The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1909-10-15

Monday, October II, will mark the
fiftieth anniversary of John Browns
raid at Harper's Ferry, an episode
which was not so much a cause as it
was a consequence. 1t was the re-
suit of forces which were historical
in their sweep, irresistible in their
operation, and which met in physical
collision during the momentous years
from 1861 to 1865. The war, which
may be said to have begun at Har-
per's Ferry on October II, 1859, set
tied forever the question OF peaceable
secession or the dissolution of the
Union by consent.
John Browns body lies a-molder-
ing in the grave That grave, in
compliance with his request prior to
his execution at Charlestown, Va.
(now w. W, for his part in the raid,
is near Lake Placid, in the Adiron-
dacks, the scene of his early man
hood. In those days, as indeed, dur
ing the days when Brown was on trial
for his life, he was regarded as ia
matte by all except the extreme abo-
litionists of the North, who, however
as an organization, were not cogni-
zsrt Of his plare
Before he appeared at Harper's
Ferry Brown / ad participated in the
border warfare in Kansas and was
known as "Ossawatomie" Brown,
Ossawatomie, Kan, being his home.
Time has mellowed the rancorous
feeling that was excited throughout
the South and in wide circles in the
North and West by Browns raid,
which was at the time accepted as
an attempt to bring about an insur-
rection of the slaves. While the
event FASTENED the war between the
states, it is recognized by students of
the times that the conflict was in
evitable.
The night of Sunday, October 16
1859, the majority of the people OF
Harper's Ferry were at church, a
: Meth oct revival or protracted meet
ing, being in progress. John Brown
with a band of % men, white and col
ored advanced on the place. He was
to capture the United States arsenal
at Harper's Ferry, with the rifles
muskets and ammunition stored
there and incite the Negroes to re
bel and join forces with him in
struggle for their freedom.
One detachment of the raiders pro
ceeded to the covered railroad bridge
where William Williams was on duty
as Waterman He was made pris
oner. At midnight, when Patrick
Higgins went to relieve Williams, ht
could not find the latter at the accus
toned post. Brown had placed two
=; of his raiders on duty at the bridge
: AS Higgins was calling for his partne
, the two men referred to put in an ap
pearance and Waterman No. fount
;, himself in the tolls. One of the twt
assigned to the bridge started off t.
conduct Higgins to the town, prisone
and captive making their way slowl
across the ties, there being no flool
t. and the night was dark. Higgins wa
# a stalwart fellow, and of sudden h
n dealt the Brownie staggering bloN
d and dashed off. The raider, being III
d familiar with the bridge and the spa
e cling between the ties, realized that b
l. could not make a successful pursui
n He fired upon the fleeing form, bu
d failed to hit the mark. Haywoo
e Shepherd, free Negro, who was en-
5 ployed as porter around the railroa
S. station, was aroused by the disturb
s. ance and started for the bridge. TIL
h guard ordered him to halt. but Shel
d herd, suspecting that something wa
70 amiss, started back for the station o
is the run. The guard fired and She
II herd was wounded He died ,he ia
lowing day.