News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-07-02
John Brown.
TIE FIaHr AT THE ENdINE-HoUsE, AS
SEEN By ONE OF HIS PRISONERS.

X N<AAAA N-~~
TIE FIeHr AT THE ENaINE-HoUsE, AS
SEEN By ONE OF HIS PRISONERS.
As to John Brown and his appearance
ct 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 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 the
mountain-sides, making small excava-
hons here and there, pretending to be
looking for gold, of which they declared
the mountains were full.
They wentrepeatedly 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 OBJ
iect.
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 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 off
the locks and came over, he thinks
about sixty strong, though he was evil
IDENTIFY 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 a 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, raped up the landlord, put him
under arrest, and placed guards at the
doors, so 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." I, of
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
walked toward my Office, then Just
with In the armory inclosure, and not
more than q hundred yards from my
dwelling. AS proceeded saw a man
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.
L told them they talked like crazy
men. They answered, "Not so crazy as
you think, as you will soon see." Up
to this time I had not seen any arms:
however, the men threw back
the short cloaks they wore and displayed
Sharpes's rifles, pistols and knives.
Seeing these, and fearing something
serious was going on, told the
men I believed I would return
10 my quarters. They at once cooked
heir guns, and told me was prisoner
This surprised me, of course, but could
10 nothing, being entirely unarmed. I
alked with them some little time longer
md again essayed to return to nv
louse; but one of the men stepped he.
ore me, presented his gun, and told me
moved would be shot down. r
hen asked them what they intended to
10 with me. They said / was in no