is the man
whom John Brown, "Ossawatomie
Brown" kissed that fatal day in De-
cember when he was hanged at Hsr-
per's Ferry, q martyr for grand
cause, the first hero in war that was
to freed s.OOO,OOO Of slaves.
| Williams Is q rather good looking
black man, uneducated aud illiterate,
who drives coal cart for the U Neil's.
a Commercial reporter found him and
his mother in little room last night.
Mrs Williams Is an auntie of the
Olden type. She has q black good
humored face, q red and yellow BAN
dana tied around her head, aud an in
ordinate desire to laugh at everything
that was said. She was more than
willing to tell all she knew. and, pull
ing out little stool, told the reporter
to sit down and she would tell him all
she knew of "Massa Brown"
III seed him fust long time before
the war. He was down in Virginny,
and he used to treat US slaves mighty
kind. We were powerfully fond Of
him, and used TO do anything he
wanted us to. My nassa's name was
Lee; he was kinfolk of old Gineral Lee,
and was a mighty proud man. He
usedn't TO like to see Massa Brown
comm round among the darkies, and
once he ordered him off the place. He
taught ne to read and write. Massa
Brown did. and gin me this yer
Bible" and the old women showed up
little Bible with plain leather covers |
and leaves that showed constant using. |
He kind of took a likin' to me ut |
fust, and told me more than once he |
would see that was freed. used to !
tell him that he had to be mighty |
keerful, fur il he was ever ketched il |
ud be mighty dark day fur him. But,
Lordy! he warn't afeeerd of nobody. |
that man warn't," and the old aunty's
eyes grew bright. He was a reg'lar
saint out Of heaven, and no mistake"
"When he came back there to the
Ferry. just before the war, and pro-
claimed freedom to all the niggers, I
wuZ one of the fust to go to him. Jim
thar talluding 10 her stalwart son, who
sat Oh the bed drinking In every word
baby-a mighty good looking boy he
was--and when I left Massa Lees
took him In my arms. had q hard
time gettin' away. We wuz watched
ciosern' settin' hens, and the old Inassa
had two bloodhounds to track runa.
way niggers. l tried to get my old
man TO run away with me, but ne was
skeered and wouldn't. l wasn't gone
two hours when they found II out.
heer'd the dogs howlin' arter me
away over the hills, and I knowed
that my only chance WAS to get down
in the water. got down to the river,
and as I could swim like a duck put
my duds into little bundle aud SWAN
across. We lived about five miles
from the Ferry, and everybody there
knowed me, or leastwise knOwed be.
longed To Massa Lee. Still had to 20
there, for l wanted to see Massa
Brown. Next day when / got there
they had him penned up In that ar
senal. skulked around town until
night and then came out, tryin' to get
suthin' for HE and Jim thar. But the
fist man asked grabbed me and sent
for Massa Lee, who was I'm town look
in tor me. I was sent home the next
day and whipt.
II never heed tell what had be-
come of Massa Brown till the day they
told he he was to hang. Missus said
she wanted to see the traitor hung. ]
went i'm with her. You jest oughter
seen the way us niggers cried when
lie came cut all bound up. / stood
right in the way. aud was bluberin' ,
and takin' on, he looked at me In the
kind way he had with us niggers, and
tried to lay his hand on my head. but
on account Of the ropes, and
he muttered suthin' In low tone.
Then held up Jim there, and he
put his face right down and kissed 9
that little niger thar on the forehead.
And then he jest walked right up to
the scafiold and made little speech.
You Oughterseen how the crowd cried. ]
Missus Jest wept like u was some kin. ,
folks. The niggers hollered right out.
He knowed most of 'en and had been ,
kind to all Some of 'em said he was
the best friend they had, and now he q
was gone" Here the recollection Of 9
he great emancipation Overcame the :
Did woman, and she wept quietly.
When she stopped the reporter
asked her what kind Of q looking man
Brown was.
He was big man with q white
ace and powerful looking eyes. He
,ould look right through you. He
,ad funny kind Of voice. never
ieard any man who could talk SO soft G
md talk so hard when he wanted to.
never saw him laugh.
/