Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-24

| an experiment. Inc expedition OF 1859 was the
crystallizati on Of thirty years of planning,
scheming. hoping, brooding. 1t Is a remark
able fact that not another living soul believed
| in the feasibility of his scheme as he actually
attempted to carry it out. This is true, both
| Of the men who furnished him the money FOR
expenses and OF those who went with him to the
death.
On February %, 1885, he had first disclosed
bis plans at length to F. B. Sanborn, Edwin
Morton and Gerrit Smith at the house of the
latter in Peterboro', N. Y. They attempted to
dissuade him, but nothing could shake the pur-
pose OF the old Puritan. Every argument was
met With the text Of Scripture: IF God be for
us who can be against us?" Smith and San
born consulted apart, when the former said:
You see how it is; our dear old friend has
made up his mind to this course and cannot be
alone; We must support him."
Fred Douglass, in an interview with Brown
later. In Chambersburg, warned him that he
was going into the jaws OF . steel trap. Tho
men who gathered with Brown at the Kennedy
farm probably joined his fortunes without
knowing the full extent and details of his plans
When these were disclosed they opposed, to q
man, the assault upon Harper's Ferry. Again
the magnetism Of the old mans wonderful will
prevailed. and to a man they followed him into
the jaws Of the trap"
THE HISTORIC RAID.
The historic "raid" occurred on the night of
Sunday, October Is, 1889. About 10 o'clock of
that night they approached the town from the
Maryland side. captured the Waterman who
guarded the bridge and took possession Of the
armory, situated upon the bank Of the Potomac
river. From here a part of their men were
sent to occupy the rifle factory which formed
another part Of the government plant. situated
half mile distant upon the Shenandoah river
Another party OF the invaders was sent q few
miles into the country, where they captured
Washt poto and H.
citizens and brought them and their slaves to
the armory, where the masters were held as
prisoners, and perhaps some attempt was made
to transform the negroes into freemen by
thrusting into the hands Of each one Of the now
historic pixies which had been prepared for
that express purpose. All that night they held
possession Of the town.
They cut the telegraph wires and detained
the o'clock east-bound train. The latter was
finally allowed to proceed, the captain him
self escorting the engineer across the bridge to
assure him there was no danger. Haywood
Shepherd, a free man of color, approached the
bridge. and, failing to halt when ordered to do
SO. was shot. and died the next day in great
agony. Daylight came, and the town was in an
uproar. The armory employees and other resi-
dents OF the place were seized and imprisoned
as fast IS they came within reach Of the in
vaders' guns.
About Z o clock Mr.. ThomasR oerly, q citizen
OF the place. was shot, and soon after died The
Dorke6p6f dOtek
and when breakfast time came they proposed
to release him il the proprietor Of the hotel
would furnish their party with breakfast. After
some demur on the part Of the landlord this
was done. Early in the day the citizens Of the
place. having recovered from their surprise.
armed themselves in such manner they could
and set about an active and systematic oppose
ton to the invaders. The rifle factory was in
Tested. and within short time the men who
had taken possession Of that establishment were
driven into the Shenandoah river where they
all persisted BY shooting or drowning. except
one. By IL O'Clock the remainder Of the in
vaders, under the command Of Brown himself.
had been surrounded upon all sides in their po-
sition at the armory.
Up to this time Brown had evidently believed
that the prisoners he had secured would serve
as hostages for the security of himself and
followers, and would secure to them the means
OF safe retreat whenever he desired to adopt
such measure. The futility Of this idea be-
came apparent as soon as he attempted to put it
into execution. He thereupon selected nine of
his most prominent prisoners, and with them
and the remainder Of his men retreated into
the engine house situated in the armory yard
HIS FATAL MISTAKE.
That was his fatal mistake. He was now
within the trap and the jaws were closed. But
there was no thought Of surrender The be-
sieged Immediately pierced the walls of the
engine house with loopholes. from which they
fred upon every armed man who came within
their vision. Some eight ten Of the citizens
were wounded. more or less dangerously, and
George Turner and Fountain Beckham, two
highly respected citizens. were killed. All day
the fight was kept up. During ali the night Of
the 18th the siege Of the engine house continued
The most horrible particulars Of that bloody
day are detailed by the local chronicles. The
death Of Fountain Beckham so enraged the
citizens that they at once set upon one Of the
invaders whom they had captured and were
holding as a prisoner. dragged him to the
bridge and shot him to death. His body fell
into the river, where it visible for days
after the awful tragedy. Another one of the
raiders escaped from the armory and attempted
to wade the shallow Potomac above the town.
He seen by the citizens, and when they
fred upon him he fell upon a rock and threw
up his hands in token Of surrender. One OF his
assailants thereupon waded out to where he was
lying and deliberately shot him to death.
Meanwhile, during the night Of the 18th,
Col. Robert E. Lee Of the United States armv,
and who was afterward the confederate general
had arrived from Washington with a force Of
marines. Early on the morning Of the 18th he
sent Lieut.. j. E. b. Stuart, who afterward also
became famous confederate general, to de.
mand the surrender OF the invaders.
One of the local stories has it that Lieut.
Stuart was the first to discover their identity.
When admitted to their presence under flag
Of truce he exclaimed to the leader: "Why,
amt you old Osawatomie Brown of Kansas,
whom / once had there as prisoner
Yes" was the answer, "but you did not
keep me-"
The officer urged him to surrender. but he
declined. saying: II prefer to die here
The officer withdrew and the marines at once
assaulted the place. They battered in the door
Of the engine house with ladder, and within
a few moments had captured the inmates. The
invasion of Virginia over and the cherished
scheme Of Browns life had come to naught.
He himself lay severely wounded, while one Of
his sons was dead and another was dying Most
OF his followers were killed. few escaped and
the remainder were, like himself, prisoners in
the hands of the marines. So ended the first
act in the tragedy. The second followed
swiftly and was equally remarkable in its char
acter.
TRIAL AND CONVICTION.
The prisoners were removed to the Jail at
Chariestown, the county seat of Jefferson
county. and on the 25th day Of October were
put upon their trial under Indictment charging
them with treason, murder and melting slaves
to instruction. OF course their conviction
was foregone conclusion. They were speedily
found guilty, and on the I'd day OF November
Brown was sentenced to be hanged on the I'd Of
December
IL was In many respects a most remarkable
trial Capital cases have been exceedingly few
IN the history OF our country where trial and