The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-02

ing an audience with Brown under
strict surveillance of two armed guards.
Under such restrictions no progress
could be made in unfolding or perfect
ing plans. No others of the party saw
Brown, though very direct communica-
tons were kept up through Mrs. Brown,
who was staying in the town and was
permitted, under certain restrictions,
to see her husband every day. When
she first went to Charlestown she was
only permitted to be with her husband
for a short period daily, and that only
with a third party present. This rigOr
was finally relaxed to the extent that
by being searched by the jailer'S wife
when she went in and came out, she
was allowed to spend considerable time
with him alone, thus affording a .ery
reliable medium of communication with
the rescuing party. 1t is not at all
had conferences with Mrs. Brown, in
fact, it is believed that they did not,
but that some one whose identity has
been lost in the haze that passing years
throws over our memories, acted as a
gO-betWeen to carry messages.
while preparations were going on
as related. the weather changed to Sc
we're cold with a heavy fall of snow
throughout the entire region, rendering
travelling through the mountains i'm
practicable. This with the strong and
watchful force at the jail and the con-
slant patrolling of the roads, were diff
f1culties seemingly unsurmOuntable,
and by many of the party they We're
believed to be the real reasons why
the undertaking was abandoned.
The managers of the affair found in
the will of John Brown a greater OBJ
stacle to their plans than cold, snow,
patrollmen, or the Virginia militia.
John Brown refused to be rescued. His
reasons were, first, that he had been
the recipient of many kindnesses from
the jailer and his wife; that he had
bad privileges that were secured by
his pledge not to take advantage of
them to escape; that the jailer was a
faithful and fearless official, who would
not be caught off his guard or give
up his prisoner without a struggle, and
for himself he was in honor bound
both to his keeper and to his friends
outside to prevent further bloodshed.
Second, he was strongly impressed with
the conviction that death on the gal
lows was a fulfillment of his mission,
the rounding out of his effort, the act
that would make effective all his work
for the freedom of the slaves. In his
simple and terse way he said, L am
worth more to live than to die For
himself he may have had prophetic
vision as he neared his end, and saw
not far away enacted that tremendous
tragedy that not only emancipated the
slaves, but recued a nation from the
thralldom of a terrible crime, and the
bondage of living, openly before the
world. a stupendous and wicked lie,
and started on its course to be the
leader and arbiter for the betterment
Of mankind
other papers read at the afternoon
session of the society yesterday were
as follows:
early Spanish Explorations and In
dian Implements in Kansas" w E
Richey, Harveyville.
THE Fourth Regiment. Kansas State
Militia" William T. Mcclure, Bonner
! Springs.
"reminiscences of the Yeager Raid
on the Santa Fe Trail in 1861 D. Hub
bard. Olathe.
'',The Usage Coded Lands" c. E.
Cory, Fort Scott. Mr.. Cory was not
present himself but he sent his paper,
and it was read by Secretary George
W. Martin.
w. B. Stone. of Galena, who has
been president of the society during
the past year, was also prevented from
attending the session this winter, and
Judge John Martin, the first vice presi-
| dent. presided.