Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-05-05
JOHN BROWNS DEATH.
CHAT WITH The MAN WHO LED
IN THE PROSECUTION.


Interesting Rersinisceuces of the Last
Act In the Trsg~dy--A False state
mont Corrected = Porte Crayon's"
sketch-Fo'i'eness ON tho scsGoid.
Tho 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 calmed 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
woman Of very little sentiment. think,
for while she was at Harpers Ferry wait.
ing for the body she was getting receipts
to make particular dishes"
or 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
execution and selected the location for the
gallows. which was Immediately put up
by Capt. Cockrcll. the town carpenter.
THE EXECUTION.
I've chose an elevated place, Just out
Of town, where there wasn't a tree or
anything else to serve as y landmark.
Our Idea was that the exact spot should
be forgotten as soon as possible. And we
were eminently successful There ism I a
man living, except myself. who can tel,
you just where John Brown was hung. I
can put my hand on the spot. but
wouldn't, The gallows was put up the
afternoon before. and II was taken down
as soon as the execution was over. and
the timbers were stored In the Jail yard.
Afterwards the gallows was erected as
wanted for Browns companions, but not
In the same place. As soon as one hang.
ing was over the gallows was taken
down. When the war came on the tim.
bers were moved from tho Jail yard and
built into porch to hide them from tho
Yankees. There they remained until a
few years ago, when their owner, Capt.
]. w. Coyle, sold part Of them for more
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 the way to the scafford to kiss a little
negro Child is utterly false" he said.
mo negroes were allowed to be near.
saw him all the way from the Jail to the
gallows. was close beside the scaffold
when he mounted 1t and heard him say
IN plaintive tone. i hope they will not
keep mo standing here any longer than
necessary The military were going
through lot Of movements. While
Sheriff Campbell and Capt Avis were
binding him and adjusting the rope
heard him say, Make hastei Make haster
When | heard that dropped my handker-
chief as 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 as dead as Henry VIII"
THE LAST SKETCH.
Strother. the artist and author, best
known to the literary world as Porte
Crayon, until recently In tho diplomatic
service of this country, was nephew Of
Mr.. Hunter. He died few months ago
at Charlestown. He was here during the
t,Jol nrttnr apd ul, N, ,ht,..
"Strother." said Mr.. Hunter, was with
me when the drop fell He slipped up,
raised tho cap from John Browns face
and commenced making sketch Of the
dying mans face. On my asking soms
question. Strother replied that Lydia
Maria Childs had published her wish to
have q picture Of John Brown In every
condition of life to hang In her room, and
DO 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 1t off
that afternoon to Harper's Ferry.
Not one Of them was buried here" he
added. Il shipped the bodies north to
friends and was very glad to do 80. 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 one thing In connection
with the execution of Brown have always
regretted" said Mr.. Hunter, as he con.
cluded his rsminiscences' "and that is
this: As he assembled the gallows he
bowed to me very politely. was looking
in another direction and did not see him,
but was told Of 1t afterward. Ii had
seen him should certainly have returned
the bow"
Mr.. Hunter said this with the sincerity
Of q Virginia gentleman Of the old school,
who felt that by accident he failed to sus.
tain on one occasion his reputation for
good manners. b. s." In Globe
Democrat
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