The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-05-30
The Capture Of John Brown.

From an account in the June Century
of John Brown at Harper's Ferry, writ
en- by one of his prisoners, who was in
the engine-house during the insurrec-
ton, and afterward held the rank of
captain in the Confederate army, we
quote the following: when Lieutenant
Stuart came in the morning for the reply
to the demand to surrender, got up and
went to Browns side to hear his answer
"Stuart asked, Are you ready to sur
render, and trust to the mercy of the
Government?
Brown answered promptly, No! l
prefer to die here.
Ellis manner did not betray the least
fear"
"Stuart stepped aside and made the
signal for the attack, which vas instantly
begun with sledge-hammers to break
down the door.
Finding it would not yield, the sol
diers seized long ladder for battering-
ram, and commenced beating the door
with that, the party within firing inces-
sanity. had assisted in the barricading
fixing the fastenings so that | could re-
move them upon the first effort to get in.
But was not at the door when the bat
tering began, and could not get to fast
en- until the ladder was used. | then
quickly removed the fastenings, and
after two or three strokes of the ladder
the engine rolled partially back, making
q small aperture through which Lieu
tenant Green of the marines forced him
self, jumped on top of the engine, and
stood a second in the midst of a shower
of balls, looking for John Brown
When he saw Brown he sprang about
twelve feet at him, and gave an under
thrush of his sword, striking him about
midway the body and raising him com.
pletely from the ground. Brown fell
forward with his head between his
knees, and Green struck him several
times over the head, and, as | then sup
posed, split his skull at every stroke.
81 was not two feet from Brown AT
that time. Of course | got out of the
building as soon as possible, and did not
know till some time later that Brown
was not killed. 1t seems that in maxim.
the thrust Green's sword struck Browns
belt and did not penetrate the body
The sword was bent double. The reason
that Brown was not killed when strucl
ON the head was that Green was holdin.
his sword in the middle, striking Will
the hilt and making only scalp wounds
GENERAL Butler TuBuGGANs.-Whel
! first went to Washington, the western
approach to the Capitol, before the pend
ing Improvements" were commenced
was through fine old park, the heav
foliage of which in spring conceale
much Of the Capitol from view TIL
approach then led up two flight of stee
parallel terraces, which extended tn
whole length of the building. TIL
pages, in wintcr-time, took advantage {
these declivitics for coasting. Instead {
sleds, however, they used certain larg
paste-board envelope-boxes, which the
obtained from the folding-rOoms. On
day, the terraces and park grounds wei
covered with thick hard coat of sleet
so the envelOpe-bOXes were brought on
and the lively tobogganing began /
the midst of the sport, General Benz
man F. Butler, accompanied by fe
other representatives, came along, an
stopped ON the parapct to witness Il
fun. As he seemed to enjoy the sigh
one Of the pages asked him if he won
take ride. After brief delibcratio
the General remarked: "Well think
will" In moment, a box was placed
his disposal near the edge of the par
pet, or upper terrace. In this, with co
siderable difficulty, the porty reprcser
alive cnsconed himself and soon
stated that he was ready" At the wol
the pages gave him a vigorous shove al
down he went with lightning swiftne
to the great delight Of the assembl
spectators. As with increased nome
tum he struck the second terrace, {
box parted, and, with terrific speed,
finished the trip "all by himself" Al
he was still going when lost in the d
lance OF the park 81. .Nirhoias for in,
-
A PACK OF CARDS WELL EARNED
why do you pick that up" asked
reporter Of man who had Just stoop
down and taken fugitive nine of clu
out Of the mud. lie was carefully clea
ing the card with his pocket hankerchi
Its habit | have contracted" he ga
laughing. Long ago | noticed tina
day rarely passed that ! did not Sc,
playing card lying in the street. We
dercd if it were possible to make VIII,
pack 10y picking up all saw. went
work tn try it. At first il seemed ca
enough, and picked up plenty Of caI
of different kinds but as my collect
grew larger the task became more Iii
cult and found cards of the same :,
over and over again. II took me twrl
years to find the last four cards | want
the five of diamonds. the eight of Il
mOnds, king of spades, and the four
hearts. Two Of those years were spt
in looking for the eight Of diamGn
which was all ! wanted to complete /
pack. ] found it three months ago in
ash barrel in Baxter Street, and | ha
now the entire pack. | was Just eley
years and two weeks collecting it. am
,roul1 not soil IL far II NM " v 81,