Connecticut western news., 1885-06-10
John Brown.
THE FIGHT AT THE ENGINE-HoUsE, A
 SEEN BY ONE OF HIS PRISONERS.

C ohm Brown. THE FIGHT AT THE ENGINE HOUSE, AS
 SEEN BY ONE OF HIS PRISONERS.
 As to John Brown and his appearance at Harper's Ferry, probably there is no one now living who can tell more of that affair than myself, as then lived at Harper's Ferry, and was a prisoner of Browns until rescued by General Robert E. Lee, then colonel in the United States Army. Prior to Browns sudden appearance at the Ferry, there had been seen by the neighbors squads of men with picks and spades moving about tho mountain-sides, making small excava- lions here and there, pretending to be looking for gold, of which they declared the mountains were full.
 They unexpectedly to small property owners trying to buy land, until all the neighborhood was much excited, and they had succeeded in diverting the minds of the people from their real ob- ject.
 These men had rented house near the Ferry, where they were seen in small parties, but never in such large numbers as to excite suspicion.
 Some of them often came to the Ferry, but excited no suspicion, as strangers were always there viewing the scenery and Government works. Brown himself was said to have been seen there often, but I do not recollect meeting him, and feel sure his appearance would have made an impression on me. When his plans were matured by the aid of one Cook, who WAS citizen of the town, he determined to make his invasion to re- lease the negroes of Virginia from servi- tude.
 His descent upon the town was in this wise: On Sunday night, Oct. 16, 1859, about twelve or one o'clock, the gate keeper sof the. bridge over the Potomac leading into Maryland was startled by the steady tramp of many men approach ing the gate, having with them wagons, who, upon reaching the gate, ordered it to be opened to them. This the gate keeper refused to do, saying they were strangers. They, however, while par leying with him, seized him and present. ing pistol at his head, compelled him to be silent. They then wrenched of the locks and came over, he thinks about sixty strong, though he was evi. dently frightened and could not speak with accuracy.
 Upon getting over, the first building taken possession of was the depot of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, then in charge of very trusty negro, who slept in the building. Upon Browns men de- manding admittance, he refused to let them come in, saying he was in charge, and his instructions were to let no one in at night. He was then shot down, a negro faithful to his trust being the first victim of those whose mission it was to free the African race from bondage.
 Browns party next proceeded to the hotel, rapped up the landlord, put him under arrest, and placed guards at the doors, 50 that no one could go out or come in. All this was in perfect quiet at the dead of night. They went next to place guards at the arsenal and armories, and fix their pickets at all the streets, so that no one could come or go who was not at once picked up and placed with an armed guard over him and compelled to be silent.
 Next they divided their force, sending Cook with some men to seize Colonel Washington and other shareholders. These gentlemen Browns party walked from sleep and compelled to go with them as prisoners, at the same time taking all the slaves they could find, carriages, horses, etc.
 With the prisoners and property they had collected, they returned to Harper s Ferry before daylight, and thence across the bridge into Maryland and Pennsyl- vania. The gentlemen arrested were left as prisoners with John Brown. This seems to have been the programme for the night; now as to my introduction to John Brown, and what occurred after ward.
 About daylight one of my servants came : to my room door and told me "there was war in the street." l, oi course, got up at once, dressed, and went out, my dwelling being immediately on the street. Upon looking around saw nothing exciting. The only person in view was man from the country, who was riding rapidly, and supposed he had lost some of his negroes, who had been stopped at the gate of the bridge and made fight
 l walked toward my office, then just with in the armory inclosure, and noi more than a hundred yards from my dwelling. As proceeded saw mar come out of an alley near me, then an. other and another, all coming toward me. When they came up to me I in quired what all this meant; they said nothing, only they he'd taken possession of the Government works.
 I told them they talked like crazy men. They answered, "Not so crazy a you think, as you will soon see" Ul to this time had not seen any arms presently, however, the men threw bacl the short cloaks they wore and displaye, Sharpes's rifles, pistols and knives Seeing these. and fearing somsthini