, 1888-05-15
JOHN BROWNS DEATH.
CHAT WITH THE MAN WHO LED
IN THE PROSECUTION.

r.
Interesting "Reminiscences of the Last
Act In tho Tragedy-A False State
ment Corrected Porte Crayon's"
sketeh-PolIteness on the scafoId.
The only time during the whole time Of
his captivity that John Brown showed
temper, according to Mr.. Andrew Hunter,
was when his wife visited him the day
before the execution, and Gen. Taliaferro,
who was in command of the troops, re-
fused to let her remain over night
Brown did show right smart temper
over that" said Mr.. Hunter. But he
soon Gained down and acquiesced in the
arrangement Mrs. Brown stayed In the
jail two or three hours and was then sent
down to Harper's Ferry, where she waited
until next day, when the body of her hus-
band was delivered to her. She was a
woman of very little sentiment, l think,
for while she was at Harper's Ferry wait
ing fer the body she was getting receipts
to make particular dishes"
OF the last act in the tragedy Mr.. Hun
ter tells some interesting "reminiscences,
He. with Mr.. Smith, of the military insti-
tute, went out the afternoon before the
and selected the location for the
ganows. which was Immediately put up
by Capt. Cockrell, the town carpenter.
THE EXECUTION.
w chose an elevated place. inst ont
of town. where there wasn't a tree or
anything else to serve as a landmark.
Gu idea was that the exact spot should
be forgotten as soon as possible. And we
were eminently successful There ism a
man living, except myself. who can tell
you just where John Brown was hung. l
can put my hand on tho spot, but l
wouldn't The gallows was put up the
afternoon before, and 1t was taken down
as soon as the execution was over, and
the timbers were stored in the jail yard.
Afterwards the gallows was erected rs
wanted for Browns companions, but not
In the same place. As coon as one hang
Ing was over the gallows was taken
down When the war came on the tim
beers were moved from the Jail yard. and
built into a porch to hide them from tho
There they remained until a
few years ago. when their owner. Capt.
J w. Coyle. sold part of them for moro
than his whole house cost him. They
were taken north to be distributed among
admirers Of old John Brown"
Some things which have been printed
about the execution were utterly untrue,
according to Mr.. Hunter
That story of John Brown stopping
on tho way to the scafford to kiss n little
negro child Is utterly false, he said.
n negroes were allowed to be near.
saw him all the way from the jail to tho
gallows was close beside the scafold
when he mounted II and | heard him say
IN a plaintivo tone. i hope they win not
keep me standing here any longer than
necessary The military were going
through a lot Of movements While
Sheriff Campbell und CGpt. Avis were
binding him and adjusting the rope |
heard him say. Make hastel' Make haster
When heard that | dropped my handker.
chief as n signal for them to cut the rope
which held the drop. and they obeyed
The military kept on moving about, but
before they got. into position and knew
what had happened John Brown had been
hung and was us dead MS Henry VIII"
II LAST SKETCH.
Strother, the artist and author, best
known TO the literary world as Porte
Crayon. until recently in the diplomatic
service of thisc country, was n nephew of
Mr.. Hunter He died a few months ago
at Charlestown. lie was here during the
trial reporting and sketching
''Strother," said Mr.. Hunter, ''was with
ne when the drop fell He slipped up,
raised the cap from John Browns face
and commenced making a sketch of the
dying mans face. On my nsking some
question. Strother replied that Lydia
Maria Chllds had published her wish to
have a picture of John Brown in every
condition of life to hang in her room. and
he was taking the sketch that she might
have him when he was finished"
Mr.. Hunter says that he Immediately
had Browns body packed and sent it off
that afternoon to Harper's Ferry.
mo one Of them was buried here, he
added 81 shipped the bodies north to
friends and was very glad to do 30. Ste.
phens' sister and sweetheart came here
from Connecticut and were with him the
night before he was hung They took his
body back with them.
There was ono thing In connection
with the execution Of Brown Ihave always
regretted" said Mr.. Hunter, US he con
cluded his reminiscences land that is
this; IS he assembled the gallows he
bowed to me very politely was looking
In another direction and did not see him,
blu was told OF it a%fterward. If had
seen him ! should certainly nave returned
the bow"
Mr.. Hunter said this with the sincerity
of a Virginia gentleman Of the old school,
who felt that by accident he failed to sus.
tain on one occasion his reputation for
good manners.-"W b 8" In Globe
Democrat.
Pleasures Of Life at Honolulu.
This Is truly q tropical land, the climate