The morning call., 1890-12-29
JOHN BROWNS GRAVE
In the Adirondacks, by the Bowl.
der Near His Home.
Visited by Many Who Want to See the Spot.
a Headstone Enclosed to Save It
From Relic-Hunters.

tuo Only pOlut OF ulStOTlC Interest III
the Adirondack. There are many points
of interest, but they are not historic.
People 60 about to look at beautiful noun
tain and lake scenery, to witness the attrac-
lions of this OF that summer hotel, to see
fine camps, and for other purposes, but the
region appears to have no history except its
natural history. Columbus did not discover
the Adirondacks, the Pilgrims did not land
in them, no imr ortant battle of the Revolu-
ton. nor even of the war of 1872, was fought
in them. So far as men are concerned,
these mountains appear to be comparatively
new ground.
Perhaps it is because of these facts that
so many people visit John Browns grave
He was the object of great deal of interest
in this country thirty-one years ago, but
1t is probable that comparatively few of the
present generation know or care to know
what he did that made him famous. They
have all heard that
John Browns body lies a-moldering in the grave,
But his soul goes marching on.
But the general belief is that he is not the
only man in that condition-that, in fact
he'is hardly exceptional enough in that re-
spect to make him worthy Of such general
mention as he receives. Nevertheless, what
ever may be the reason, a great many peo-
pie in this REGION make pilgrimages to
mountains are apt to get the idea that it is a
duty not to be left undone.
Though it does not at first seem attract
i've, the spot is really worth visit The
perfect keeping with the character of the
man who is buried there. There is nothing
about it at all that violates good taste.
When man dies by hanging for breaking
the law the question of perpetuating his
memory, IL it is to be done at all, must
naturally be difficult one But it seems
to have been solved in John Browns case
in the very best way. No enemy of his
who believed he was justly and properly
hanged
COULD CRITICIZE THE MANNER
In which his name is commcmorated, nor
can any friend we'll say the comnlemoruton
is inadequate.
Brown came into this region about forty
years ago, when 1t was very much more of
wilderness than it is now. and settled on
tract of land in North Elba, Essex County,
which was given him by Gerritt Smith, a
wealthy philanthropist Of Madison County,
this State. Both Smith and Brown were
Jealous Abolitionists, and had already
helped considerable number of runaway
slaves to their liberty. Several of these
brought his family and possessions into the
woods, and helped him drive his cattle.
Old residents of the region remember that
Brown had some fine blooded stock, for they
attracted much attention coming in through
the keene Valley. The negroes when they
reached Browns tract, were settled on little
tracts of their own, which we're also given
them by Gerritt Smith. Each negro is said
to have received forty acres as gift. One
OF these neaIoes named Epps Is said to be
living on his forty acres in North Eliza still.
But the most of them soon wearied of the
lonely life and tie cold climate, W hich seems
10 have been i'll suited to them.
Brown built house and hewed farm
out Of the wilderness. He was strong
man himself, and had u large family of sons
and daughters. all of whom helped in the
work. The family were almost without So
clety, though they appear to have made the
acquaintance OF the Thompsons in this
region and few others. Two of the
killed on his raid But it is easy to im-
agine the Browns, thoroughly enlisted, as
the head of the family was, in the abolition
cause, thinking over and discussing among
themselves the cruelties of human slavery
until they were ready for any desperate un-
dertaking to put an end to 1t. They were
out Of the world here, with no association
or contact TO moderate their zeal. What
Brown saw of Gerritt Smith and other anti
slavery men probably served to stimulate it,
for all demonstrating Abolitionists in those
days were extreme In their talk and feeling
THE CURSE OF THE SOUTH
Seemed intolerable to them all Hence.
when he came home to his family in the
woods and talked with them about it, he
could not be quiet. 1t was just the condition
for ignorant fanaticism to reach the culmi-
mating point. How it did eliminate need
not be told here.
The visitor in search of John Browns
grave l, now guided to 1t by finger board
at tue point where The road to the farm
branches from the main road. That point
is two or three miles from Lake Placid,
The sign on the finger board reads: John
Brown farmhouse, half mile-meais served"
The road thence TO the farm bears evil
dence of good deal Of travel, though there
Is no other dwelling near it except the
Brown homestead and 1t ends there. 1t
leads through piece Of woods and then
emcrges into clearing, which it circles
through and lands the visitor at the farm
house door. 1t is modest house, and no
descendant or relative of Brown is now in
possession. A country lad, whose trousers
hung Wy one suspender, was giving infor-
nation and Offering photographs and relics
tor sala to two carriage-loads of visitors.
About fifteen yards from the house and
nearly In tiont lies bowlder of nearly rec
tananlar form aud perhaps fifteen feet
broad by twenty feet long. Its surface is
nearly a plane, slightly inclined, aud is five
or six feet above the surface of the ground
Beside this bow lder are two mounds, one of
which is said to be the grave Of John Brown
and the other that Ut his son, Watson
Brown. At the head of one of the mounds
is ne adsione, apparently of slate rock, on
which are inscriptions giving the dates of
birth aud death OF Captain John Brown,
father of the hero, of John Brown himself,
and Of Watson Brown, his son. There is
no eulogy. The John Brown inscription
merely says. alter giving the date OF his
birth: Executed at Charleston, Va, De-
cembcr 2. 1859" Tie headstone has been
badly SCARED by relic-hunters, and ey-
cover has been made for it, which is fas-
tened over it with paddock. The boy of
one suspender unlocks and removes the
cover when visitors wish to see the head
stone but never leaves the cover off, though
he has TO take it off and put it on many
times day.
But the hesdstone is not the memorial.
The great b0wlder beside which the grave
is has deeply cut in its upper surface In
letters and figures foot long, John Brown,
by wooden steps, and he will hardly fail 10
be impressed with the idea that when the
mounds shall have sunk, when the little
headstone shall have crumbled, when, per-
maps, the spot shall cease 10 be inclos by
fence as now, and visitors shall cease to
seek it, the bowlder will remain with suffi-
cient tracing Of the name on its surface to
commemorate it for centuries. 1t is said
that it was alter Brown had been condemned
to death and his wife visited him in the Jail
In Virginia that he requested that his body
should be buried beside the bowlder near
their home. 1t seems as il it must have
been kind OF inspiration for the old man,
Tor litter place could not have been
selected. There is nothing attractive in
fanaticism.. and its grave should not be
adorned nor made a show. But sterling
qualities often go to make it up, and they
deserve 10 be remembered.
The visitors to Browns grave have not
only Clipped off pieces of the headstoue for
relics, but they have taken pieces Of the
bowlder and every variety Of thing FROM the
house. Every article that lie is known to
find ready sale. A lady in one OF the car
riages above mentioned bought from the
boy with one suspender n cOw-bell which
bad belonged to John Brown. But hardly
anything so CLOSELY ass; ciated with the old
tent themselves chiefly with Photographic