The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-29
Was. Present at Harper's Ferry and 10
in the Capture.
THE SCENE. IS MOST WILDLY DESCRIBED
Brown and His Men Were Game, and Re-
fused to Obey Lieutenant Stuarts
Order to Surrender
Written for The Sunday Times.

in one hand and with his other hand, feel
ing the pulse of his wounded son and urS-
ing him 10 bear his sufferings bravely
! and if death came die like a martyr in
just cause. 1t was through one of these
portfolios that he shot and killed Mayer
Beclham.
COLONEL LEE IN CHARGE.
During the night Colonel Robert E. Lee
arrived from Washington in command Of
a detachment Of United States Marines.
With him were Lieutenant ]. E. B.
Stuart, as an aide and Lieutenant Green.
of the marines. Colonel Lee was then
something over fifty years of age, but
his hair and beard were black, with
scarcely any tracing of gray. He was
erect and looked every inch a soldier He
was I thought, the handsomest man /
had ever seen Lieutenant Stuart was
about twenty-seven and Lieutenant Green
probably little older. 1t soon became
known that the marines would attack the
engine-house Tuesday morning, nd l de-
termined to see it. If possible. So quite
early / wen. around and got position
on the railroad in front of and in full
view of the engine-house. [ did not
have to wait long, for not later than Z
O'Clock saw Lieutenant Stuart adVanc-
ing with a flag of truce. The engine
house door was unbarred and cracked
parlev IVES held between Lieutenant
Stuart and John Browr- Brown offered
to come out. providing he was allowed
to cross the bridge with his men ana
prisoners unmolested. Then he would re-
lease the prisoners and he and his men
would make their escape, if possible.
TWO MARINES SHOT.
Lieutenant Stuart of course, declined
his proposition and again demanded his
surrender. telling him if he did not an
attack would be made Immediately.
Brown replied: "All right have been
in tigh. places before. I am ready to
fight
| This ended the parley. Stuart stepped
| hack. Brown closed, and barred the door.
Directly twelve marines. under the COM
| mand of Lieutenant Green. advanced at
| double-auick They battered the doors
with axes and sledge-hammers. but the
doors were heavy and. refused to yield.
While they were battering Brown was
shooting and one of the marines was
struck in the mouth. Finding they must
use other means. the marines withdrew
| for a momert, another took the place
| of the wounded man. a strong ladder was
procured and with it the attack was re-
newed Directly one of the doors was
broken off and forced open. and Instant
|
the marines with fixed bayonets, sprung
into the house and in quick time brought
Brown and his men out and liberated the
prisoners. In the attack one of the
marines (an Trishmar by the name or
Quinn. I think. was killed
i 1t was said that Brown. after Lieuten-
| ant Stuart left him. told the prisoners fc
take the best care of themselves they
could Whether he told them this or
nor they did protect themselves by get
ting behind and under the engines and
came out unframed
KILLED BY BROWN.
The marine was killed by Brown him
self under the following circumstances,
as 7 heard at the time: Lieutenant
! Green was armed With a, dress sword on
| ly and the marines had no loads IN thelr
muskets. When they entered Brown was
(! on his knees, or at least in a low crouch
ing position. Quinn kicked him and told
| him to get Nh. Brown sprang erect shot
Quinn and was in the act of shooting
! again. when Lieutenant Green will! hi
sword cut him across the forehead and
/ face, and he was bayonetted, seized an:
rushed out of the building with nlot1
streaming down his face.
Browns son and another. whose nam2
| I do not now recall, both wounded, we''
brought out and laid on the grass. WFere
they died in a short time. All the pr>s-
oners were taken to Charlestown Cook.
| one of the party who escaped. was AFTER
wards captured and imprisoned with ms
| conrad They were all tried. convicted
/ and hung Brown ALWAYS insisted TINT
| he had only twenty-five Ion. including
! himself but the citizens Of the town De
! lieved he had moro.