The evening times., 1899-10-17
News of the Attack.

as headquarters, and into this the prisoners
were placed. Eight or ten slaves were
seized, given spears and made TO stand
guard about the place. By midday Monday
thirty OF forty of the leading citizens had
been captured and imprisoned, as we'll as
! number of workmen who were seized
| while on their way to work early in the
morning.
News of the attack on Harper's Ferry
caused intense excitement throughout the
country. The first reports were that there
had been a general uprising OF slaves.
headed by 250 abolitionists, and the exact
Eumber OF the raiders was not definitely
known until they were captured early Tues
day morning. The first information OF the
affair was brought by Conductor Phelps OF
a Baltimore and Ohio train, who was al
lowed TO come east after having been hald
up from ! to o'clock Monday morning
Phelps, who was a Baltimorean. had sew
eral conferences with Brown who was then
called Anderson.
Curiously enough, their first victim of an
enterprise intended TO free negroes was 4
colored employe OF the railroad named
Hayward Sheppard, who was shot Sunday
night because he did not surrender quickly
enough.
Upon receipt of the news President Bu-
chanan sent company of United States
marines from Washington TO Harper's
Ferry. and Maryland and Virginia State
troops were also ordered there. The ma
rines were in command of Lieutenant
Green and Col. Robert E. Lee who had
been living in Baltimore several years.
while experimenting the construction of
Fort Carroll, was sent to take command
of all military operations at Harper's
Ferry. With him, as aide, went Lieut. ].
E. B. Stuart. afterward the famous Confed-
crate cavalry leader. The Baltimore troops
We're Joined at the Relay by the marines
from Washington, and about o'clock all
started for Harper's Ferry, which was
reached shortly after midnight.
1t was found that the raiders had been
surrounded in their improvised fort since
O'Clock in the afternoon. The town peo-
pie had in a measure recovered from their
fright, had armed themselves, and, re-en-
forced by number of railroad men from
Martinsburg, under Captain Alburtis had
given battle to the raiders and driven them
into the engine house.
In this fight Mr.. Evan L. Dorsey, a Bal
timore and Ohio conductor, was shot in
the stomach and for some time was
thought to be fatally wounded Mr.. Dor
sey, who now lives at Walbrqpk, in an in
terview published August last, tells of
his experiences at the Ferry. He went
with the other railroad men from Martins
burg. Mr.. Dorsey was shot by Oliver
Brown, and the latter was shot and killed.
it is supposed, by Mr.. Dorsey. Several of
the attacking party were badly wounded
The Raiders Captured.
The United States marines arrived at
2:30 a. m. Tuesday morning, the Baltimore
troops who accompanied them being left
on the Maryland side of the river to pre-
vent the escape of any of the raiders. At
Z a. m. Colonel Lee called upon Brown to
surrender. He refused, and an attack
upon mis- fort was at once made. The ma
rines, under Lieutenant Green, battered
down the door with ladders, and after
fierce fight, captured the surviving raiders
Only six were alive, all the Others inciud-
ing Browns two sons, having bsen killed.
Several were killed while trying to es-
cape across the river. John Brown and
several of the survivors were badly wound
ed.
Col. Lewis w. Washington, Mr. Danger
field, clerk; Mr.. Hall, master machinist;