The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-25
MEMORIES OF JOHN BROWN
Col. Joel b. Erhardt Describes the Incidents
of the Burial at North Elba.

Gel. Joel ID. Erhardt Describes the Incidents
of the Burial at North EibR-
Col. Joel b, Erhardt rode uptown on an ele-
waited road train with Sun reporter yesterday
afternoon and talked Interestingly about John
Brown.
Il have seen the announcement OF the re-
burial, next week, OF Browns old comrades by
the side OF their leader" said the colonel. and
that brings back to my mind very wildly John
Browns funeral at North Elba. NY. at which
was present / was teaching school at place
called Upper Jay. on the Au Sable. during that
winter and enjoying the experiences OF board
ing around. Twas a student in the university
OF Vermont. at the time.and found 1t necessary,
as many other students did at that time. to
earn enough in the winter by teaching. to help
carry m through the following year at college.
The distance from Upper Jay to North Elba 10
about ten miles. and remember hiring a box
wagon, accomm odatinR ten or twelve. aud
starting across country to be present at the
funeral services. 1t was Intensely cold. there
was not enough snow for sleighinR. and tho
roads were very rough. l remember having
one Of my ears frozen.
I'VE reached the little homestead, and In tho
front room lay the body OF John Brown as life
like as II he were still alive. but sleeping.
Quite a number OF visitors from various parts
OF the country were also In attendance. among
them. OF course. Wendell Phillips. who de-
Iivered a most beautiful grafton. speaking from
a few notes that he had in his hand After the
Grafton asked Mr.. Phillips II he could get me
a lock Of John Browns hair. He suggested that
ask Mrs. Brown. but as l was not acquainted
with her suggested to him that 1t would be
rather q very delicate matter for me to ask
ask forit and he then kindly offered to get 1t for
me. He went into the house and brought out
lock OF the hair. wrapped 1t up in the notes
from which he had beon speaking and gave it
to me. Afterward had an India link portrait
made. and the portion OF the hair that had
received was placed in mat while underneath
was attached the rough memoranda OF Mr..
Phillips. The whole was enclosed in franc.
and some 25 years ago the Hon. Elihu Root.
the present Secretary OF War. and myself de-
voted the better part of an evening in selecting
q suitable motto to place on the frame. and We
finally selected a quotation from CARLYLE. which
was as near MS can remember: "A man is
the spirit he works in. not what he did. but
what he became
This picture was presented by me some
twenty years ago to the Union League Club,
where II now hangs In the reception room on
the first floor. l am not aware OF there being
any other lock OF John Browns hair in exist
ence. except a portion OF that then received
which was given to friend.
leRe. and after serving a short time with the
Seventh New York brought up in the Vermont
cavalry. and It came 10 mo not long afterwards
TO pass through Charlestown. Va, at night.
This ia the place where Brown was imprisone ed
and where he was hanged. obtained small
sod from the spot where the Gallows stood, and
also the very massive lock and key to the Jail
that confined him. which weighed probably
four pounds both Of which. as we were going
to the front. were sent North by the best means
Of communication. but. unfortunately. they
never reached their destination.
THE ten companies Of cavalry. in columns OF
four marching through Charlestown. the moon
shining brightly. now and then a cloud cross
ing its face. and the whole regiment singing
John Browns body lies Wondering In the
ground. but his soul is marching on can re-
member as though it were but yesterday.
Il never met Brown personally. but it was
my lot to meet more or less OF his family. and
learned. by residence In that locality. some
thing OF tho estimation in which he was held
there. He was man OF strong character. as
was we'll shown by his after life. and indicated
on the day OF his execution. for. II remember
correctly. he was kept upon the gallows trap
for nearly twenty minutes blindfolded. while
tho troops marched and countermarched in
front OF him.
He brook ed no disobedience on tho part Of
his family. and more than one stormy scene
took place under his own roof He was re-
garded by the people in that section as ono
whose whole life was devoted to the object for
which he finally gave it up; and he was a good
father.
THE funeral. nearly forty years ago. tho
bleak homestead. the thin. spare frame in tho
coffin. even in death looking resolute, peaceful
aud upward the large boulder at the side OF
which he was buried; the bitter cold weather:
the scholarly and splendid address Of Wendell
Phillips the fife and drum which less than
two years later led the advance guard OF mil
lion Of men the march through Charlestown.
and the chanting OF tho dirge all come back to
me. after nearly half a century. as though saw
1t all once again.
The work Brown begun at his death was
finished six years later. and sometimes think
that tho motto placed upon his framed picture
was. perhaps. as fitting as any that could have
been selected"