The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-01-07
Tells of John Brown S Raid


etc., which he afterwards used IN his
attack on the arsenal.
But as l have said, l was employed
watching the bridge and before a great
while, and during the summer, num-
Der of strangers came over the bridge
and inquired from me whether | knew
where a John Smith lived in the neigh
borhood and to direct them there.
These men usually came at intervals of
about a week, always alone, and, as |
later learned, were the men who COM
prised Captain Smiths following IN
his attack on the. arsenal Historians
have repeatedly written that the insur-
rection was created by negroes, but
this is entirely incorrect and there We're
not more than three negroes in the
party. | personally saw the men who
made the attack, and with one or two
exceptions, recognized every man. ,
employed with me in watching the
old railraod bridge here at the Ferry,
was man named William Williams,
and we relieved each other at SIX hour
intervals. The railroad then had
time clock on the bridge, such as in use
in the large offices today, and we were
required to register every thirty min
utes. On Sunday night, October l6,
1859, remember it well was due to
report at midnight, but Williams and
myself never quarreled with each other
If one happened to be a few minutes
later. On this night l arrived at the
bridge at exactly 1920 and was surpris-
ed to find that Williams wasn't there
and had not registered on the clock
since 1920. Immediately started back
across the bridge in search of him and
was accosted on my way by two armed
strangers, this being the first intimation
| had of the siege. | was commanded
by the men to halt but not being
familiar with military life, didn't obey.
After my failure to stop upon the sec
ond command | was struck in the side
by bayonet and rendered almost un-
by the blow. Regaining my
feet, | asked the reason for their moles-
tation and told them | was the watch
man on the bridge. Well answered
the man that | afterwards learned was
John Browns son, Oliver, we will
watch the bridge tonight-you come
with US. As we started back across
the bridge | saw several long spears
and was almost frantic from fear.
struck young Brown a powerful blow
with my fist, knocked him down and
made my escape. In those days | was
a swift runner and, scared as | was,
lost no time in getting back into the
town
"The railroad company's agent at
Harper's Ferry at that time was Foun-
tain Beckman, who was also the mayor
of the town. He had negro by the
name of Hayward Sheppard, whom he
had freed some time before and employ
ed around the station, and Sheppard
slept in the building. After making
my escape from the bridge | awoke
and told him what had taken
place, | discovered that bullet had
slightly grazed my head, but proceeded
to Williams house to see if he had re-
turned home. Mrs. Williams told me
he had not, so not wanting to brighten
her said l had just come over to see
him about my lantern.
about this time the western express
was due from Cincinnati so | returned
to the station. She was on time that
night, | remember well, and reached
the Ferry at 1.28. The conductor in
charge of her was Jake Phillips and
cautioned him not to cross the bridge
with his train as it had been beseiged
and such action would be dangerous
Jake was large and powerful man
a typical railroader of the time-who
ddn' t know the meaning of the word
fear. He took his lantern and started
over towards the bridge, asking me to
join him. While was terribly scared
didn't want to be a coward so went
with him. We were fired at by the abo-
litionists, though am convinced they
merely wanted to scare US. A man
a lantern makes an excellent
target for those skilled in the use of
firearms, but the raiders commanded us
to advance no further, saying they
wanted liberty and that it was only
some negroes fighting for freedom.
Together Conductor Phillips and my
self returned to the station and shortly
afterward Hayward Sheppard, the
negro, ventured out and was MORALLY
wounded, In the meantime farmer
by the name of Gist and his sons, who
had been attending religious meeting
and were returning home by way of the
bridge, were taken prisoners, the sons
held and the father dispatched by
Captain Smith to tell Phillips to pro-
coed with the train. The message was
to the effect that the idea was not to