Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1889-05-15

College, in the Chicago Inter Ocean,
] boarded for some time with his sis
tor, Mrs. Henry Thompson, who was
then living ct Las Cacitas, a charming
little plateau on the mountain side,
about six miles from Pasadena, and
only . few rods from the house occupied
by Owen Brown and his brother, Jason.
Being 20 near these interesting and mo-
torious men, / made it convenient to
be much in their company. was anx-
ions to study their character and hab-
its, and also to learn from themselves
certain inside facts about their p~artici-
patton in the Kansas troubles, and more
especially some Of the "details Of Ovens
experiences in escaping from Harper's
Ferry.
The first time I met Owen he had
inst returned from stalking O claim" on
the very summit of the Sierra Madre
range, at . point directly back Of Las
Cacitas, and 5000 feet above the sea.
! learned that he and Jason intended
to make the ascent again soon, for the
purpose Of planting various seeds and
cuttings to test the producing power OF
that altitude. A young Clergyman
named Fiaher, from st. Paul, Mimi,
was also boarding at the Thompsons',
and we two were accorded the priv
lege of accompanying the Browns on
their second trip.
Standing by the door of their modest
home. I asked, AHow far is it from here
to the spot You have selected 2" about
two miles as the crow flies" he replied,
@but not less than Ave miles as we
must travel; and, to reach it, will re.
quire effort enough to take you at leas.
twenty miles on an ordinary trail.
suspect that you and Fisher will hardly
be able to make il in one day; hut
when you get tired we can camp foi
the night on the mountain side, and
next morning we can finish the as
cent.
A few mornings later, about 7:3C
O'clock, our little caravan set out fol
the mountain top. Each of us carried
on his back y bundle ~variously made
up Of blankets, provisions, drinking
water, hatchets, seeds, etc.
Contrary to II expectation when we
started, Fisher and myself were able
to pull through in one day, and the
setting III saw us on the top Of the
mountain now known a. Browns
Peak Charming spot! Delightful
view! Sixty miles Of seacoast and surf
separating the ocean from Q magnifi-
cent panorama OF hill, valley, cities,
han0lets, orange groves, orchards, vine
yards, and wild flowers to the south
west of ms, and . confused medley Of
mountain peaks, ravines, forests, and
~shimmering cascades TO the northeast
81 ms. Such scenery filled Owen
Browns soul. He loved il tenderly
and deeply. On such = spot he wanted
to live and die. and be buried.
Supper over, we lowered about the
campfire till q late hour, talking Of
many things-but mostly of slavery,
John Brown, Harper's Ferry, the war,
and the emancipation. Owen Brown
felt ct home and happy on that noun
tain, and / proceeded to draw him out.
What did your father and yourself
expect would be the outcome Of that
raid or movement at Harper's Ferry?'
i asked.
Well, not what is generally sup
posed" he replied. 4We did not ex
pect 70 liberate any great number o
slaves Immediately, nor even rapidly
hut, by means Of the series OF rem
devious, md by various other method,
1T assistance, We expected to open til,
way Tor slaves in increasing number,
70 escape from their masters, and b,
helped North. We expected tina