, 1889-08-29
A GRAND OLD MAN.
Recollections of the Career and
Thrilling Experience of tho
Patriot John Brown.
Personal "Reminiscences of Gerrit
Smith, Allan PinlSerton
and Others.

Mr II. ". WnBOncr, wei hhoWi
colored citizen of Denver, who Is now
advancing in years, has much to say Of
his experiences with the first martyr I'm
the nations struggle for freedom, Cap
tain John Brown--the man whose cour-
age, faitb and moral earnestness prccip-
itatcd the great conflict which wiped out
every stain from the flag and freed
4,0OO, 600 of human beings from bondage.
Mr.. Wagner retains vivid recollec-ions
of the times that tried mems souls. He
has given to the Denver Times highly
interesting account of his experiences
with and relations toJohn Brown, Fred
ericl Douglass and Others of the anti
slavery men. Aside from its historic
value, Mr.. Wagoner's narrative carries
with 1t unusual local interest for the
reason that he is the father of Mrs. Il. b.
Scott of Spokane Falls. Mr.. Wagner
writes as follows:
MR. NAGoNER's REcoLLrcrIoNs.
became acquainted with John Brown,
the grand old hero of Harper's Ferry,
Va, in the latter part of $50, L was
introduced to him one Sunday after
noon ut John Jones' house in Chicago
by the Hon. Frederick Douglass. Mr..
Jones was prominent coloted man, a
neighbor of mine. My wife and | went
to his house to spend an afternoon with
my old friend Douglass, who was the
guest in company with John Brown.
When we entered the house, Douglass
and Brown were sitting in one corner
of the sltting-room in close converse
tion, and when Douglass saw me he
beckoned me to come TO them. did so,
and after shaking hands with Douglass,
he introduced me to Brown, telling him
that | was man who had watched his
career In Kansas, and that | might from
time to time, be of service to- him. Mr..
Douglass told him that | had q little
mill near the Van Buren, street depot,
and that IL would be II convenient place
for him to stop in going to and from
Kansas. After thath was not back
ward in availing himself of Douglass
recommendation, for he Immediately
designated and established my place as
the chief station of the Underground
Railroad at Chicago, and from time to
time thereafter he would send poor, fug-
itives to "Wagoner's Mill, near the
depot"
PERSONAL INTERVIEW.
About the middle of one afternoon he
came to my mill and told me that he
would like to have Il long conversation
with me, as other friends had told him
that he could implicitly contide in me.
| lie then went on to tell me of his plans
which he had been maturing, and he
thought he could make such demonstra-
ton against the institution of slavery as
would awaken and arouse the American
people to the enormity of chattel
slavery, which he said was the worst
form of slavery that ever existed, and
that, ii allowed to go on, would finally
disrupt the government. His efforts and
aims were then directed to making Kan
sas free state at all hazards. What he
said was so thoughtful, so calm, so de-
| liberate; but, so boldly daring, as to
awaken in me the gravest apprehensions.
His peculiar look, his earnest and deter
mined purpose, impressed me with the
thought that was in the presence of no
ordinary man. / imagined ] could see
in him remarkable blending of the lion
and the lamb.
He then went back to Kansas and
continued to send forward fugitives in
small numbers but frequent.
This line OF. progress continued until
early in March, 80, when one night,
soon after midnight | was aroused from
sound sleep. Having carried into my
mill seventy-five bushels of corn in
sacks the previous day, aud done other
dress and to answer to the call OF the old
hero, my wife found me in "a trembling
condition from the effects of the worry
of the previous day. ! went directly
into the mill, and found my hired man
busily engaged with the thirteen fugi-
tives and the four white men with
Brown bringing into the mill their bags
and baggage.
FLEEING FROM SLAVERY.
! When ! first looked upon the crowd
and realized the situation in all its as
poets, | became alarmed! and especially
in view OF the Fugitive Slave Law
whose penalty was six months inn
prisonmcnt and $1,000 fine for harborng
iugitives. At that time, no mountain
was so high, and 10 valley so deep, and
no glen SO secluded in all this vast coun-
try over which the Fugitive Slave Law
did not prevail | had young family
who were rightfully depending upon my
| industry, management and discretion,
and therefore / was not Obvious to
my dangerous surroundings, almost inn
perceptably brought against ME. Mrs.
Wagner and | consulted as to tho
safest course to pursue under the pc
culiar circumstances We concluded it
was best TO close up the mill and throw
out a sign, Closed for Repairs and
we locked all the doors to keep out in
truders. Mrs. Wagner, with her clear
head and sound Judgment and philan-
thropic disposition, was with me in
spirit and purpose in every effort | made
in behalf OF the slave, though she was al
entire stranger TO the South and tC
southern ways. But the denounccment
gradually leaked out after the fugitive
had been there two days and two nights
The second day man came to the house
and inquired for me. Invent to the dool
and he said.
"Are you Wagoner?"
said, "Yes, sir;" and he ther
pointed across the street and said
There is man who wants to sc,
YOU"
| looked over, and at once recognized
Allan Pinkerton the great detective. III,
then beckoned me to come over
A MOMENT OF PERIL.
At that moment 1t seemed as thougl
a thousand thoughts were fitting across
my mind as l slowly and meditatively
walked across the street to him, whom
then thought to be my captor, but TO my
agreeable surprise, as | approached hin
he said; "Wagoner, don't be alarmed
haven't come to hurt you. know al
about the parties you have in that mill
1 came to caution You against the dan
get you are in. l see you have done thu
very thing came to caution yon about
Now, you keep the doors we'll fastened
and don't let any one inside cxcep
those whom you know to be true friends
and will help you out of the difficult,
by raising money to help these fugitive
oil TO Detroit" AT that time the fou
white men, with Brown, were stoppin,
ut my old ncighbors house, John Jones
and were being visited by such old abo