The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-02
JOHN BROWN DAY
He Was Executed FOrty-f0ur
Years Ago Today.
o. E. Morse, of Linn County,
Yividly Recalls Incident.
THE PLAN TO RESCUE.
Veteran AbolitiOnist Refused to
Approve the Plans.
Said Giving Up His Life Would
Help the Cause.

Forty-four years ago today John
Brown was executed at Charleston,
Virginia. The sentence was pronounce
ed Just a month previous. 1t is little
known that during the month that in
tervened between the pronouncing of
the sentence and the execution an at
tempt was made to recue Brown by
number of Kansans. some of whose
names are prominent in the early his
tory of the Sunfiower state. The res
cuers were compelled to abandon the
project because Brown refused to be
rescued.
The story of the attempt was told
in a paper read yesterday at the an
nual meeting of the State Historical
society. 1t was written by o. r. Morse
of Linn county. who has heard De
tails of the story from different
sources. The attempt was, of course,
secret, and so far as is known TINS
is the first time the story has ever
been given to the public. MI Morse
himself was unable to attend the meet
ing of the society. but his paper was
read by Prof. Carruth of the state UNI
versity. In it he said
Early in October, 1859, Richard j.
Hinton came to Kansas, visited James
Hanway at Dutch Henry's Crossing
(nOw Iane) and induced HanWay to
at MOneka they sent for Capt James
Montgomery and Augustus Wattles,
both of whom Immediately responded,
and a conference was held in a room
Immediately over the pOstofHce at the
Moneka hotel then kept by Dr. George
z. Dennison This consultation result
ed in planning for the rescue OF
Brown. Hinton advocated an attempt
nv force Which necessitated the trans
porting of a considerable body of men
to Virginia. Wattles did not approve,
of this, believing it impractlcable. ana
thinking that chances of success We're
only possible with carefully selected
few. and the exercise of the keenest
tact and highest courage. Neverthe-
less HintOn's idea had the right of
way for n time. and a list of IS to 100
eIgibles from Kansas, Iowa and the
east was made for the undertaking.
Just when and where further consul
tatiOns. If any, were held IS not now
clear Certain it is that the plan was
changed. Difficulties as to funds,
transportation. arms and provisions. as
we'll as the almost certain exposure in
attempting to rendezvous and handle
a large force anywhere within striking
distance of the objective point, con-
spired to bring into play the more con-
serVatiVe judgment of those having the
matter in hand Hinton had returned
to the east to work up the eastern
contingent, which never materialiZed.
Hanway, as far as known, took no fur
Their part, leaving Montgomery and
Wattles 20 perfect arrangements. A
small force was soon determined upon,
and great care and secrecy exercised
in their selection and moving to the
east.
1.-The success of a few men from Law
renee and vicinity a few months before
in rescuing DR.. John boy from the St.
Joseph Mo, Jail, naturally pointed in
their direction for part of the detail
Joseph Gardner, Silas S. SOule J. A.
Pike and S. ]. Willis were selected from
the boy rescuers. James Montgomery,
Augustus Wattles, H. c. Seaman and
Henry Carpenter went from Linn coun-
ty, Benjamin Rice from Bourbon coun-
ty and Benjamin Seaman, a brother of
H. c. Seaman, went from his home in
Iowa.
Gardner Pike and Willis CSoule had
gone east earlier) went to LeaVenWorth.
Not wishing to visit ST. Joseph for
obvious reasons, they hired a team to
take them to Easton, twelve miles east
of st. Joseph. While waiting at the
hotel for a train, they listened to a
thorough discussion of Kansas and
Kansans, of Lawrence, and especially
of the boy exploit. They restrained
themselves from taking part in the dis
cussion, and proceeded without further
incident to Pittsburg, Pa, where SOule
Joined them and they journeyed to-
gether to Harrisburg.
"Of the southern Kansas party,
Wattles went in advance OF the 9TH
ers. Under MOntgOmery's lead those
mentioned before and DR.. Q. r. .Ienni-
son Qater Known as Colonel JenniSOn)
left Linn county. At Lawrence Jenni-
son left the party and returned home.
The others proceeded to Elwood, op-
posite St. Joseph, where letters from
Major Abbott and some others secured
them the assistance of Ed Russell.
ThOs. A. Osborn. A. L. Lee and prob
ably D. w Wilder. The party reached
Elwood too lac to avail themselves of
the ferry in crossing, and crossing that
" etf ,,oN
was essential to the carrying out of
their plans. The only rowboat at the
place belonged to Capt. Blackiston. The
oars We're carefully put away and the
skif securely locked. But Love defies
locksmiths-' and so it proved in this
case. Blackistons daughter was Rus
sells sweetheart afterwards becoming
MS wife. Through her he got the oars
OF the others mentioned of the Elwood