Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-10-09
y}(istellaneuns &eadiug.
HARPER,S FERRY TO BE SOLD.
TIE SPOT Made F.IMOUS BY JOHN BROWN
TO BE GIVEN UP BY TIE GOVERNMENI.

The Government is about to part with
one of it's most valuable pieces of property,
valuable because of its historic interest and
also because Of its great value in business
way, says Washington letter. Harper's
Ferry, which the Government has owned
for nearly hundred years, the water pow
er of which is held to be the best in the
country, a spot more valuable in a historic
way than can be we'll told is to be sold "to
the highest bidder" on October 81. There is
little of the bump Of veneration in the
head of the average Congressman. lie
prides hmselfon being ''practical." Wheth-
er he is or not is not quite clear. Indeed,
ders about in its attempts at legislation,
gives the average observer an idea that
that body is about the most impractical one
that could be got together in any country.
Whatever may be the fact, however, Con-
gress has ordered the sale of "Harper's Fer
ry," with all it's historic surroundings and
valuable accessories.
ave had hoped" said government
official, in talking about the approaching
sale, "to be able to reserve a part Of the
property which was most interesting in
historic way, but Congress ordered other
wise. We had marked off the spot where
stands John Browns Fort with the idea
that this much might be reserved for ever in
remembrance of the event which gave it the
name it now bears. The Fort you know,
was an engine-hOuse at the arsenal there.
1t escaped the general destruction which oc-
cured at the beginning of the war, and
yet stands. Indeed, it is about the only
landmark left there to show where the old
arsenal stood, or where John Brown made
his historic fight for freedom of the slaves.
The portfolios are still to be seen in the
walls where twenty-five years ago in the
very month in which the sale is to take
place, Brown and his few followers defend
ed themselves until the doors were batter
ed down and the three remaining men cap
tured. We had thought to reserve this
building to the Government on account of
its historic interest, but Congress ordered
otherwise, and it must 60 with the other
property"
1t is ninety years since the Government
purchased this valuable water power, and
with it $40 acres of land, from the State of
Virginia, to be used for the manufacture of
arms. In 1704 during the administration
of General Washington, Harper's Ferry
was chosen as the site Of national armory;
it is said that this selection was made by the
Father Of His Country, he having visited
the place in person. This is a tradition
among the people, and is so Characteristic of
the man that people find little difficult
mense, some supposing it to be the finest in
the world. In 1874 Congress applied to the
General Assembly Of Virginia for permis-
sion to buy this property, and of course per-
mission was granted, but not to exceed 64O
acres. One hundred and twenty acres were
purchased from the heirs of Harper. This
tract was triangular, the two rivers forming
two Of its sides.
\ subsequent purchase was made of
3lO acres from Mr.. Rutherford, where
the village Of Bolivar now stands. The
Government desiring to secure the valua-
BILE timber Of London Heights, leased in
perpetuity 1885 acres from Lord Fairfax,
Immediately adjoining Harper's Ferry.
Thus prepared, the Government at once set
to work the erection of shops, and in 1896 Il
Mr. Pernine, an English Moravan, WAS ap-
pointed to superintend the work. In 1893,
during the administration of John Adams,
in anticipation Of the war with France, the
Government organized Il considerable army
for defense. A portion Of the forces was
sent under General Pinckney into camp at
this place, and the ridge on which they
were stationed has ever since been known
as Camp Hill. 1t runs north and south be-
tween Harper's Ferry and Bolivar.
When the war was closed many Of the
soldiers settled at this place. The spirits
Of those buried here are said to be regular
visitors to the old habitations, causing these
houses to remain tenantless, and known as
haunted houses. The negroes, who appear
to be especially favored with spiritual man
ifeStatiOnS, bear unanimous testimony to
these reports. The more recent history of
the place is best known. Here John Brown
struck his first blow for the freedom Of the
slaves, capturing the Arsenal on the night
of October 16, 1859, fighting all day on the
18th, seeing his sons and near friends shot
down about him, and finally on that even
ing returning to the little engine house as a
last stronghold, where the forces gathered
against him the next morning, capturing
him and his two remaining men, killing
one outright, wounding the other, and after
piercing the leader of the band with their
bayonets, reserved him for the hangman
who did the work on the following Decem-
Der =, at CharlestoWn, turning the remains
over to the sOrrOwing widow at Harper's
Ferry on the same day.
Less than two years later the echo OF
John Browns blow was heard at this spot
when the arsenal and its valuable arms and
machinery for the manufacture of more
arms, were captured by the COnfederates
without a blow. The place was recaptured
Dy TIC llllOu lIOOl'S Wdllt, Dut ilOl
until the more valuable machinery had
been carried off to Richmond for use by the
Confederate Government in the manufac-
ture of arms. 1t was recaptured by Stone
wall Jackson in 1862, just before the battle
of !Antietam, later, by the Union forces
again. The fortunes of war left it a wreck
the buildings were burned and demolished,
and nothing is now left to recommend the
visitor to the many tragic scenes enacted
there except the foundations Of the old
building and the little engine-house where
John Brown made his last stand, which, by
some means, escaped the general destruc-
ton about it, and now stands near the rail
road station, labeled in large letters, "John
Browns Fort"
Harper's Ferry derives its name from a
Robert Harper, a native of Oxford, in Eng,
land. lie was born about the year17O3, and
at the age of twenty he emigrated to Phila
delphia, where he prosecuted the business of
architecture and millwriting. In l747 he
was engaged by some members of the SOce-
ty of Friends to erect church for their de-
nomination on the OSSequOn river, near the
present town of Winchester. While Oh his
way through the then almost unbrOken for
estS, he lodged one night with a German in
a lonely inn on the site of the present city of
Frederick Maryland.
This Germans name was Hoffman, who
informed him that his best route was by the
way of the ''IIole," where he would see
some wonderful scenery. Harper adopted
the suggestion, arrived at the "IIoe," fell
in love with the place, found Il man living
here named Peter Stevens bought out Ste
vens with fifty British guineas, and settled
here. The realty Of the place was in Lord
Fairfax, and by perseverance he obtained
from that nobleman deed or patent. llar-
per settled down here and established a fer
ry: hence the name the "IIOle" ceased, and