The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-08
JOHN BROWNS GRAVE.
Marked by n Monument "No sculptor
Can Equal i'm Signffcance.o
Kate Fields Washington.

| have just received an appeal from a
good woman to assist in a proposed John
Brown entertainment" to g k place in
the first of May. The object is to raise
money for the erection of a monument
over John Browns grave.
The projectors mean well, but / very
much doubt whether they have ever visited
North Elba or know the condition of the
ily- 1t Is attached to the John Brown farm
that belongs to eminent New York men
en- to make a pilgrimage to the North
Woods and to gaze upon such monuments
as no sculptor can equal in significance.
five soldiers of the Lord! Yet only one
body reposes beneath the sod-that of the
noblest of them all. The stone looks almost
as old as the Adirondacks; yet it was oniv
forty-five years ago that John Brown had
inscribed upon it the name of his grand
father, the Capt. John Brown, who died in
q barn in New York while serving in the
Revolutionary army, and whose existence
a tombstone, His grandson would have had
the inscription set up to his memory, but
the family failed TO see it's fitness, and thus
a peculiar sentiment followed his fortunes
and found a resting place in North Elba.
i give to my son, John Brown, jr,"
lite monument now at North Elba, n. Y.
TO receive upon its two sides a further
stone monument, however. to remain at
North Elba so long as my, wife and chill
CTen continue tnere as RESIDENTS
Mary" said John BrcwI, prisoner, to
his, wife. II would like you to get the
bodies of our two boys who We're killed
at Harper's Ferry, also the bodies of the
two Thompsons, and, after l am dead. place
US all together on a woodpile and set fire
TO the wood. Burn the flesh, then collect
our bones and put them in a large box: then
nave the box carried to our farm in Essex
county. and there bury u.s."
4 really cannot consent to do this re-
pliea the broken-hearted wife. II hope you
viii change your mind. / do not think per-
mission would be granted to do any such
thing. For my sake, think no more of it,
We'll. WE'LL responded the prisoner. do
not worry or fret about ii. / thought the
plan would save considerable expense and
was the best"
There, beneath the shadow of the Adiron-
dacks, pilgrims may read the Inscriptions
on that historic monument.
One soldier dead, wearing a colonial uni
form; a second murdered; a third dead of
wounds inflicted while bearing a flag of
truce; a fourth killed in fight; a fifth
anged. Three Of the four generations in
regular descent from Peter Brown. who
braved death in the Mayfiower. What a
record,
Last to be laid beneath his granite monu-
ment was John Brown himself. The silver
voice of Americas greatest orator pro-
nounced a eulogy, and the church gave its
senediction in the solemn words of st. Paul.
Is there a patriot in all this land who
would remove so historic a slab for all the
marble of Carrara?
Nor is this the sole monument to a soul
that goes marching on. Early in the six
ties faithful friends. led by George S. Hale,
journeyed from Boston TO North Elba that
the name of John Brown might be carved
on the face of the huge bowlder lying at the
head of the grave, as II cast for the pur-
pose from God Aimighty's foundry.