Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-12

. applauded. but it was evident that neither
they nor Henry A. w ise knew the soldier
who stood before them. Lee did net hest.
tate moment, but In his quiet vet EN-.
phatic manner, answered.:
at so happens, Governor, that / am a
Nlrgiuian by birth, but our State mas
nothing 10 do with that property over
there" pointing to the armory. "That
ground was coded to the general govern.
ment oy virginia, ana the property which
stands upon 1t belong stO the United
states, aud am sent here to protect II.
When the arpory is freed from the insur-
gents now in possession, / shall hand
them over to you, sir, but until then | re.
specially demand that we, the represen.
tatives of the United States, shall not be
Interfered with while doing our duty in
projecting the property Of the whole PEG.
pie"
Then, turning TO those who we're stand.
ing nearest to him, Col. Lee said:
"Gentlemen, we are soldiers by train
ng'and profession. We are paid for doing
our duty, and We propose to obey orders
With the Keen sense OF a politician
Wise recognized the point and interposed
no further objection.
Lee at once gave orders for the division
OF his marines into two companies, and
led by him they moved toward the build.
ing Of which John Brown had taken pos.
session. The future CommAnder-in-Chiei
OF the Confederate armies at that period
WAS in the priHs of life, and his hand.
some face, commanding figure, utter
disregard of danger while the
bullets OF the Kansas rifles
were rafting arOHnd him, elected
the admiration of the "amateurs," who
looked on wondering what he was about
IN TInSkorfuka HHnp inGG hox ra
endeaY0red to carry the place by storm, to
scale the walls, or do some other foolish
though daring act In which lives would
have been sacrificed by the score. Not 50
with Lee. AS the marines advanced, they
were ordered to lay hold OF two pieces of
scantling that happened 10 be convenient,
and to use them as badtering rams. Civ
ing the timbers swing, the men ad"
vanced at a charge, aud in less time than
it takes to write it the massive gate was
struck with such tOTee that it gave way,
and the men, cropping their rams,
rushed up the STEPS leading to the tower
occupied by the Insurgents. The first Of
dcer to reach John Brown was Lieut..
Greene of the marines, but to him Brown
refused to surrender or deliver his sword.
In the excitement OF the moment the
Lietltenant slashed the old mans head
with his eAbre. BY this time Lee reached
the tow5r, when Brown Immediately
handed MIN his sword, saying:
II Surrender to no one but you, sir.
Three times have had bead drawn on
YOU sir, but you were too brave to kill,
avd my heart failed me-"
The prisoners were then delivered to the
Virginia authorities and under a heavy
guard sent to CharlestOwn jail. while the
marines retained possession of the armOry
and arsenal. The trial, conviction and
execution of the little party are matters OF
history, but there are several incidents in
connection with those exciting days that
never have been in print.
Notorious among the followers of John
Brown was one Capt. Cook, as he styled
himself He was not captured in the ar
mory, but in the mountains, after murder
ing In cold blood the old and infirm Col.
Washington and his wife in their own
house. Cook WAS reported to BE related
to the then Governor of Indiana, and was
ably defended during his trial by Hon
Daniel Voorhees,. The closing speech by
Mr. Voorhees, is to-day in many Virginia
scrap book, and remembered for its rare
elOquenee. But it was of no avail,
and the jury brought IN verdict OF
guilty.
After the trial was concluded fears we're
entertained that an effort would be made
TO rescue the condemned men, and &C
cordiugly the guards around the Jail were
doubled, and pickets were thrown out on
all the converging roads, with strict or
ders to allow no one to pass without the
cOuntersign. 1t s. happened that during
this stormy period Gov. Wise, accompa-
MED by some friends, made a visit to a
ne.ghboring locality, and did not return to
CharlestoWn until after midnight, when
they were encountered and CHALLENGED by
one OF tine pickets-Mr. John A. Pizziui,
the present agent of the Associated Press
in Richmond. The Governor and party
had neglected to obtain the password
before leaving camp, and the chal-
lenge was peTempt0ry. The Governor
remarked: II am Henry A. Wise,
the Governor of Virginia, and am re-
spOnsible for the gentlemen of my COM
pany."
ii don't care who you are, you can't
pass here, and If you move another step
before the sergeant of the guard puts in an
appearances it will be at your own peri"
answered Pizzini.
There was no alternative but TO await
the arrival of the officer, who at once per-
mitted the gentlemen to 10 10 their quar-
tiers, Pizzini was we'll acquainted with
the Governor and naturally thought he
would be reprimanded for hating the
Chief Magistrate of the State, but the con-
trary proved to be the case, for alter the
return of the regiment to Richmond Wise
sent for PizzIni and presented him with a
magnificent gold watch as a recognition
OF his sold erly action.
On another occaelon two figures were
discovered by the sentinel stealing along
the Jail wall, and apparently making an
effort 20 escape under cover of The dark
ness OF the night. For the moment the
guard became confused OF frightened, but
as neither of the men jumped the soldier
quickly recovered his presence OF nina
and gave the alarm by discharglng his
gun. The camp was alert in an instant.
The long roll was beat, and the troops
hurried into line expecting 10 meet some
new.enemy. IL was then discovered that
Capt. Cook and one Of the col0red prison
ers had escaped from their cells ano
climhed the wall with the intention OF
making a break for liberty. Seeing the
sentinel, neither dared TO leap, and they
were both taken into the prison again "a
await the day OF execution. But for the
cowafdiee OF Cook, both might have made
their escape, as Il WAS not likely thal
either Of them would have been nit Dy z
bullet in the darkness OF the night
Great Head.