Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Great excitement was caused in Wash
ington half century ago by an
attempt to burn the
lncendlary penitentiary. fortunately
A++aur+ frustrated through the
confession of one to
whom the would-be incendiary had con-
fided his plans. In The Star of Novem-
Der %, 1853. is an account of this at
fair in part as follows:
A most daring attempt was made
Saturday night to burn the United
States penitentiary, which was happily
frustrated through the loyalty of the
convicts and the vigilance and courage
OF the officers. The plot, it seems, was
laid by George Nelson, a discharged
convict, whose term of sentence expired
on the oath instant. His plan of opera
ton was we'll laid a month previous to
his discharge. and he mentioned the
same to Convict Kelly. wishing him to
assist in the matter, which was refused;
and Kelly further used every effort to
persuade him against the attempt.
Nevertheless. Nelson persisted in his
ly that on Saturday night at o'clock he
might look out for the fire. On Satur-
day afternoon Kelly divulged the mat
ter to the deputy warden, who immedf-
ately communicated it to the warden.
Ihree guards were made acquainted
with the circumstances and also three
confidential convicts as assistants. Mel
sons program was as follows: At ,
o'clock at night he and his accompl:ces
were to retire to the east corner Of the
prison and next to the arsenal. An &C :
complete. mulatto man by the name
of Penny. was to scale the wall and set
fire to the carpenter shop, and in tho
midst of the alarm they intended to
enter the west front building and carry
Off from the warden's Office the iron
safe. containing the money of the insti-
tuition. Thus plumber seemed to be the
main object.
AT the hour mentioned they met and
made the attempt to get over the wall.
when both were cap
FlrebugS tured. Nelson making
n.l,4 desperate resistance,
"6A'' Deputy Warden Seng-
stack drew his revolver and shot him
in the back, inf1icting a severe wound.
Much praise is due to the indomitabie
spirit of the guards in making the ar
rest. The officers were Messrs. Camp.
bell, Maxwell and Howe, headed by
Deputy Warden Sengstack, who expos
ed himself as if insensible of fear; also
John Day, a prisoner, who accompanied
the guards and was the first to clench
Nelson and hold on to him until ne was
overpowered. Some other accompices
were seen at a distance, but made their
escape. One of them in crossing the
swamp east of the prison was shot at
by the deputy warden apd Maxwell and
it is supposed was wounded as he was
seen to fall, but arose again and made
his escape. Had the plan been success
fully carried out no doubt at this mo-
ment the entire block of prison build
ings would be laid in ruins. The two
prisoners were taken before Justice
Dom, who committed both for court.
Nelson is a powerful and muscular man,
measuring six feet six inches in height.
He is native of North Carolina and
was sentenced for three years for pass
ing counterfeit money"
Nelson died in the county Jail about
twenty-four hours after he was shot.
X X
John Brown was hanged at Charles
Town, December ., 1859 The execution
had been planned with
Brown great care by the state
r..,,4.l authorities to prevent
0Aeooseu' possible rescue. News
paper correspondents from all the large
cities were present. The Star was repre-
scented by Crosby S. Noyes. then assist
ant editor and later the editor-in-chief.
His letter descriptive Of the execution is
printed in The Star of December 3. 1859.
covering two columns and a quarter.
After describing the scenes at the ja.,
and setting forth the official orders for
the execution. The Stars correspondent
noted the fact that the newspaper repre-
sentatives were placed at such a distance
from the gallows that nothing could be
heard. 1t is believed that this was to
prevent the publication Of any speech
that Brown might attempt to deliver
from the scaffold, an unnecessary pre-
caution as the prisoner said nothing. The
letter continues:
1.-THE military within the field were To-
Gated at points designated by white sig
nal flags. Their lines formed two octa-
CONS. one within the other. and of which
the gallows was the center Drawn up
beyond the rail fence of this field were
long lines of cavalry. and the country in
every direction as far as the eye could
reach was dotted with squads Of senti-
nels. The number of spectators aside
from the military was not large, perhaps
the exception of the members of the press
and some half dozen privileged civilians
seated upon the gallows steps. We're ex-
cluded from the field.
~
Shortly before IL o'clock Gen. Talia-
ferro, with formidable staff entered
the field. and soon after
On the the prisoner and cortege
-, came up and halted in
ScanOld. front of the 2allows.
Brown descended from the cart and
mounted the platform with the same inn
perturbable wooden composure which had
distinguished him at every step of his
progress. He was dressed in well worn
suit of black cassimere-the same which
he wore on first entering Harpers Ferry
white wooden stockings; red figured
carpet slippers, that he had previously
used in Jail: colored cotton shirt: gray
wool underShirt; no neck cloth or collar.
The sheriff and jailer mounted the pat
form with Brown and quickly adjusted
the white cap over his head and the rope
round his neck and tied his feet securely.
Then occurred another remarka BILE exhibit
ed to take his place on the drop. 4 can
not find it blindfolded; guide me to it,
he answered in the same even tone Of
voice as If asking for a chair. He was
placed In position and then there was an
unpleasant pause Of some eighteen min
utes while some companies at a distance
were brought up. The sheriff made some
explanation to the prisoner about the de-
lay. Il don't care he replied only don't
at, ,,sy,