Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-05-19

mayor killed Militia companies were
hastily summoned from Martinsburg
Shcpherdstown and Charles Town.
Fort Is Estfblished.
FINALLY the remnants of the Brown
party barricaded themselves in the
municipal fire engine house of Harpers
Ferry. 1t later was known as John
Browns fort.
There they were surrounded by
troops and escape shut off. Efforts to
negotiate were futile. Flag Of truce
bearers from Browns barricade were
shot down or captured. On the night
of the second day after he entered the
town company Of U. S. Marines from
Washington arrived. They were under
command of Colonel Robert E. Lee
and Lieutenant j. Z. b. Stuart, who
later became the two great generals Of
the Confederacy.
Brown refused to surrender and the
next morning his fort was carried by
storm. Brown and his surviving COM
panions were captured. Brown was
badly wounded in several places. So
were some Of his companions.
Among the towns citizens who
were taken prisoner by Brown was
Colonel Lewis w. Washington. grand
nephew of George Washington.
1.-The, casualties Of John Browns
Harpers Ferry raid were twelve killed,
two Wounded, one escaped Two of
Browns sons were killed. OF the at
tackers FIVE were killed and nine were
wounded.
so called damaging literature in
troduced as evidence ut the Brown
trial were copies Of the Constitution
and ordinances drawn up by Brown for
the reconstruction of the Constitution
of the United States through amend
ment and repeal. Lettess from Joshua
r. Giddings, member of congress from
Ohio and Abolitionist, were part Of
the evidence.
Arguments Begun.
"On the sixth day Of the trial argu-
ment was begun; the court delivered
its charge, and the jury retired. Soon
a verdict of guilty was returned. There
was no demonstration in the court
room.
The next day Brown was brought
into court for sentence, He was ask
ed if he had anything to say as to why
sentence should not be imposed His
reply to the court was another land
mark in this countrys history. He
said:
81 have, may it please the court, a
few words to say In the first place
deny everything but what I have al
ready admitted-the design on my part
to free the slaves. That was all l in
tended. Now, if it is necessary that
forfeit my life for the furtherance of
the ends of justice and mingle my
blood with the millions of slaves in
this slave country whose rights are
disregarded by wicked, cruel and un-
just enactments, l submit; let it be
done! Let me say one word further,
feel entirely satisfied with the treat
ment i have received ON my trial. Con-
sidering all the circumstances it has
been more generous than 1 expected.
But / feel no consciousness of guilt
Now have done
Sentence Imposed.
"Then the court imposed the SEN
tence, which was that he should be
taken to a place Of EXECUTION on De-
cember 9, 1859, and there be hanged
by the neck by the sheriff until dead.
Then, on December 2, John Brown
was taken five blocks away to field
where scaffold had been erected. He
was unperturbed and looked with in
terest upon the many soldiers about.
He walked upon the gallows, the black
cap was adjusted, and soon he began
the great adventure.
"On December 16 four Brown fol-
lowers, named Cooke. Green, Coppee,
and Copeland were executed in Charles
Town."
But what of Charles TOWN.. 1t has
figured in history since colonial days.
1t was the scene Of hot fighting in ear
ly Indian warfare andin the Civil war.
1t knew well the activities Of General
Stonewall Jackson of the Confederacy
and "Phil' Sheridan Of the United
States army. The town was named in
honor of Charles Washington, brother
of George Washington. Many descen-
dants of the Washington family still
live there.