The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-22
BROWN PAPERS CLEAR
UP MISTS OF HISTORY
iContinued from First Page

pm FlSl rage
let me try as hard as may, keei, from,
dropping tears, knowing that might
have saved them the misery and woe
with which their hearts have wruns.''
PREDICTED FREEDOM.
Hltrther ne says that the outbreak at
Harper's Ferry was Immediately unfruit-
full, but was the real birth OF a struggle
which would free the slaves. This was
written just d. few days bcfore the eXecu-
ton.
a. p. Stevens signs anothe: OF the let
tors liz this separate rackage 1t is adj
dress cd to DOC. Gill; and is GATED
December 10Th. He says. cheerfully: II
am as hearty as a buck and my wounds
are well. but they have left mo rather
disigured for l cannot laugh except on
one side of my face; the other has Il par
tial paralysis, as the doctor calls it. /
suppose it looks rather funny to be laugh
ing on one side and the other as sober
as a 'deaken."
He continues: Il think Cook. -rdd,
Copeland and Green will so to the spirit
and. next Friday. and l expect to follow
soon. so We shall not DC parted but a
very poor, short time" He says in a
T. s.: THE Old man was as cheerful on
the morning he left as I ever saw him.
| felt rather bad to see the Old man die
in that way, for 1 believe he had the
rights of all at heart. but 50 we go pass
ing away, BY old man it is presume6 he
means john Brown.
PRISONER IS FLIPPANT.
Il, another letter. addressed to Un<le
James Stevens wrote as follows: Il hope
that you do not think that I have for
gotten you nor aunt and still maintain
ing his Spirit OF chcerfulness, says he
expects to dance ON nothing very soon,
and that he had rather die for trying to
be good than evil. He says all the men
are cheerful and happy, although their
time is close at hand.
The first description of the fight at
Harper':s Ferry is given by Copeland III
another OF his letters. He says: Well,
whe1, we came 10 the Ferry, We were
I:ut under the command Of Captain
AaSa. and sent about half a mile from
| the place where Captain haga ard men
We're stationed, The Hall Rifle Factory.
This was about 10 o'clock at night. We
remained there. until Monday about
o'clock p. NJ. waiting for orders fronl
Captain Brown. without receiving any.
-. 1t this wc discovered we were being
surrounded by men. when Captain kaga
gave orders TO leave the building and
| make our escape, which we accordingly.
Gid. But upon getting in the road at
the bac! OF tfs2 building VIC had Occur
pied, We discovered that our only means
OF escare. il eng. was to cross the Shall
;;ndore River. which we tried to cross.
On entering the river, We turned. and
fired one round at tilose WHO had b..
this time opened q hot fire on Us from
all sides.
THEIR LEADER KILLED.
Captain Nas;l succeeded in settins
about two-tllirds across ti,, river when
lie was shot through The head rl:st.
sank. The whole fire OF at least Gtty
men was turned upon Lesrv. and myself.
when he. being next to INaga and III adj
vance of me about ten or twelve feet.
saw that there was no possible change
of escapc, climbed or a. stone that was
near him and turned his back to those
on the side OF the river to which We
we're trying. to escape, and was shot
through the lady. Hes did not die until
about ten hours afterwards
copeland was captured and taken 70
prison. He signs this letter John a.
Copeland. It is addressed to Mi. 4tGdi-
son NJ. Halbcrt, Oberland Ohio. THIS
is the last OF the letters frora prisoners.
In another letter the prediction Of the
last Of slavery IVES made by SIR. r.
Woodruff. OF Aim Iarhor, Mich, In the
following words written to John Brown:
THE sentence AND execution CT you
and your companions will actually be ]
tho sentence Of the slave power and
the execution will not be DELAYED Let
this cheer your dieing hour. a God lives.
so shall this be and God shall bring il
, lo PASS
Further Mr. woodruff SAYS that he
| learns that John Browns family Will
be lett in destitute circumstances and
says that he will relieve them.
Another writer, who signs himself
your earnest friend in the hands OF
Christ ana liberty" says; Remember,
servant of God, martyr OF Jesus. taat
the rope shall be put to Jour neck IN
| vites the grasp of oulnipoteEee to stran-
gle utter existence of the morstrous
curse Of American slavery. This letter
is from New York.
| PROMISE OF, RESCUE.
From Baltimore. under date OF NoyeH1-
Der 81, 1889. letter signed John" PROM
ises rescue and freedom in part. It is
as follows: 1--WE arrived in this city late
on Tuesday evening aud although re
are strangers we were not long in finding
a house suitable for our ammunition.
hope you wtll recognize my handwriting
for I hara to sign this synonymous. Ecu