Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-04
JOHN BROWNS RAID.
some New Lights Thrown Upon That
Famous Occurrence.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
HARPER'S FERRY. Nov. ?, 1893.
New facts and incidents are occasionally
turned up by the inquirer. During a visit
to this interesting locality I have gathered
some such incidents and facts, valuable to
the careful historian. There has been so
much romance mixed up with the Brown
raid that 1t becomes the duty OF the his
torfcal student and Investigator to get at
the actual facts. A prominent citizen and
able jurist Of this country has Informed
me that most of the published accounts of
the Brown raid are imperfect. Even the
place where Brown squatted. over on Mary
land Heights. while preparing for his raid,
has been wrongly located.
John Brown came here from his Adiron-
dack home in the autumn Of 1859. The
writer. during the past season. was a WIS.,
itor to Essex county. n. Y. where Brown
resided and is buried. and gathered many
facts of his personal history. Brown
passed his last night while en- route for
Harpers Ferry with the late Mr.. Norton,
who informed me that in reply to a Ques-
ton as to his future movements, Brown
said: Watch the Tribune"
When Brown squatted on the Maryland
Heights he gave out that his object was
mining, and when the boxes of pixies, guns,
etc. arrived. 1t was understood that they
were mining tools. Many OF these articles
have been collected. DIR. Toner OF WASH
ington has a fine specimen. also a car
bine. Others are scattered about. but are
difficult to obtain. Brown relics command
q high price. his last letter to his wife
has been purchased by Mr.. Dreer Of Phil
adelphia for $l.0Oo. His Bible was sold re-
Gently by a citizen OF Charleston to a Chi
cago collector for 500. Another citizen has
Browns sword. for which has been offered
$500 by the Kansas Historical Society, but
1t is held at 1900. John Browns Fort"
the little engine house in which he forti-
fed himself, has been transferred to Chi
cago-a piece of unmitigated folly-for here
IT was an object OF interest, there-nothing,
and has gone into the sheriffs hands. The
memory OF John Brown hangs over the en-
tire region. The graves Of his men 1.-TWO Of
his own sons) ana those OF his victims are
pointed out.
One or two Of those engaged in the raid
still live here; their accounts are interest
Ing. valuable article appears In the May
issue Of the Magazine OF American History,
which contains some new facts. Some dis
cussion has taken place as to the where
abouts of Browns sons when killed. A man
named Thompson, an important parsonage
In the little army Of invasion, was posted
with others at the Potomac span OF the
iron bridge while John Browns son and
Lieut.. Stevens held the Shenandoah span
Thompson was captured and held a prisoner
In the old brick hotel mot now standing),
while Stevens and Brown were routed from
thcL pOSitiOu ouo QTlNeu tOWdTQ the armOry.
When near the Gait House they were fired
on by citizens concealed in that building.
Young Brown was shot through the body.
but succeeded in reaching the armory, when
he called to his friends. They have shot
me-" but Immediately reloaded, and seeing
Ezra Beckham. mayor Of the village and
railroad agent, popular and inofensive
man, shot him dead on the trestie He soon
after expired from his own wound. The
citizens. learning Of the death of Beckham,
cried. Blood for blood" and promptly
avenged the deed by hurrying Thompson to
the bridge, where he was shot and thrown
into the Potomac. Stevens was saved and
taken to jail at Charlestown, where he was
tried, condemned and executed. The trial
of the prisoners has been described to me
by eyewitnesses as remarkable in many
respects. The speech OF Voorhees, NOW
Senator) is mentioned as one of SURPRISING
eloquence and power. The place Of execu-
ton NOW called Ossawatomie by way OF
passing derision) is occupied by a substan-
tial residence. 1t is perhaps a short mile
east Of the court house, up an open land
scape, which caused Brown to exclaim as
he approached II, What a beautiful coun-
tryv John Brown thus expiated his foolish
freak. but his soul goAs marching on"
HISTORICCS.