Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-06-08


College, in the Chicago Inter ocean,
l boarded for some time with his sis
ter, Mrs. Henry Thompson, who was
then living at Las Cacitas. 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 so near these interesting and no.
torious men, | made it convenient to
be much in their company. | was anx-
iOus to study their character and hab-
its, and also to learn from themselves
certain inside facts about their partici-
patton in the Kansas troubles, and more
especially some of the details of Owens
experiences in escaping from Harpers
Ferry.
The first time | met Owen he had
just returned from stalking claim" on
the very summit of the Sierra Madre
range, at a 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 Fisher. from St Paul, MINI.
was also boarding at the Thompsons',
and We two We're accorded the priv
lege of accompanying the Browns on
their second trip.
Standing by the door of their modest
home, | asked, How 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 five miles as we
must travel; and, to reach it, will re-
quire effort enough to take You at least
twenty miles on an ordinary trail. l
suspect that You and Fisher will hardly
be able to make it in one day; but
when you get tired we can camp for
the night on the mountain side, and
next morning We can finish the as
cent"
A few mornings later, about 7:3O
o'clock, our little caravan set ont for
the mountain top. Each of us carried
on his back bundle variously made
up of blankets, provisions, drinking
water, hatchets, seeds, etc
Contrary to our expectation when we
started, Fisher and myself were able
to pull through in one day, and the
setting sun saw us ON the top of the
mountain now known rs Browns
Peak" Charming spot Delightful
view! Sixty miles of seacoast and surf
separating the ocean from magnif-
cent panorama of hill, valley. cities,
hamlets, orange groves, orchards, vine
yards, and wild flowers to the south
west of us, and confused medley of
mountain peaks, ravines, forests, and
shimmering cascades to the northeast
of us. Such scenery filed Owen
Browns soul. He loved it tenderly
and deeply. On such spot he wanted
to live and die and be buried.
Supper over, We lowered about the
campfire till late hour, talking of
many things-but mostly of slavery.
John Brown, Harper's Ferry, the war.
and the emancipation. Owen Brown
felt at 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 2"
asked.
We'll. not what is generally sup
posed" he replied I'VE did not ex-
pect to iberate any great number Of
slaves Immediately, nor even rapidly;
but, by means of the series of rem
devious, and by various other methods
of assistance, We expected to open the
way for slaves in increasing numbers
to escape from their masters, and be
helped North. We expected that
many. who had been brought to rs