River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-07-12
| Conversation With John
Brown

LII wv
On entering the room where he was
4 found him alone, lying on the floor on
his left side, and with his ba OK turned
toward me. The right side of his face
was smeared with blood from the sword
cut on his heed, causing his grim ana
grizzly countetance to look like that of
some aboriginal savage with his war
paint on. Approaching him began the
conversation with the inquiry: Capt.
Brown, are you hurt anywhere except
on your hea II" Yes, in my side-here,"
said lie, including the place with his
hand. | then told him that q sur
geOn would be in presently TO attend TO
his wounds, and expressed the hope
that they were not very serious. There
upon he asked me who | was. and on
giving him my name he muttered as if
speaking TO himself: eyes, yes,-I know
now-member Of congress-this dis
trict," | then asked the question:
Captain. what brought you here" ITO
free your slaves" was the reply" How
did you expect to accomplish it 18th the
small force you brought with you" u ex-
pected help" said he
Where, whence. and from
whom, captain, did you expect it2"
"lIere and from elsewhere" he an
swered. did you expect TO get assis-
lance from whites here as wel!sas from
the blacks?" was my next question. 81
did," he replied. Then" said /, ''you
have been disappointed in not getting it
from either?" Eyes" he muttered, 81
have-been-disappointe J." l then
asked him who planned his movement
"a ., "a
81 planned it all myself, and upon my
remarking that it Was a sad affair for
him and the country, and that | trusted
no one would follow his example by
undertaking a similar raid, he made no
response. next inquired if he had
any family besides the sons who had ac-
companied him On his incursion, to
which he replied by telling me he had
wife and children in the state of New
York at North Elba, and on my
then asking if he would like to
write to them and let them
know how he was, he quickly responded:
eyes, would like to send them letter"
every we'll" said /, "you will doubtless
be permitted to do So Bat, captain" |
added, probably you understand that,
being in the hands of the civil author
tiles of the state, your letters
will have to De seen by them So
fore they can BE sent" Certainly"
said he. Then with that understand
ing" continued |, there will, I'm sure,
be no objections to your writing home,
and although | myself have no authority
in the premises, / promise to do what I
can to have your wishes in that respect
complied with" ''Thank You, thank
v,,,, cold he. repeating his ac-
acknowledgements for the pronero,. ..,aVor,
and for the first time turning his face
toward me. In my desire to hear him
distinctly ! had placed myself by his
side, with one knee resting on the floor,
50 that when he turned il brought his
face quite close to mine, and | remem-
Der well the earnest gaze of the gray
eve that lo6ked straight into mine. |
then remarked. ''Captain, we, ito;
nave wives and childro" This attempt
Of yours 10 interfere with our slaves has
created great excitement, and naturally
caiises anxiety on, account Of our families.
Now, let me ask yoii: Is this fail
ure Of yours likely to be followed by
similar attemps to create disafectlon
am0nF 5ur servants and bring Upon our
homes the horrors OF scfvil8 war"
"Tme will show" was his significant
reply Just then Catholic priest APP
peared at the door of the room. He
had been administering the last consoIa-
tons of religion to Quinn the marine,
who was dying in the adjoining Office,
and the moment Brown saw him ne BE-
showed, by he expression of his coun-
tenance, how capable he was of feeling
hatred, malice, and all uncharitable
ness" 30 out of here--1 don't want
3ot abJut rue---eo outl' was the saluta-
ton he gave The priest; mhp, bswing
gravely, Immediately retired Whefe
upon | arose from the floor and,
bidding Brown good morning, likewise
left nina. b. Boteler, in the Century
MAGAZINE.