Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-12
mo. BROWN'SD0UBLE
, CURRENT NELSON COUNTY STORY
AND BELIEF REVIVED.
The Work of McLain, the Abolition
i,t-OpInIons Regarding Him-Ihe
FaIthfulness of IN Old NesEO
Preacher.
Preacher.

lC7-resoondence Of the Dispatch)
ALTON. VA, December 10.-Upon the
anniversary Of ole John Browns expa-
trsa5a TO another, and, perhaps, warm
,- world. moro or less interest usu-
ally crops I'D about his invasion OF
Virginia. We are insensibly reminded OF
song the darkies have:
'J5hn Browns body lies mouldefng IN
the ground,
His Split goes marching on
Only the spirit Of this redoubtable dis
turbsr Of the peace appears rather to be
marching back than forward. However,
guess It is now, as it was in the flesh
but q restless spirit, and If olden tales
be true. affected even our staid neighpor-
hood with his abolition ideas. Certainly
there was some ground for this SUPPOSE
ton O year before his daring outbreak
and execution Oplnion/here was always
divided about John Browns double" "
though the fact that he was here at one
lime has been believed by many people
O. this side Of the Blue Ridge in the
counties OF Nelson and Albemarle.
Colonel Marshall McCue. who was firmly
@, this opinion, resided at Alton seve-
I.a. years before his death. He belonged
~ the well-kuown family OF MeCues
living Just below here on the BrooksVliIe
T.4d
The names Colonel McCue mentions In
d. letters, lately published, are well re-
t-u0eIed. and SONS Of the Wrlters'
il9ggh quite olo, are yet living among US,
The Dr. Lazarus McLain referred 10, 1
Ina, is readily recalled. This Lazarus
l-.t too strong a trail behind him not 10
t- easily resurrected. About here TINS
man was thought 10 have been rather the
e--1mpAce or, perhaps, forerunner OF
ne famous. or Infamous. Brown, thah
us veritable self. st any rate, he was
proved 10 be a red-hot Abolitionist, using
DIS medical skin TO reach the negroes.
Va Uncle Charles" the coiored preach-
e near Batesyille alluded 10, was
named Dickinson, or Smith, after
Nelson family. lie was the great
uncle or Willis Dickinson, colored ten
any On the farm Of Captain John s. Hays,
"Ao has often spoken of him and Of the
negro rising his Uncle Charles" put
Gown Charles, IL seems, had been APP
i'o4,Lel by this very McLain and urged
" use bis efforts 70 help free his race.
ANS Old negro had the confidence and
respect o. the white people. He met the
tssioes al a constructing and was over
Asafl there warning them against the
sUempt. This was in 1858. as well as can
~. gathered at this late day.
me negro leader OF this intended rebel
."n Is, 10 Is said, still living. On the
PHI Of the white people, great care and
prudence was advised, and it was deemed
.esl 10 let Uncle Charles" manage his
PACK Pensioners his own way-an evil
O-hce OF the good old mans faitbfulness
"Allh was not misplaced.
THREATS OF LYNcHING.
il Is certain that something of this kind
ssltaied the colored people down the
Aockhsh Valley at about this time. and
tlcng the route this Dr. McLain Is
hald 20 have travelled. Such was the sus-
pclon against him that threats were made
70 lynch him, and he suddenly disappear
Tho late Thomas 3. Coles. OF Wood
hwn." who died two or three years ago.
wen remembered the McLsin episode. and
hhew when the man was at relatives
- AR. Colss's. near Greenfeid. in dis