National Republican., 1884-03-03
JOHN BROWNS WIDOW.
ReCOlleCtiOns Of One Who Had Entertained
Her at His House.
Tragic Experiences OF the wife OF the
Hero OF Harpor's Ferry.
philndelnhin Tins. Mnroh Q.


The death on Friday last in San Francisco
of Mrs. Mary Brown, widow of 0ssawatomie
Brown, of Harpcr's Ferry notoriety. recalls
tho fact that tho day upon which her hus-
band was executed she was in Philadelphia.
A visit was paid yesterday TO William Still,
q we'll known colored man living at 24i South
Twelfth street, who was one Of the leading
spirits in tho Underground railroad" move
ment, and with whom Mrs. Brown was stop
ping at the time mentioned.
"Yes," said Mr.. Still to reporter yester-
day, that was a sad day with us all. re-
member it as well as if IL had been but yes.
terday. Mrs Brown had como from her home
at North Elba, N. Y, intending to go on to
Charlestown, VIVA, to be with her husband
and console him in his last moments. Her
presence in this city and her intentions be-
coming known, she was visited by Lucretia
Mott, Sarah Pugh, Mrs. Mckim, Gen. and
Mrs. Tyndale, and Miss Grew, who dis
suaded her from undertaking n journey SO
hazardous, for you must remember that those
were exciting times, and no person, either
man or woman, was safe in the south who
was known to sympathile with the abolition
movement.
Lieut.. Merriam, one of tho officers Of the
little company which made the attack at
Harper's Ferry under tho leadership of John
Brown, had arrived at my house only few
days before, and the narrative of his escape
and the bitter feeling of the southern people
helped to convince Mrs Brown of the RASH
ness of her intention. She consented at last
to remain here, provided some one would go
on to Charlestown and bring her husbands
| body north after the execution. Gen.
| Tyndale and Mr.. McKim volunteered to go,
which they did, and as have said, she re-
NAMED here with me.
"Dec. 9, the day Of the execution, was cold
and clear, and Mrs. Brown was the first to
arise that morning. She came down to the
breakfast table calm and collected, without
the sign of tear or of mental suffering. In
| fact, she seemed rather cheerful and light
spirited No reference was made during the
! breakfas hour to the sad event of the day,
| and not until the hour set for the execution
| did Mrs. Brown show any signs of grief But
| when the clock struck 10 she grew doathly
pale and. as she sat with her hands folded
across her breast, as if in silent prayer, tears
rolled down her marble-hucd checks, and she
presented u picture of heroic grief that can
never forget For nearly an hourshe seemed
lost to all about her, but when the first feel
ing of bitter despair wore off she said
"Well, suppose the law is avenged and
the people are satisfied"
"She then spoke of her husband cheerfully
of his intentions, of his zeal, of his honesty
She had always been in full sympathy with
him in his undertaking and had full know
ledge of all his plans. She expressed desire
that her sons should engage in the work o
emancipating tho slaves, and thus carry OIL
tho work of their late father to completion
While in this city Mrs. Brown visited arounC
among many friends and she was a welcome
guest wherever she went. When, the day
after the execution, the body of John Brown
was brought on, it was met at the Walnu
street wharf by Mrs. Brown and taken t.
North Elba, where il was buried in the famil,
vault.
in appearance Mrs. Brown was pleasant
faced woman tall and dignited, with grea
intelligence and the impression she mad
was that she was as Jealous in the work o
freeing slaves as was her husband"
When Mr.. Still was asked to relate the in
cidents, as he could recall them, of Lieut.
Merriam's escape from Harper's Ferry afte
the fight that had proved so disastrous {
the little band of zealots, he said:
ut is difficult to understand how q una
with the education, wealth, and social stant
ing of Mr.. Merriam could ever have bee
induced to go into any movement of the kint
: with disaster so surely awaiting them. ii
was a Bostonian and apparently about
years OF ago. He had been educated i
Paris and had travled great deal. / sa
him when ho was on his way to Harper
Ferry, three or four days prior TO the insu
rection, and he impressed me as q refine
gentleman, with great determination an
physical endurance. Though not an actiy
participant was CogniZant of all the plar
Of the little band, and Mr.. Merriam talke
with me freely.
"A few days after the attack was made an
the whole country was aroused. while detect
ives and spies were hunting the remnant {
the band who had escaped, Merriam came int
my house. Iconfess Twas terribly frightene
for there was q large reward offered for hin
4 dead or alive, and | expected his arrest {
any moment.
? "He was dressed in brown suit of heav
+. material, and around his waist, beneath h
coat, was belt full of revolvers. The powd,
l from the battle was still on his face an
hands, and the numerous hardships an
!; hairbreadth escapes through which he hu
passed were plainly visible about him. II
stopped with me only few hours to rest an
then went on to New York, and from Their
| believe, he made his escape into Canada"
During the conversation Mr.. Still shove
letters which he had received from Mr.. al
Mrs Brown and a lock of hair from the hea
, OF old OssawatOmie, which he had forwarde
to his wife during his Imprisonment
There is one incident connected with u
raid of John Brown that is not general
b known. During his imprisonment at Charlie
town, awaiting execution, his son John, wit
the assistance of his mother was trying
8 organize company of resolute men wi
should go with him and make an attempt
rescue his father from prison. Young Brow
passed several days in this city trying to o
Ganize his company, but as Il sufficient nun
} Der could not be gotten together, the i'd
was abandoned. 1t is said that Mrs. Brow
wanted to put on male attire and be one
q the company to 50 to the rescue of her hu
band