Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-09-06
ONE OF JOHN BROWNS SPEARS.
4 Relic Preserved by One Who Helped
Capture the Abolitionist.

| relic iftetTttu W WV W NV -->'t'~"
Capture the Abolitionist.
Mr.. A. b. Allen, residing at No. LEA
New Jersey avenue, Washington, has IN
his possession an interesting relic OF tine
raid of John Brown at Harper's Ferry In
1889 This is one of the spears used oy
Brown and his men when they attempted
the liberation of the slaves in that vicinity.
The spear head is OF iron, about eight
inches in length. and is like a two edged
knife blade on a substantial socket, into
which the staff--a piece Of hickory six feet
longs fastened Mr.. Allen secured this
relic, as well as a rifle, when, after Browns
capture. he and some others were pressed
into service and placed ON duty at the en-
CINE house TO guard the abolitionist and
those captured with him.
Mr. Allen had been employed by citizen
Ito capture two Of his slaves who had run
away. The only clew as to the direction
the fugitives had taken was information
that they had gone up the capal At the
time of their departure there had been no
tidings received here Of Browns inten-
tons, although it was possible that some
Of the slaves had been privately notified OF
them. Mr.. Allen came to the conclusion
that the runaways might be headed of by
taking the railroad, and took the train.
81 went up by way Il the Relay house and
the main line," said Mr. Allen, entirely
oblivious of what was going on at the
ferry.
when we came opposite the ferry on
the Maryland side the train was stopped
Then we learned by rumor Of the fighting
at the ferry. We could hear all kinds OF
rumors. and the train from the west had
not been heard from. This was the train
run by Capt Jack Phelps, who was well
known here as one of the lessees OF the
Alexandria and Washington railroad.
There were only twenty-five or thirty OF
us on the train, and we remained on this
side all night. We heard during the night
the movement Of a train over the river,
and finally Phelps train came over. We
then learned that Browns men had stopped
and held the train for some hours, but that
the leader when he was informed that the
United States mail was on the train al
lowed il to pass We then learned that in
the fighting in the town some had been
killed and Others wounded. Not knowing
what force the insurgents had we did not
cross the bridge, but remained on this side.
"In the morning the marines arrived
from the barracks in this city and they al
once proceeded TO Irut down the insurrec
p ton. A Capt OF Lieut.. Russell, / be
lieve, was in command, and under hi,
orders the marines were marched to tn,
, engine house, where Brown and a few Of
7 his men were As we afterward ascer
I tanned, the insurgents could have killes
, every one Of the marines had they been 5,
! disposed, for they had arms and ammuni
{ ton and in the walls of the engine housl
had been cut loopholes ON every side. Tn
marines finding the door fastened secures
|, a ladder and used il as ram bursting ii
, the door.
l. 'We-that is those of the passenger
. who had been pressed into service-havinl
e seen this from the bridge at once rushe'
e down. | remember that when | first say
d John Brown he was lying with his hea
e resting on the back of an upturned chail
! looked at him and at once recognized hir
as a man had seen before; in fact, l ha
o seen him only a week or ten days previous
3 ly in Squire Downs Office. He had bee
! wounded, believe, in the shoulder, but
IT he suffered he did not show it in his cour
; tenance or by words. He was attired |
n what appeared to be country goods, an
~ with his long gray beard looked like
&c well-to-do, care-for-n othing farmer. wa
: with him about three hours and a hal
anu thNAEh " NAtioAe thtee
y was badly disappointed man, and "a for6
2 of two to three hundred men he had e.
Is pected from Pennsylvania had failed
a materialize In the afternoon the bodi'
d of those of Browns men who had bee
= killed were removed, and party went u
=, on the heights TO search for arms, but WI
al then unsuccessful
"The next party that went out was T
-, warded by finding two boxes of rifles al
!. spears with ammunition. was ON guai
q when Governor Wise came up and had
- talk with Brown and three or four 9th
: prisoners. The conversation betwe'
h, Brown and the governor lasted about ;
~ hour and a half. OF course, recognizii
Ia Wise as the governor of the state, sto
80 off some distance and did not listen
M what was said. Brown understood to u
,,r the governor frankly what was his int
-. ton, keeping nothing back, and belle
he expressed his disappointment that
h. had failed and that expected friends did n
- appear Toward the close of the intervi,
~ Brown demanded good treatment Will,
y. prisoner, and asked that his meals be sc
No.. him from the hotel. This the govern
4, promised to attend to. As he left
No. engine house the governor remarked TO n
"a. He is a most remarkable man. As soon
no., some other troops arrived we were reliev
~ - .~n. Ao..,o y Va hin ufx1n Qfar