Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-01-25
JOHN BROWNS DEATH.
Paper of December 8, 1850, Contains
Some Illuminating Comments.

Gaffney, Jan. 20.-One Of the moet
interesting pieces Of literature that
mas ever come into the possession Of
any one In this section reached a re-
porter In this city this week in the
shape Of a copy Of The Christian Ad-
vocate, dated December s, 1859, in
which appears an account of the
hanging OF John Brown, OF Harper's
FERRY This Is probably the only
newspaper on record in which an
pears this account. The paper, had
1t been read by every one who has
requested 1t, would now be in tat
ters. Considering its age Of 5S years
IT Is IN remarkably good shape, and
the printing can be easily read. The
account as 1t appears in the columns
of6the publication follows:
The Story.
'Charlestown, Va, Dec. 7.-The
execution took place at quarter past
II. He died apparently very easy,
and his body was taken down after
being suspended 35 minutes.
AT II O'Clock the prisoner was
brought out of the Jail, accompanied
by Sheriff Campbell and his assist
ants and Capt. Davis, the jailer. A
small wagon containing a white pine
collin was driven up on which Brown
took his seat. Six companies Of in
fantry and rifles and one company of
hp
numbering 25 officers, headed the
procession and moved towards the
place OF execution. Brown was not
accompanied by any minister, as he
desired no religious ceremonials.
either in the Jail or on the scaffold
''Fhe military on the field were
formed In two hollow squares. With
in the inner one was the scaffold and
between the inner and outer lines the
citizens were admitted.
Firm on ScalfOld.
He mounted the scaffold with a
firm step. His arms we're then PIN
ioncd by the sheriff. He then bade
farewell to Capt. Davis and Sheriff
Campbell and at half past II o'clock
the trap was sprung. His body was
placed in the coffin and is now on the
way to Harpcrs Ferry to be delivered
to his wife.
'The reporter OF the Associated
Press telegraphed yesterday to Gov
emor Wise for permission to attend
the execution. The reply was that
the Governor declined to accede to
the request. No facilities will be en-
tended to reporters.
'After remaining for four hours
with her husband, Mrs. Brown was
escorted back to Harper's Ferry at 8
o'clock last night, where she will
await the reception OF her husbands S
body
Another Story.
1t seems that just here in the story
by some fault Of the typesetter en-
gagged on this story that he omitted
a new date line, as the following is a
preface to the story proper:
NO one will be allowed near
Shc'Sh " 'hS pitSc VI cNcCulloll ~
hear any .emarks that may be made
by Brown.
'The work of erecting the scaffold
was commenced Yesterday 1t is
understood that members of the press
will not be admitted inside of the line
so that no report can be made Of his
speech in case Brown should make
one.
"To-day several persons who are
editors OF abolition newspapers in the
North were elected from the cars for
Elarpcr'S Ferry. They had purchased
tick cts and were very anxious to pro-
coed, but were refused on account of
an arrangement entered into between
Governor Wise and the president of
the road. They left in the Washing
ton train, declaring they were bound
to be in Charlcstown TO see the exc
cutiOn and would reach there by the
Orange and Alexandria railway.
whereupon the president Of that road
was informed by telegram OF that
fact.
Isumors of Danger.
"Thcre Is great excitement, caused
by the report that Wheatland, the